Hurricane Sandy

 

Today (according to the tv) is the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy making landfall in the area.  Just last night my father remarked how the storm turned out to be nothing.  He seems to be basing this on images he's seen of Ian down in Florida, and seems to have forgotten all of what was on our news, after we finally got power back 8 days later.  And his sewage flooded basement.  And how we had to remove and dispose of everything in that basement.  And the damage to all the surrounding towns.  But I didn't forget any of that.  

Still, we lucked out.  Things could have been much worse.  What I lost, I guess I didn't need that much.   Not having power meant a lot of radio listening and candle burning, and I couldn't use the internet for more than a week, but I got by.   My brick building stayed intact, my position high on an embankment, and at the top of a hill, meant that I was in no danger of flooding, and I even had a working stove and hot water, so it was like luxury camping. 

Plus I had all my photos, so I don't forget any of what happened.   Here are just a few highlights of what  I saw, things saved on this computer.  From top to bottom- Ocean Grove's torn up boardwalk (the part not protected by dunes), the Manasquan municipal docks and something new there, and the front yard of my parents house, with everything removed from the basement and sorted for eventual disposal.   The people driving those crane trucks are surprisingly efficient and precise, but I guess they get a lot of practice.

Now it's been ten years, and while we were done with all we could do in a few months, and the free distribution of food has long ended, some people are still rebuilding.  

Walkin' Blues part 10

 

By the morning I knew that I was officially relieved of the duty of having to drive my father to a doctor's appointment, but I still figured it would be a good idea to be home, just in case I was needed to do so.  Toward this end, I made sure to leave a little early to get up to the Studio.   I decided to get a little more work in on my latest block.  Plus, I had to leave a rent check for Molly.  As I was writing out the check, I realized that today's date was October 27th, making this the birthday of the radio station I grew up with- WNEW-FM.  That radio station is long gone now, having changed formats a few times in the 90's, and the last show to date back to its days as a rock station ended at New Year's on 2001, so there hasn't been much point in even tuning it in for a few decades.  But it was something there all through my childhood, and part of my adult years, and it did introduce me to much of what I listen to now.  Back in those days, they often had big name bands come in and do a live show they carried, and some of those were taped and I later recorded them on discs, when I had that capability.  The Robert Cray Band that I listened to recently was such a show, a birthday concert done back on October 27, 1991, and a copy of that disc is part of my Studio blues set.  That disc would be appropriate for today, but I just listened to that, so I brought another live show recorded off the airwaves, originally to tape, then to disc, then a copy to keep in the Studio as part of my rock/pop set- The Smithereens, a rock band from Central Jersey recorded to tape on December 5, 1989.  (this was not a birthday show, but part of an Electric Ladyland concert series that did not happen as often as had been promised during that show)

In any case, I knew I didn't want to stay for long, so I planned for just whatever I could get done during that one disc.  I started with the background guy in the center of the image, lining up with the corner of the back wall, but technically part of the right side.  A balding man in a jacket and tie, who doesn't really look like he fits in with this crowd.  Next was the head of my other character facing forward on that side, the only part of him that is carved.  The only other figures back there are shadowy silhouettes, all taken from my photo reference book.  Some are outlined by light areas in my background brick walls, so I cut a few of those light patches, underneath ceiling mounted recessed lights.  Results can be seen in the image above.  That leaves one more couple in the background on the left side, behind the seated couple, a few more silhouetted figures, the rest of the bricks, and that ceiling.  

After that, I ink it up and see what I have.  If the print looks good, more on to #2. If not, make corrections and get done.

Walkin' Blues part 9

Normally I go to the Studio on Tuesdays and Thursdays, though lately my Tuesdays have been occupied with classes.  I am in the building, but no time to make art.  And I am told that I will be driving my father to a doctor's appointment on Thursday, so I figured I better get some art done today.  So I gathered my things and drove up to Ocean Grove in the late morning.  Lot of cars in the lot, and front door was unlocked, but I saw no signs of anyone on the first floor.  Went to my space.  Brought my blues/jazz set with me today, and started with my Buddy Guy disc.  Most of two rocking albums- Stone Crazy and Sweet Tea. (I have written about these albums back in February, 2020)

I continued work on the first Robert Johnson block, my illustration of Walkin' Blues. Today I took on the other two figures in the foreground, a couple sitting at a table with drinks.  He's looking at my striding woman, and the woman with him is none too happy about it.  Did their upper bodies and heads, then the table and its contents, then the lower bodies.  Decided that the legs would be best outlined by the floor, so I started cutting out all that.  Got partly through that when the disc ended.  More blues, my radio broadcast of Robert Cray's band live.  Like the first disc, both were created for my trip; to Texas, though never used there.  Both ended up in my Studio and part of my blues set, so certainly not wasted.  (Wrote about this a few times, but the best one is October of 2021) Continued with the floor, and also did the foot rest bar, skipping a few lesser tracks along the way.  But soon I was done with my day's work.  Time to go home.

Unfortunately, it's never that easy.  As I went out the front door, I was called over to a car by a woman in the passenger seat.  She wanted to talk to someone about doing something there, and had questions about phone numbers and such, but I had no idea how to answer that, as I have been in the building for 15 years, and tend to email if I have questions.  However, I thought Elyse was in her office, and said she was the person to talk to.  Was she there right now?  I could go look, so walked over to the outside door, and Jeanne let me in after I knocked.  I explained the situation to Elyse as best I could, but before anything could be done, the woman was there, having followed me.  So I introduced them and let them talk.  Had no idea what she and her husband wanted, but figured Elyse would know the answer better than I would.  So I went back out the door, up the steps, and was heading to my car when I was interrupted again.  This time a young guy, who wanted to know about joining.  Huh?  He said something about wanting to join an activity, but didn't seem to know more than that.  Didn't need a place to live, which was good because we don't have any of those.  Still wanted to join an activity, but didn't know more than that.  Seemed to have some photo equipment, but I wasn't going to send him to talk to random photo people (if they were even around), so I suggested that he also talk to Elyse, who I knew was in her office.  He set off to do that, and I took off. 

Drawing Class Again part 5

 Another Tuesday, another class.  I sent another email to all 3 registered students to remind them of the time change, and what we were planning.  No one responded.  One I haven't seen since week 1, and one was planning a vacation, so I only expected one, but three were registered, so I get paid anyway. Planned was a complex line still life (things more complex than the shoes, bottles, boxes, and cans we have done so far) but I couldn't find a photo or description of what this would be from previous classes.  So I gathered some things from the basement and dining room that I have used in the past, and not for other things planned, so maybe they were for this.   Loaded my car this morning, and made the trip on time.

My room had more in it than I had left, including a lot of chairs, so I asked if something else was going on before I set anything up.  But Kaitlyn told me she had done the setting up for me.  More than I needed, but what I needed was there and so I rearranged things to suit me.  Checked the door, updated the hallway sign, and I was all set.  My one student arrived eventually, and she was ready to tackle it.  What I had set up was a still life with a blue glass vase, a pipe wrench, a metal candle stick, a hammer, and a small bronze pitcher, plus a towel, and stacked boxes under it.  Didn't take a photo of it, but at least I have an above list.  Nothing we have drawn before in this class session, but things that do make use of information we have covered in perspective (orthogonals, ellipses), proportion, negative space, contour line- this is all part of how I teach. I had her choose a view with 3 objects, about what can be expected in a two hour class.  She chose the right side (hammer, candlestick, and pitcher) and was very satisfied with how it turned out and how much she has learned. Prior to this, she mostly had online learning, and that doesn't teach much (news stories about how kids have suffered from computer instruction, on the tv these days, verify this), especially with art.  

At the end of the day I packed up my stuff and locked up, then stopped by the office.  My supervisor had found out something about my missing student.  Turned out she never paid. Not sure how you register without paying for it.  So I was told my next check will reflect that.  This person did attend the first class, so I expect to be paid for that. I have email and photo proof.

Walkin' Blues part 8

 

I was in the habit of going up to the Studio on Thursdays, but had to cut that out when my car was lacking a catalytic converter and in the shop.  But this is the first Thursday that my car was back to normal in a few weeks, so I was going to go.  Packed up what I would need, including music, and left around 10:30.  Got up there, dropped off my stuff, stopped by the office to ask something my students had asked me a few days ago, then got back to my space to get some work done.

I had brought my pop/rock collection today, and started with a disc of singles by the Zombies, which covered their original run.  A band that produced a series of highly respected singles, but saddled with a record company that resisted giving them albums, and I think it wore them down.  Those singles are excellent, and the 20 A & B sides make a great set.  Had them in mind because I had seen one of their old videos (first song on the disc) on the web recently.  When that ended, I kept going with the British band idea and chose my disc of Elastica.  I have nothing on the disc itself but the name of the band, and had assumed it was their self titled debut album, but today I found out that I had also included most of the EP that had come out several months earlier, which is how I first learned of the group.  (on the new releases shelf of the station I was at during that time)  Even my friend Doug, who is familiar with the British music scene as much as anyone I know, didn't know why the single didn't come with an LP.  It turned out that one track on the album was the same as the version on the album, and the other 3 tracks were BBC recordings, two of which had similar versions on the album, and one was not found anywhere else that I was aware of.

I had brought the block with me, and decided the next thing to take on was the main character, subject of at least one verse in the original song.  Also the largest character in the image, seen standing with nothing in front of her.  As such, it would take time and care to cut, but I was prepared for that.  Also of concern was that my right index finger was a bit sore the past few days.  Functional, but sore.  Unfortunately, the index finger is a major point in how these gouges are designed to be held, so I hoped this would all work out.  It did.  As the two discs played, I got my biggest figure done.  Decided to stop there, and not go on to any other part of the image today.  Near as I can tell, it turned out fine, but I won't know until I get a lot more of the image done.  What I have so far can be seen above.

Drawing Class Again part 4

 

Over the weekend I had sent out reminders to all my registered students that we had class on Tuesday, but also our new room and the new time.  One replied, the others didn't, including the student I haven't seen since the first week.  I sent verification of the new situation to a few people at the JSAC (borrowing and updating a distribution list sent to me), and got a reply from my drawing supervisor.  She was very concerned about who my missing student was, and asked me about her, but it's not one of her students in watercolor.  

Today the plan was perspective, which I teach through cracker boxes (orthogonals) and paint cans (ellipses), so I gathered those and put them in my large tote bag.  At the request of one of my students I had moved the class to an hour earlier, so she could get to a doctor appointment she wanted. All parties were okay with this, so it was done.  Left in the late morning, got there around noon,  and brought my small backpack inside.  The room was open. No sink, but it did have shades for the windows, and lots of chairs. Tables I could get in room 3.  I checked in with the office, and everything was still fine, so I went out and got my heavy bag of props.  I updated the sign for the hallway

and then unlocked the door for arriving students.  Since one of my expected students would be leaving early, and she had taken the class before, I decided to let her decide which exercise we would do first, while she was still there.  Didn't see it making a difference which one we did first.  

Meanwhile, the building was very quiet.  My drawing supervisor normally teaches a watercolor class on Tuesdays, but I did not see her around to ask if she had followed up with my missing student.  Later I learned that she may be out sick for while, and had cancelled her class this week.  The above seen mixed media class, the one in the room I am supposed to be in, also didn't happen.  In that case I was told she had to cancel it for a medical procedure, but expected to be back next week.  But I was there, teaching my class.

My students seem to have arrived together, at least at the room, so they found the right place.  The one student said she wanted to do the boxes first, so that's what we did.  Three Cheez-it boxes, and two Triscuit boxes, all on the small square table. A simple assignment- draw the stacks of boxes.  paying attention to the three sides they could see, and to ideas of proportion and perspective.  As usual, the top of each stack was the hardest for them, but all figured it out eventually.  My student who had to leave at that point did so, and I set up the cans for the other one.  Some gallon paint cans, and some smaller paint and ink cans, stacked so she had both below her eye level and above her eye level to deal with, but that is how you get the various ellipses.  Lessons in earlier sessions about negative space proved helpful.  In the end she finished it, was satisfied with what she had learned, and asked if we could keep this earlier time. Since she is the only one coming at this point, I don't see why not.

Walkin' Blues part 7

 

Now that I have a functional car again, I had a desire to visit my Studio and do some work there.   Tried my dining table at home, and found it possible, but not desirable.  On  my way out I did make sure I still had a catalytic converter (it was still there), and picked up the board laying down in the driveway, as well as moved the closest garbage can back some space.  Loaded my car and took off.  When I arrived at the building I found the metal gates open, and saw one car in the lot.  It seemed to be people in the guitar shop.  The front door was locked, but I have a key, and the alarm was off, so I didn't have to worry about that.   No tags up but mine.

One thing I noticed in the Studio was that a second layer of color had gone down on Molly's latest batch of towels.  Later I saw that the boom box was switched to radio from CD, so I knew she had been there, though I had heard from Elyse that she had finally been in touch with Molly and she was in California, but she may have been in the Studio before that and I wasn't around.  No matter.  I brought with me two more home burned CD's, including the one edited from the cassette of my last ever radio show, back in 1995.  Last time there it wouldn't play in my player at the start of the cutting session, but would as I was leaving. Still, it was blues and I thought appropriate to the occasion.  So I put it in and once again the machine couldn't find the beginning.  Remembering last time, I opened the door, closed it again, and this time it found the start of the disc and loaded it.  Hit play, and there I was, plus a lot of good music. (if you want to read more about this disc, see my posting on this blog from July of this year, talking about this very block)

What I had accomplished at home was cutting out some borders, but this time I wanted to tackle the lettering of the lyrical quote.  I had pencilled this in, between parallel pencil lines, backwards block printing, something I have done many times.  In fact, I followed the same procedure I had used to do the names of saints in my Everyman series, so this was not new to me.  Even used my good tools to cut the words, since I had them and they are a bit better than the student tools.  I finished all the full size printing, the words, "she break in on a dollar 'most anywhere she goes."  Didn't get to the small lettering of who actually wrote the words, so I guess next time.  My radio disc had run out, and I decided it was time to go home and get some lunch.   Now there were lights on in the first floor hallway, and several tags on hooks, and a bunch of cars in the parking lot.   Results of today's cutting can be seen above.

I brought the block and tools home with me, just in case I decide to work on it more from home. I will be back in the building next week on Tuesday for my drawing class, but back to work on cutting not for a few days after that. 

Meet and Greet

 I had agreed to attend something at the building where my Studio is, a function where tenants would be present and we could meet each other.  Seemed like a good idea to me, as most people not in the basement have no idea who I am.  To be fair, I don't know many of them either.  I have heard people say they are afraid to go down there.  Not me.  I know there was an incident a few weeks ago where someone from upstairs was freaked out by someone in the basement they didn't know (who was supposed to be there it turned out).  The problem is that my car is still in the shop, though I was told it should be ready today.  I know from another source that the insurance company approved the repair and was wiling to pay 90% of it.  (10% is my deductible) But as of this morning I still hadn't heard anything yet, so I dropped my parents off at bocce, and then drove up there in time.  

As planned, we met in the office, which is not far from my space.  I knew a few people there, but some were strangers to me.  I had eaten some breakfast already, so I just had a hot tea to go along with a sticky pecan thing, and left the bagels and juice (what I ate at home) and coffee and muffins alone.  Our new boss led the meeting, first having us all talk about who we were and where we are in the building, then getting through the ongoing problem of security.  I've been there for 15 years, and Bobby about as long, but most people there had been part of the building for 3 or less years.  But these last few have been the biggest for security problems, between homelessness and Covid.  Doors have to be locked, but not everyone has keys to everything, and there have been problems with the alarm system.  So we had a lot of discussion of all that.  This meeting went a little over an hour, and not much was decided, but everyone gave their input.  

After things were over, I went back to my space long enough to put things back and grab a block, in case I wanted to do some cutting at home.  No calls came in during the day telling me my car was ready to be picked up, and when I called them around 4, they said maybe tomorrow, so I guess it was good that I did pick up a block.  I did spend a little time cutting it tonight, just doing the usual border, but it had to get done.  But the space is too small and too dark to do much more, so for now I'll hold off until I have my usual space to work in.

Drawing Class Again part 3

 Today was the third scheduled meeting of my drawing class, the beginner one.  I put together my materials for the planned class in value drawing with charcoal.  One significant problem, lack of a vehicle.   Last week I planned to go in for a day in the Studio, and cut some of my new blocks, but when I turned the key of my car, a familiar sound, like the world coming to an end.  I've heard that sound before- it means my muffler is no longer functioning.  Turned the engine off immediately and checked the car. The muffler/exhaust pipe was still there, so that wasn't a problem.  Last time this happened, my exhaust pipe broke off from the engine, so I checked that.  

So it wasn't a broken pipe, but a missing pipe.  Literally not there.  And it wasn't resting under the car, so it didn't fall off there.  Nor on the way home from my last time teaching- I would have heard it if I had come home like that.  That part of the pipe may have included the catalytic converter, a valuable and often stolen item, so that was my theory.  Verified that this would be covered by insurance, then called the police. They sent some officers around to investigate, heard me start it and the noise that ensued (so didn't mind when I turned it off again quickly).  They hadn't heard of any other similar cases, but knew that such things did happen, so took the report, gave me a case number, and left me to deal with it.  (a few days later my mother saw the chief at a function, asked him about it, and he said there were at least four in town the same night that mine was probably taken, so I guess I'm trendsetter)  Spent a lot of time on the phone dealing with the various parties to my situation.  With the check engine light coming on, I decided not to drive my car to the repair shop. but have it towed.  Made arrangements with that shop, but they could do nothing until the insurance company inspects it, and that couldn't happen until I made a claim, so I had to take care of all that.  Insurance would cover most of a rental, but there were no cars available for the next several days, so it didn't really matter.  

Stopped by the shop today to remind them that the car was there, and the insurance company planned to come by today, and to do some reconnaissance.  The insurance company (closed yesterday for the holiday) hadn't contacted them yet.  For today's class, I would not have my car, but my mother was willing to lend me hers, so I could get to my class. I had everything I needed at home, and the borrowed car could easily hold everything, so not a problem.

Loaded the car, and left on time.  Got up there, unloaded my borrowed car, went inside, and found a problem- my class was moved to a room up on the second floor.  Not the first time I've had a class moved to another location- happened at my community college a bunch of times, by the ceramics teacher who wanted the room for her students to use in case they felt like coming in, which they would never do.  My new room was across campus, had no sink, no water source (big problems when you teach color and mix paints) and was designed for teaching chemistry.  Today my new room had tables and chairs (that was good), but no sink, paper towels, soap, shades for the windows on this very sunny day, carpeted floors, a still life table- so not really suited for a value drawing with charcoal class, which is what I was prepared for.  But that's where I had to go.  

I was missing a student last week, but had emailed her over the weekend to remind her that there was a class, and what she missed and what she would need for this week.  But she didn't show today either.  

None of this stopped me from holding my class- like I said, I've done this before. I set up the table and props in the darkest part of the room, which wasn't very dark, but at least away from the windows.  I thought my students did reasonably well with this new medium, despite the limitations of the room.  My cell phone rang, the insurance company, looking for the garage.  Told them I was the insurance client making the claim. They were planning to try another number.  Don't have a lot of confidence in them right now.  We may move the class to another room and time next week, to accommodate one of my still attending students.  We are all okay with it, but it may depend on the building.  In the office, they had no idea how the classroom was double booked.  I had an idea, but I am too polite to say.   I packed my stuff, put the room back how I found it, and got out of there.   Drove my borrowed car home.

Drawing Class Again part 2

 I woke to see a fine Scottish day, as my friend Brian would say.  He was from Scotland, so I figure he would know.  Unfortunately, what this means is never ending wind and rain.  Luckily, I was indoors and would stay that way for most of the day.  During a break in the weather, I brought my props to the car for today's class- bottles I planned to use in the second half of class.  A drizzly rain as I took off for Ocean Grove, but nothing too difficult to drive in.  Going to and from Kean, I often had to deal with ice and snow, plus the Parkway.  

I brought in my tote bag of bottles, then took two trips to bring up from the basement (my Studio) what I needed for the first half of class- my old wooden desk chair from Czechoslovakia.  (I acquired it in Carbondale and brought it home, but this thing is well traveled.)  That's right, it's the day I do negative space in basic drawing.  The bottles are mostly wine bottles, just four of them, so a bit easier than the set of 7 bottles I used to have, including a tricky sake bottle I've had since my undergrad days.  Symmetrical, but an odd design.   Only had to move a few tables and chairs, so it didn't take long to put the room as I wanted it, so everything was done on time.  Put on the heat, as the room had a bit of a draft, feeling like it was coming from the area around the air conditioner.  Hoped my students would show up on this nasty day.

LuAnne arrived first, complaining of her ride down the Parkway from South Amboy.   Told her about my daily commutes home from Hackensack on that road, and my long trips back and forth to Union on that highway.  Ginger arrived second.  The third never showed up, or sent word what happened. I'll send her an email this week, telling her what she missed and reminding her that we have a class.  The chair was already set up, so I showed them a few blocks (woodcut is all positive and negative space really) and let them get started.  Ginger, having drawn the negative space in my chair earlier this yea, didn't want to do it again, so I let her draw the chair as a positive shape.  She quickly learned that this is just as hard, if not worse.  Meanwhile, LuAnne had the fun of drawing the negative spaces in the chair.  Not an impossible task to understand, but a very different approach than drawing objects.  However, both learned things today, which is my goal anyway.  I told them about next week, and what they will need for a day of charcoal, and then it was time to go.  I had brought the chair down earlier, so one more trip to my space in the basement, then put the tables back, turned off everything I had put on, then locked up and went home.  Rain was worse than before, but I've driven on busier roads for longer distances under worse conditions, so I could handle this.  Took no photos today, but you get the idea.