Smokey Mountains Seen Through my Camera.

Chinatown, New York is about a 10 minute walk from where I live in the East Village. I always check the weather and when there's a few good days coming up, I sign up for a tour that's leaving Chinatown.  One of my passions is taking photographs while I'm traveling. My last  trip was to the Smokey Mountains: I took about 3000 photos. For more information on the places I photographed go to my travel page on my blog.

"Cleo" Lady of Magic

Poem inspired by a mystical lady in my life.

ICED

Poem by Joan Reese

Lady of magic, Aunt Cleo

worked her charms the best!

Talismans and love potions

brought wandering husbands home.

Neighborhood believers

appeared when rent was due

buying lucky numbers

before they laid their bets.

At the drivein movie,

Bev, a class senior, caught 

me kissing her boyfriend 

in the back seat of his Chevy.

Bev swore to even the score,

by spreading dirty rumors.

Aunt Cleo heard me crying,

"Not to worry, I'll stop her." 

With Bev's class photo,

her name written in red,

submerged in ice water,

Aunt Cleo lit a blue candle chanting,

"In doing this I freeze

Bev's anger and hold it still.

As the mighty oceans flow,

let there be goodwill!"

I smiled to myself

when seeing Bev in school,

knowing that in our freezer

Aunt Cleo's magic froze Bev's fury still.

Words to Live By

East Village Motto

http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/inspiration-saying-june-14-joan-reese.htm

Amazing Underground Waterfall

On my recent trip to the Smoky Mountains in  Tennessee I visited Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls, a thundering 145-foot waterfall is located deep within Lookout Mountain and has been thrilling visitors for over 80 years. Entertaining hosts take you into the cavern by elevator and lead you along a paved, level pathway. Thrill to the unique formations and the sheer beauty of the sparkling waterfall on this fun-filled and educational visit. They have a mountainside deck with a panoramic view of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley below. — at Ruby Falls.

                     http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/ruby-falls-tennessee-valley-usa-joan-reese.html

Jersey Devil Clammers

At the north end of Absecon Island, where Clam Creek meets Absecon Inlet, lies one of Atlantic City's little known treasures: Historic Gardner's Basin.  Gardner's Basin is home to some serious commercial fishing boats,  where 70% of the clams served in chowder throughout the United States are fished. While watching the clam boats and the hard working men who with their nets dredge the sea; the sound of a bell clanging, inspired me to write this poem.

http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/jersey-devil-clam-boat-joan-reese.html

The Dock

Afternoon storm,

Moored boats, bells;

Clang like wind chimes.

"Count your Blessings"

http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/2-inspirational-saying-joan-reese.html?newartwork=true

Pigeon Madness

Walking through Washington Square Park I saw a  life like  puppet interacting with the pigeons in the park.  Behind him sitting on the park bench is the real Pigeon Man of Washington Square Park who every day sits in the same spot and feeds hundreds of pigeons. He is a fixture in the park as are many other colorful characters that make up Greenwich Village.

Robin Frohardt is multidisciplinary artist and designer living in working in Brooklyn NY.

'The Pigeoning' is a full-length live performance that uses bunraku puppetry, video and original music to explore the ideas of obsessive compulsion, safety, and order in the context of the end of the world. The story is told through the main character, Frank, a bunraku-style puppet working in an office in the early 80's who is absorbed and ultimately transformed by his pigeon obsession.

http://www.here.org/resident-artists/project/the-pigeoning/

Painting of Edgar Allan Poe's, "Annabel Lee"

                         One of my favorite poems is "Annabel Lee"by Edgar Allan Poe. 

After visting his cottage in Bronx, I intuitively  painted "Annabel Lee."

Edgar Allan Poe spent the last years of his life, from 1846 to 1849, in The Bronx at Poe Cottage. 

A small wooden farmhouse built about 1812, the cottage once commanded unobstructed vistas over the rolling Bronx hills to the shores of Long Island.  It was a bucolic setting in which the great writer penned many of his most enduring poetical works, including “Annabel Lee,” “The Bells” and "Eureka." Poe's young wife Virginia died of tuberculoses in the house. She was the love of his life and he never recovered from the lost.  I feel the poem, "Annabel Lee" expresses the love he and his wife shared.                   http://www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org/poecottage.html

http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/annebel-lee-joan-reese.html?newartwork=true

Annabel Lee

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

It was many and many a year ago,

   In a kingdom by the sea,

That a maiden there lived whom you may know

   By the name of Annabel Lee;

And this maiden she lived with no other thought

   Than to love and be loved by me.

Inspirational Saying For Today

http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/inspirational-saying-may-2-2014-joan-reese.html

The Varmints are Coming!

My favorite memories are the times spent with my grandparents in their two-story brick rowhouse in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Across the street was the neighborhood kid's hangout: John's candy store. For five cents you could sit at the marble counter and John would fix you a fountain soda with your favorite syrup; mine was vanilla. He had a large assortment of penny candy, we took our time choosing. My grand mom would give me $.25 and send me the John's with a porcelain bowl for scoops of Breyers Vanilla Fudge and Cherry Vanilla ice cream. Happily my brother and I ate the ice cream while watching grand mom's black-and-white television that only had four channels.  Friday was my favorite day in the week  because we could go to the corner fried fish store and either get a Fishcake for $.15 or a Crabcake for $.25.  I loved the crab cakes the best and to this day it is one of my favorite foods.  What I enjoyed the most was listening to my grandfather tell stories, it seemed like he could spin them out of air.            " Oscar Birth" 1930         Poem written by Joan Reese

OSCAR BIRTH

1907- 1970

"The Varmints are coming! The Varmints are coming!

They want your money and your drink,"

Peeking through the venetian blinds, Grand pop Birth declared,

Drinking boiler makers, shouting  "They're out there!"

Did ya know, I captained the Titanic before she sinks?"

Drinking boiler makers, shouting  “I don't care!"

Grand pop captured Al Capone and put him in jail.

Beer man delivers twice a week  

Grand pop's  drink’n buddy's the parish priest.

Father O'Connor and Grand pop toasting: "May you be forty years 

In heaven before the devil knows you're dead."

We sat in amazement as our grandfather spun his tales.

Grand pop rode with Colonel Custer,

Dodging bullets to deliver the mail.

Peeking through the venetian blinds, Grand pop Birth declared:

The Varmints are coming! The Varmints are coming!

When I die, giv’em drink."

High Energy Street Dancers, NYC

Union Square, NYC.  Dancers and musicians.

Inspirational Saying for Today

New York City In Motion March,2014

Daytime candid photo's of downtown east side New Yorkers living their everyday lives. Photo's taken from east 28th street,The Bowery,  Chinatown and the Lower East Side.

Inspirational Saying for Today

http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/inspirational-saying-joan-reese.htm

Atlantic City's Windy Sea

March 2014, I find it mesmerizing watching the crashing ocean on the rocks.  The wooden posts that supported the boardwalk before Storm Sandy look like naked soldiers that lost the battle with the sea.

My mother said before she departed

St. Patricks day is next week and it was my mother's favorite holiday. I wrote this poem in her honor and chose this painting to represent the poem. We had a wonderful conversation a week before she passed. I carry her words with me. As I get older I realize each day is a gift. I try to live each day as though it is my last.http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/straits-of-dover-joan-reese.html

My mother said before she departed, Sitting in her garden among red clover; “Snap your fingers and it is over!” “Life is like a sailboat in waters, uncharted, Some rough, some calm,” moreover; My mother said before she departed. “The best you can be is good hearted, Carefully walk; Straits of Dover, Snap your fingers and it is over!” Words of wisdom my mother imparted, “No one lives forever,” moreover, “Snap your fingers, and it is over! ’’ My mother said before she departed.

Bubble Man

Tompkins Square Park, NYC

"Mentors" Photography Exhibition

Artist:  Twig Capra  twigcapra.com

Reception- March 27,  6:pm-8:00

Dazzling Entertainment with La-Soiree

A Must See!

 I can not remember the last time I enjoyed a show as much.  Visually stimulating....
 This sexy new adult circus is a must-see night of memorable entertainment.

http://www.la-soiree.com

A Meditative Poem

Intervening Rivers
by Joan Reese

Prana flows through me like springtime,

Prussian blue glass jewels the coral sand.

I discover a life to claim as mine,

In a space of grace beyond time.

I bathe in Dead Sea salt and Spanish lime,

By candlelight Amadeus plays a baby grand.

In a space of grace beyond time,

I discover a life to claim as mine.

Crystal stairs illuminate the climb,

Old souls are close at hand.

I discover a life to claim as mine,

In a space of grace beyond time.

Dreams conceived in my prime,

Strong in faith, I stand.

In a space of grace beyond time,

I discover a life to claim as mine.
http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/intervening-rivers-joan-reese.html?newartwork=true

"Here Come The Beatles"

LeomaLovegrove.com

While passing by the art colony located on Matlacha island in South West Florida, I came across this beautifully painted Bus with the portrait of the Beatles. It was parked in front of the Leoma Love Grove Gallery. She is an impressionist-expressionist painter known for  her colorful artistic depictions of flora and fauna.

Invitation to a East Village Gallery Opening

Rox Gallery 86 Delancey St. NYC

www.ifac-arts.com

Happy Chinese New Year

Year of the Horse.  New York City Chinatown video.  Click on link for Chinese Zodiac definitions.
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/Chinese-zodiac-signs.html

A "Special Valentines Gift"

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SilkScarvesJoanReese?ref=si_shop

Valentine's Gift. Nothing says "You're Special" like an original hand-painted silk scarf. Complementary gift wrapping, free shipping and a 5 x 7 greeting card from my latest collection. Order ASAP for prompt delivery. I created a 10% discount for readers of my blog. Use code: heartsspecial

How to sculpt with masking tape

While visting Ft Myers, I came across this interesting gallery.
OCASIOCASA  1540 broadway,Ft. Myers Fl. River District  239-691-8292
Jeff and Dale Ocasio create the most interesting masking tape sculptures that I've ever seen. In fact, I never seen anything like it before. Check out their videos they show you how they make their one of a kind creations. They also give classes.                ocasiocasa.com

http:///71915075 vimeo.com