Tower Times October 2020

Page 1

Serving the residents of North Shore Towers since 1995

Volume 25, Issue 10

October 2020

JACK SCHWARZ PHOTO

Outdoor Meeting

BD. OF DIRECTORS WINNERS:

Chernow, Phelan, Nachmanoff, Goldsmith Staying In Touch With Zoom Sitting and Knitting

PROFILE:

Carol Meyerson


DOWNSIZING? UPSZING?

Bring Luxury Hotel Service to Everyday Living

L ower your maintenance and have it all! Check out how our upside-downside plans can benefit you

Stress free. No Flip Tax or In-Person Board Approval for upsize or downsize. Grandfathered status.

2 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

If you are thinking of selling, please contact me for your complimentary no-obligation market analysis of your home.


Board Election 2020 By Michael Kohn

T

hree incumbents and one newcomer were the winners in the annual North Shore Towers Bd. of Directors election, according to uncertified results released on Tuesday, September 15th. Winner Ed Phelan was elected Bd. President by his fellow directors the following day in a special meeting. Incumbent Bd. President Fred Chernow came in first place with 14.07 percent of the vote (1,943,364 shares). He attributed his victory to residents being aware of the modifications he made in the screening process that has made the procedure more user friendly and more welcoming to additional active applicants. Also when the very popular 92Y programs were canceled, Chernow immediately started putting together a video memoir on popular entertainers, assisted by John Virga. They created two monthly programs, and recent videos featured Barbara Streisand, Dean Martin, and Judy Garland. In addition, the Salute to Veterans each year is very popular and always attracts a huge audience. The former president said his main goal for the new term is to find ways “in which we can follow the CDC protocols but still find entertaining and enriching experiences for our residents.” Concerning his tenure leading the board after former

“Serving as president was an enlightening but exhausting experience and now I am happy to pass the baton to another board member.”

Bd. Winner Fred Chernow

Ed Phelan 1,824,828 Shares

JACK SCHWARZ PHOTO

NST’s outdoor Annual Shareholders meeting, Mon. Sept. 14th. Phyllis Goldstein: 9.15 percent (1,264,517). Barbara Leonardi: 9.08 percent (1,254,188). David Zolondek: 6.75 percent (932,051). Robert Speranza:4.51 percent (623,277).

Dan Nachmanoff 1,554,045 Shares

Dr. Stanley Goldsmith 1,525,492 Shares

TOWER TIMES • October 2020 • 3

Fred Chernow 1,943,364 Shares

President Bob Ricken, Chernow said, “Serving as president was an enlightening but exhausting experience and now I am happy to pass the baton to another board member.” Director Ed Phelan was re-elected to the board with 13.21 percent of the vote (1,824,828 shares). In an organizational meeting held on Wednesday, September 16th, Phelan was elected the new board president and Marty Schwartzman was named the 1st Vice President and Treasurer. Newcomer Dan Nachmanoff came in third place with 11.25 percent of the vote (1,554,045). “I believe I made the case for a new independent look at the issues we face today, and support for fiscal responsibility,” Nachmanoff said. Making sure that that the board solves problems with the full support of the shareholders will be his main goal, he continued. “I hope to convince the other board members to vote for more open meetings,” Nachmanoff said. Incumbent Dr. Stanley Goldsmith came in fourth place, with 11.04 percent of the vote (1,525,492 shares) and was named board secretary. Goldsmith attributes the reelection of the incumbents to “the general overall satisfaction with the leadership, financial integrity and maintenance of the quality of life that the board has provided and the performance of management and staff in making this possible.” Goldsmith’s main goals for the new term include completing the VIP Room renovations and redesign and identification of a food vendor “who understands the needs and nature of the community.” He also said he will focus on increased communication and transparency between the board and shareholders. “The board will continue to serve the best interests and remain sensitive to the concerns of the community overall,” he concluded. The other candidate’s totals are as follows: Debra Markell Kleinery: 10.80 percent (1,491,575). Harry Greenburg: 10.14 percent (1,401,115).


Men’s Club In Touch With Zoom By Howard Arkin

S

ince the inception of the COVID-19 earlier this year the activities of the North Shore Towers Men’s Club has been affected. The clubs governing board has been aware of this situation and has put into place some programs that have helped keep us active. In May Steve Auerbach introduced us to Zoom, a form of communication in which people can see and talk to one another via their iPads, iPhones, or laptops. So far we have had about 20 members who have chosen to participate in the sessions. I’m certain that there would be many more if they knew how to log on to Zoom. Asking someone, such as a friend or possibly a grandchild, might just do the trick. No one has more expertise in the world of cyberland than grandchildren.

About 10:25am every Thursday morning I get to my laptop, log on via the Zoom app, and wait for Gary Darche to begin the session. His topics range from social issues, politics, economics, and sports. It goes without saying that everyone’s favorite bete noir comes up quite often. The North Shore Towers Men’s Club being non-political I’ll divulge no names. I’ve been very impressed by the knowledge that the membership has on the topics chosen. Whether it’s Ron Gold on economics, Harold Hershman and John Rondinelli on law and law enforcement, or Paul Arden on almost anything. Another voice, coming to us from sunny Boca Raton is Arnie Rabinowitz, his expertise of course being Brooklyn nostalgia. Last summer Toby Horowitz suggested a club get-together under the tree on the lawn between Buildings Two and Three, which attracted as many as 17 members. The last time that I went down to the get

4 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

NST Men’s Club members communicating remotely with Zoom.

together it was just the tree and me. Nice try Toby. We seem to be having more success with Toby’s newsletter, which can be read in your email. Last September the club sponsored a presentation by Keith Crocker, who had given us some great and informative lectures in the past. This one was on the ca-

reers of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. It was shown on channel 995 and I’m certain that there will be more to follow. Things seem to be slowly getting back to normal with the New York restaurants opening in another week. How many more days to Mizumi Asian buffet, Jack?

Where Have You Gone? By Howard Arkin Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio and Isaac Gellis?!? Last month, Buddy’s Kosher Delicatessen in Bayside closed its doors for the last time. Earlier this year Ben’s Best in Rego Park did the same. Ben’s Deli in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center in Bayside is the only remaining kosher deli left in Queens. Other than the Mill Basin Deli and Jay and Lloyd’s Kosher Deli, I cannot think of any others left in Brooklyn. Manhattan still has the 2nd Ave Deli, but don’t look for it on 2nd Avenue; it’s been relocated to 33rd between Lexington and 3rd. Liebman’s in Riverdale is the only deli still left in the Bronx, and Staten Island comes up empty. If anyone wishes to name any that I might have overlooked, feel free to contact me at jnhemacs10@aol.com. Remember, “Glatt Kosher” and “Kosher Style” do not count! North Shore Towers deli of choice has to be Ben’s in Bayside, for no reason other than “they are the last one standing,” as many would say. And didn’t they do a good job catering to the Men’s Club Super Bowl party last February? Let’s hope that they will be able to do it again in 2021. My introduction to the world of kosher delis took place in 1946. On Saturday mornings I can remember being given a dollar, which was to cover my lunch bill and movie admission that day. Lunch was always at Rubinstein’s Deli on Pitkin Ave in East New York, and then we would go to the Earl Theatre, which was only a few blocks away on Liberty Avenue. The grilled franks that I ordered always seemed to be on the grill too long, and always seemed to end up burnt. The French fries, however, were great. I think that today when I order franks and beans, the franks must be boiled. Many of us must remember the distinctive personalities of the deli waiters, their main characteristic being slapstick

humor. “Waiter, there is a fly in my soup”. How many remember the waiter’s response? Many years later, during a 1987 European vacation to London, I ordered a corned beef sandwich at Bloom’s, a kosher deli in London’s East End. Much to my consternation, the waiter told me that they did not serve sandwiches. Apparently, their delicatessen style differs somewhat from ours. After bringing me a plate with corned beef and a few slices of bread he taught me how to make my own. Our former club president Arnie Rabinowitz remembers working in the kitchen of a delicatessen called Berman’s as a boy, which was located on Livonia Avenue in Brooklyn. In those days the only hot foods that he can recall being made in the kitchen were specials such as “knockwurst” and beans, salami and eggs with Frenchfried potatoes, hot open sandwiches, and sometimes skirt steak (Jewish tenderloin). Al Sprung recommended the Lido Kosher Deli in Long Beach. Sprung limits his visits there because of something that delis have that does not appear on their menus– Cholesterol! We are fighting the good fight with you Al! After World War II the kosher delis began to fade away and were replaced by “kosher-style” delicatessens. The meats were no longer kosher, but the menus were greatly expanded. Meat and dairy now shared the same table! One of the best kosher-style delis that I used to go to regularly was the Turnpike on Queens Blvd in Kew Gardens. It was located a few blocks down from Pastrami King. They were both great, and sadly both are now gone. Similarly, both the Stage and Carnegie Delicatessens also closed their doors in the past few years. One way or another, I have faith that delicatessens will never entirely disappear, at least not in our lifetime.

To advertise in the Tower Times: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com


Carol Meyerson: The Bystander Club By Fred Chernow

T

he Bystander Club is in its infancy and is the idea of Priscilla Smith, Merle Levy, and Carol Meyerson. We asked Carol to tell us something about herself. She is, like all of us, a Bystander in every way these days and we wondered how this idea of being part of a new club at the Towers can give us some insight into Carol’s background and how it brought her to the Towers. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Great Neck and was at school during WWII. I have memories of having to walk several miles to school, since there was no bus service during the war. One of the books I later read, avidly and repeatedly, was John Hersey’s, “The Wall,” a novel about the Warsaw ghetto. I had no idea at the time that relatives of my first husband, Stanley Landau, were in the Warsaw Ghetto and would be murdered in Auschwitz. I graduated from Smith College in 1955 and credit Smith for any ability I have in writing and for instilling in me a life-long interest in history. Marriage and four wonderful children went along with a decision to attend Adelphi University. I remember having to shop for groceries at 1:00 am as I balanced getting a Master’s Degree in Social Work with running a household.

What came next? During those years I discovered the Long Island Book Collectors and this dovetailed with my interest in history and afforded me a connection to people whose diversity of interests were exhilarating. I became a psychotherapist and practiced in Oceanside for over 30 years. It was Smith that gave me the ability to synthesize information, which became so important in the listening required to be a sensitive therapist. The years passed, and Stan and I divorced and I remarried. Many of you knew Marvin Meyerson, my beloved husband, who died this past April. His warmth and generosity enriched my life and those of the family and friends that he cherished. An irony occurred when both Stan and Marvin became bridge partners one summer and people at the Oceanside JCC were surprised to see my two husbands together at the bridge table. A further irony is that we all ended up here in North Shore Towers. Tell us about coming to the Towers. Marvin and I came to the Towers in 2010 as an experiment. We didn’t know if we would like apartment living, but after a three-year rental, NST became our special place. Marvin and I immediately became involved in tennis and some of our dearest friends were part of the Towers tennis Continued on Page 10

Carol Meyerson.

TOWER TIMES • October 2020 • 5


6 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

Shop Close To Home. Support Arcade Vendors

To advertise In The Tower Times email: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com


NST’s Marathon Men

9/11: Remembering Our Past, and a Guide for the Future

THERESA OROPALLO PHOTO & STORY

NST Golf Pro Bob Guido and John Morrison managed to complete 85 holes playing Glo-Ball golf on Friday, Sept 4th. They raised over $4,+000 pledged amounts for Babes Against Cancer American Cancer Society. Community members pledged from 25 cents to several dollars for each hole they played. It was a wonderful evening, as some community members followed them to cheer them on. And, as a fundraiser, it was a huge success. The final tallies of pledged amounts are not completed.

PHOTO: @jon b. kirshner 2020

The view from North Shore Towers on 9/11/2020, 15.9 miles away.

TOWER TIMES • October 2020 • 7


(718) 224-1800 • NEWYORKERCONTRACTORS.COM (718) 224-1800 NEWYORKERCONTRACTORS.COM

KITCHEN OF MONTH BATHROOM OFTHE THE MONTH

"WE APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT CHRIS

“We are very happy with the work that New Yorker Contractors did with our AND FRANCIS OFFERED IN RENOVATING OUR ENTIRE APARTMENT. apartment. They were very responsible and completed all the work on time. THE QUALITY OF THE WORK AND THEIR CREW WERE OUTSTANDING. We would recommend them very highly. They did a wonderful job!” TOGETHER THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING OUR CREATIVE VISION TO Barney and Harriet Masnick REALITY"

8 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

-LESLIE AND ART MONES

The Only On-Site North Shore Towers Contractor Conveniently Located in Arcade Level Building Two THE ONLY ON-SITE CONTRACTOR CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN ARCADE LEVEL BLDG 2


(718) (718)224-1800 224-1800 NEWYORKERCONTRACTORS.COM NEWYORKERCONTRACTORS.COM

BATHROOM OFShore THETowers MONTH Providing North With Quality Construction and Workmanship for 35 Years

Let Our Master Design Consultants Help You Create the Home of Your Dreams Your One-Stop for All Your "WE APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE Shop AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT CHRIS AND FRANCIS OFFEREDand IN RENOVATING OUR ENTIRE APARTMENT. Construction Maintenance Needs THE QUALITY OF THE WORK AND THEIR CREW WERE OUTSTANDING. TOGETHER THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING OUR CREATIVE VISION TO REALITY" -LESLIE AND ART MONES

THE ONLY ON-SITE CONTRACTOR CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN ARCADE LEVEL BLDG 2

TOWER TIMES • October 2020 • 9

The Only North Shore Towers On-Site Contractor Conveniently Located in Arcade Level Building Two


Food and Grocery Delivery Available

10 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

Carol Meyerson Continued from Page 5 community. When the Women’s Club was formed, at the first luncheon there was such a groundswell of interest that the Towers on the Green was filled and 13 women couldn’t fit in.. I quickly arranged for their lunch to be served in the Coleridge Lounge and we had the same introductory discussion as the others. All attendees had such a good time together that they decided to form a Tuesday at Two group, which has met for the past three years on a Tuesday each month. I think being part of one group or another has been important in my life. Tell us about the Bystanders Club. Since COVID 19 had altered our lives so dramatically at the same time as the marches were happening all over the country, Priscilla, Merle, and I sat (at a distance) in the garden and discovered that we all were feeling like bystanders. That prompt-

ed us to write an article about the Bystanders Club. We felt connected to the activities of the young people of our country, and at our first meeting, there were 15 people, men and women, who came, and 15 more who expressed a desire to attend. We plan to have meetings by Zoom in the future that will deal with major issues of the day. Becoming informed and learning what possibilities exist that we can support will hopefully make us bystanders no more. For more information, call or write any of us: Carol Meyerson, (515) 313-0016 cmeyer931@aol.com; Priscilla Smith, (347) 502-7655, priscilla.eg.smith@gmail; Merle Levy, (347) 235-4413, Merlelevy22@gmail.com.

To advertise in the Tower Times: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com


Chair Ladies, Sitting and Knitting By Vicki Mazel

T

he North Shore Towers Women’s Club has presented many educational and informative programs in the past. While we have had to put these efforts on hold during the pandemic, a new area of interest has been successfully launched by our steering committee member Carol Klinger. In association with the Towers Knitting Club, Klinger has developed a wide-scale knitting project that will bring warmth and comfort to people in need. With cold weather coming soon, blankets and hats are needed by residents of hospitals and nursing homes. These institutions have been reached and they are pleased to have these winter items available to them. Many North Shore Towers individuals are now involved in this worthy project. How does it work? Club members and other volunteers are asked to knit or crochet blanket squares for donation to designated institutions. Can’t knit? People can also assist by helping sew the afghan squares

together. Klinger provides instructions for every aspect of the project, and it takes a short period. Worthy squares complete a blanket that can keep someone warm during the difficult winter months ahead. All help is greatly appreciated. If you can knit a scarf, baby hat, or sweater, your services are also needed. Yarns and needles are available to project participants at no cost. If you are already knitting for the project, completed squares can be left in an envelope with your concierge with your building’s representative name for delivery to Klinger. For instructions and any further questions call: Carol Klinger (347) 408-4600. Building representatives: Building One–Faith Wolitzer; Building Two–Carol Klinger; Building Three–Vicki Mazel The Lady Zoomers President Bobby Gould has announced that the Women’s Club will be using Zoom as the vehicle to further communicate with our Steering Committee and membership as well. Our technical adviser, the evertalented and knowledgeable Judy Paris, successfully launched the program for the club on Tuesday, September 8th, with the

Women’s Club members Carol Klinger and Karen Perry. What are our members watching on TV? Chicks on Flix (some oldies but goodies): West Side Story: Romeo and Juliet revisited on the upper East Side. Academy Award film dealing with love, rivalry, and street gangs. Old Souls At Night: Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in a romantic comedy about next-door neighbors who form an interesting sleeping arrangement. Molly’s Game: Biographical crime drama starring Jessica Chastain. Based on the memorial of Molly Bloom. Lady Bird: Semi-autobiographical film written and performed by Greta Gerwin. Coming of age through complicated friendships and self-made imagination. Fiddler On The Roof: Always a delight! Spend some time with Tevye (Topol) and his wife and daughters. You’ll sing along while you watch this longest-running musical. Pandemic Poetry Corner Mixed Metaphors The Wizard of Mars looked up to the stars, His eyes spanned the universe. With his mighty girth he searched Earth, Figured things couldn’t get any worse. Saturn’s ring did its own thing, Circled round the atmosphere. Full of bling was Saturn’s ring Continued on Page 13

TOWER TIMES • October 2020 • 11

Steering Committee attending on screen. With Paris’s expertise we will be developing programs and lecture series and workshops for our membership, and even all Towers residents as well. Program Chairman Gloria Beck and Vicki Mazel are organizing programs for airing on in-house Channel 995. In addition to the popular lecture series that have been offered in the past, workshops in art history, crafts, cooking, and decorating may find their way to the big screens in our homes. Whatever happened to the Cinema Club? Using the television schedule of films offered by Netflix and Amazon, a film may be selected for review on 995 and designated in this newspaper to inform interested residents. Women’s Club reviewers Vicki Mazel and Dr. Nurit Israeli would then shape a program in the same manner as the monthly reviews that were held in the Towers movie theater and present it on Channel 995. Keep watching and you may see us on there one of these days. Club News According to Chickie Kaufman, vicepresident in charge of membership, the Women’s Club now has 335 members. Dues have been put on hold since last July. Collection of $25 dues will be resumed in January 202l, and notification will be in local newspapers. We are working hard to put programming in place so that we can fill the void that presently exists. We miss you too!


12 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

Shop Close To Home. Support Arcade Vendors

To advertise In The Tower Times, email: towertimespublisher@gmail.com


Pages From Our Past OCTOBER 2011 10th Anniversary 9/11 Ceremony Dark clouds paused during the North Shore Towers ceremony honoring the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, before raining down on the visitor’s parking lot at its conclusion as if on cue. Residents had gathered in front of the American flag flying at half-mast, listening to local dignitaries and singing patriotic songs. Summer 2011 Wrap Up Tropical storms, earthquakes, giant hail balls, and torrential rains could not stop North Shore Towers Country Club members from enjoying another fun and exciting summer season. “It was a tough season with the weather, but I think we faired very well,” Golf Professional Bob Guido said. The golf course’s greens and fairways were shut down for two days following damage by the ice storm on Monday, August 1st, then for another two days after Tropical Storm Irene knocked trees down on Sunday, August 28th. Heavy relentless rain brought the course to another standstill for two more days after Labor Day. NST: Shelter from Tropical Storm Because NST has its own generators and is located on such a high elevation, the co-op became the place for many to seek dry land and electric power as Tropical Storm Irene struck the area, Sunday, August 28th. Children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends of residents arrived in droves as areas to the south were officially evacu-

ated, bringing favorite games, toys, and even pets. Ines Smigel, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina Ines Smigel describes her birth as “a geographical accident.” Her parents were German Jews, her father born near Cologne, and her mother in Berlin. The Tobias’ assumed that some day they would marry and raise their children in Germany where Jews were well integrated. But life intruded. History’s Greatest Monsters Revealed History’s Greatest Monsters, including Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler and Mao Tse Tung, were brought to life in a lecture by Morton Wax, Monday, August 22nd in the North Shore Towers VIP Room. OCTOBER 2015 9/11 Commemoration The NST community gathered in the Arcade movie theater to commemorate 9/11, with a special afternoon tribute paid to residents and management staff who served at Ground Zero. Special Projects Committee Chairperson Bob Ricken explained that the goal of the program was to be a reminder of the nation’s “worst civilian tragedy,” and to take pride in the country’s response, highlighting Manhattan’s new Freedom Tower and museum. Bd. Director, Sponsor’s Rep. Jim Short The Towers had recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, a successful venture that was likely not envisioned by its former owner and builder, the Somer Family Trust. Jim Short discussed the co-op’s early history, where he worked

Chair Ladies, Sitting and Knitting Continued from Page 11 The world was in great despair. The Wizard was tooling around. Keeping up his rapid paces. With his girth he sped to Earth, Saw masks oral the faces. Cheetahs, bandanas, doctors masks, Uncomfortable? Very much. He saw another very odd thing. Nobody seemed to touch.

Finally, the Wizard heard a lovely song, The girl singing was a beauty. His eyes glistened as he listened He heard her name was Judy.

Wizard brought many Earthlings there, Figured it could do no harm. They found an antidote for their ills, Gave themselves a shot in the arm. The Wizard set up new homes, Became busy with new tasks Then he watched with great pleasure As people took off their masks! So the story happily goes on, Earth people get over the epidemic. They finally find the rainbow, And good riddance to the pandemic! That’s it for now dear readers. See you next month.

To advertise in the Tower Times: TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com

Before, During and After Covid By Marian Nemetsky In the days before COVID, masks, gloves, and sanitizers were seldom on anyone’s mind. Now, during COVID, they’ve taken on a whole new dimension. Who wore a mask? The Lone Ranger did. It was attractive and covered his eyes and the top part of his nose. However, he could breathe, and say, “Hi, Ho Silver,” in a loud unmuffled voice. Kids on Halloween did. Even if it was a whole face-mask, somehow or other, they were able to say, “Trick or Treat” in a way that everyone understood. Then they quickly unmasked to gobble up their goodies. Crooks did. “Hand the money over,” said with a gun pointing at the victims, left no doubt as to what was being said, muffled or not. I have a secret to tell you. When I reached a certain age, my laugh lines stayed on my face long after I stopped laughing. I thought that this wasn’t fair. If I were a man, I could grow a beard to cover them. As a woman, I must have used every cream on the planet to make them disappear. Of course, they never did. Now, during COVID, I can wear a fashionable mask, one for each outfit, and no one knows what lurks behind it. Of course, I can’t breathe, eat or say, “tuna on

rye,” in a loud, unmuffled voice, but it’s a small price to pay. Who wore gloves? In the winter we all wore wool or leather gloves to keep warm. Gardeners and people who worked outdoors wore serviceable work gloves. Doctors, nurses, and dentists wore medical grade gloves. People like me wore rubber gloves while washing the dishes, so we wouldn’t spoil our manicures. Now, we who are not working outside, freezing from the cold, performing medical procedures, or washing dishes, walk around, masked and latex-gloved to shop, push elevator buttons and perform all the mundane tasks of daily living. Sanitizers were the clean little secret that germophobes carried in their purses. Whenever they sat down to eat or touch unfamiliar surfaces they sprayed their hands, to the derisive laughter of others. Now, we all spray our hands countless times a day, for countless reasons, and in countless places, and no one laughs. We see that customs change according to the times. I wonder what the rage after COVID will be. I hope it comes quickly so that we can look back and say, in loud, unmuffled voices, “We got through this,” and never go back again!

TOWER TIMES • October 2020 • 13

The Wizard of Mars went to some bars, Masks were nowhere to be seen. People were drinking without thinking, And policemen had to be so mean.

She lived in a place of hope, With rainbows and colors that glow. Tin men, thin men, and flowers, And a sweet man called Scarecrow.

as General Manager, and still serves as a Bd. Director and the Sponsor’s representative. Men’s Club: WWII History Approximately 50 Men’s Club members and guests were treated to a fascinating history lesson taught by our neighbor, Bob Zucker, on Wednesday, September 16th. He was personally involved in that bit of history, and has done an amazing amount of research on the subject.


Nassau County Museum of Art: ‘Blue’ By Lorraine Bertan Culture Committee

J

14 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

oan Miro: “Blue is the color of my dreams” establishes the expectations for the latest exhibition of the Nassau County Museum of Art. As you enter the museum lobby, the Mark Innerst painting above the fireplace will look familiar; it shows the lobby of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in haunting shades of blue. Blue is the favorite color of many people, and we refer to the “blue sky,” the “blue planet” and the “ocean blue.” The blue and violet colors have the shortest wavelengths of the visible spectrum; they bend or refract as they pass through a prism or lens. What effect does this have on our vision as blue passes through the lens of the eye? The color blue appears to recede as we view it. Many artists go through a “blue period,” like Picasso and Matisse. We use the term “the blues” to provide a period of emotional upheaval, and devote a musical genre to the “Blues.” What is the fascination with the color blue for artists? The current exhibition “Blue” provides paintings and artifacts in a multimedia exploration to address this question. As you enter the beautiful wood-paneled Gallery 1, you will see three large paintings that appear to be Turkish rugs that bulge or fold. They are in gorgeous colors, using acrylics and oils to resemble tapestry. The bulges and folds are effects of trompe l’oeil. They are the hyper-realistic work of the Spanish painter Antonio Santin, who was born in Madrid, Spain in 1978. The Santin paintings are beautiful and yet unsettling to look at; what are the folds and bulges covering up? One should

spend time with them; they were specially commissioned for this exhibition. Continue to find the dancers of Matisse and Picasso’s cerulean blue “Buste de Femme.” The “Buste de Femme” is somber, representing women that have been imprisoned, and Picasso describes his work: “I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.” Look for the colorful painting of “Celebration” by Francoise Gilot which faces Picasso. Francoise Gilot and Picasso had a stormy relationship and she left him with her two children and married Jonas Salk, another celebrity. She continued to paint into her 90th year, becoming a celebrated artist herself. There are large impressive paintings in Gallery 2 and a vinyl punching bag. The punching bag is made of recycled materials and was designed by Jeffrey Gibson, a Native American of Choctaw-Cherokee descent. He describes his work as being influenced by his Native American heritage and recently had an exhibition at the Whitney Museum. The large, colorful painting by Helen Frankenthaler is striking as one enters the room and there are works by Sean Scully, Christopher Winter, a tryptic by Chinese painter Cao Jun, who is a local painter living in Manhasset. Leaving Gallery 2, you will walk through a corridor showing the various blue pigments used for painting and decorative objects. The intense blue stone, lapis lazuli, contains golden glints of iron pyrites and is ground to become the pigment ultramarine from Afghanistan. It is so precious that it was originally reserved for religious paintings. The pigment cobalt is used for decorative crystal and the ceramics of Spain, Portugal, and the Delftware of Holland. Prussian blue is a chemical pig-

Henri Matisse’s “Dancers,” on display at the Nassau County Museum of Art.

Katsushika Hokusai “Japanese Print.”

TowerTimesPublisher@gmail.com Michael Kohn...................................................Editor, Art Director, Publisher Jack Schwarz.................................................................. Staff Photographer The Tower Times is published monthly by Tower Times Publications, Inc., and is distributed to the residents of North Shore Towers and the surrounding area. The Tower Times is an independent publication, and is not affiliated in any way with the management of North Shore Towers. COMPOSITION RESPONSIBILITY: The Tower Times will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Copyright © 2020 Tower Times Publications, Inc. No part of this publication including advertising may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publishers.

ment discovered in Germany in the 18th century and became popular. Cobalt pigment spread to Japan and was used in Japanese prints, which can be seen in Gallery 4. Gallery 3 has the famous “Blue Venus” by Ives Klein, and the blue basses of Arman (born Armand Pierre Fernandez). The Moorish tiles flanking the windows echo the blue colors. The upstairs galleries feature the work of Roy Lichtenstein and Han Qin, a local artist from Stonybrook, Andrew Sendor, Deborah Turbeville, and Clive Smith.

Since there are presently no guided tours at the museum, the visitor should refer to the various links provided on their website: nassaumuseum.org When you are at the museum you can access exhibition comments and notes on your phone when you register. This is a fascinating exhibit that you can explore at your own pace. Nassau County Museum, One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor, NY 11576, (516) 484-9338, hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:45 am–4:45 pm.


TOWER TIMES • October 2020 • 15


FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD... GET THE MESSAGE OUT! YOU ARE OUR AMBASSADORS!

NORTH SHORE TOWERS POWER!!

ALWAYS HAS...

NST IS THE ONLY GATED COUNTRY CLUB, 18 HOLE GOLF, TENNIS, POOL COMMUNITY IN NYC WITH ITS OWN

FULL TIME GENERATORS! AS ALWAYS, I AM HERE AND READY TO HELP OPEN DOORS TO THE MOST COMPLETE SELECTION OF ALL SIZES OF BRAND NEW LISTINGS! OVER 34 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT SPECIALIZING IN SALES AT

NORTH SHORE TOWERS!

PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO SEE MY LISTINGS AT

16 • TOWER TIMES • October 2020

WWW.ANNETTEKROLL.COM STAY WELL! STAY SAFE!

ANNETTE KROLL

(718) 631-8867 Res. on site

MAGIC OF GREAT NECK REALTY


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.