Sadly, this year's travel plans have been supplanted with overdue home projects, including the hanging and cataloging of my personal collection of paintings and other artwork. So this summer, in lieu of an overseas getaway, I could only gaze wistfully at framed pictures as I hung them—many of them reminding me of my favorite travel destinations (and vacations gone by). Let me share a few of them with you. Alas, this shall be the extent of my romantic journeys for Summer 2020. On the whole, I have little to complain of. In the meantime, I'll enjoy a few more "little journeys,' gazing at my pictures of my favorite places.
Call me a curmudgeon. I have usually taken a dim view of most New York City "street fairs." It has always seemed to me that most of these events were not "indigenous" to the neighborhoods they inhabited. Rather, the same pack of itinerant stallholders would roam from fair to fair—setting-up, breaking-down—selling the same tube socks, bonsai and fried food at every "local celebration." I've proposed (to no authority in particular) that street fair stall holders be limited to participants who rent or own spaces on that street. This way, every street fair will have a unique and specific character—one which reflects the unique and specific population of that neighborhood. My opinion remains a minority of one.
The Bleecker Street Art Fair was a completely different type of event. True, 99% of the exhibitors were not tenants (or property owners) on Bleecker Street. But each stall was set-up and personally helmed by an independent artist, each selling his or her own work. One summer Sunday, with the annual Art Fair in full-swing, I darted-out from the shop to buy the staff's lunch. En route, I was drawn-into the stall of an artist named James Trippe, captivated by his moody Impressionist Eastern Long Island landscapes. It was true then and it's true now: I'd love to hang one of William Merritt Chase's "Shinnecock" landscapes in my sitting room. (Maybe next year?) In the meantime, I happily purchased James Trippe's affordable picture (detail shown above). I framed it with a turn-of-the-century oak Arts & Crafts frame. It now hangs in my Pittsburgh sitting room where I can gaze upon its handsome scene. There's still plenty of room for a Chase Shinnecock, should one fall into my lap.
Note: Should anyone recognizes this particular landscape location, I'd appreciate the enlightenment. Please e-mail me through this website's contact feature. Thank you.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Pittsburgh's historic "Strip District" at Mahla & Co. Antiques (www.mahlaantiques.com) or in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248