Open Window

Images in Ice

We never really know when long running-strain or -stress is taxing us because we must keep going. But I had the great good fortune to have a winter birthday at the same time as a nor'easter, and basically have had most of a week off. I'd truly forgotten what it was to plan a day just for me. What did I do? Read, cooked, walked and enjoyed the storms.

The second storm has been the best in my judgement. Snow in the daytime hours and then frigid air to make everything ice over. Not good if you must go somewhere, but ...I can work from home!!

"Real feel" it was about 4 degrees when I went out to try to open our cars and heat them up enough to help in the process of de-icing the entire car! But I wore four layers, good boots, stepped carefully and .... enjoyed every invigorating minute. No one else was out, the sun was hardly up and I had this beautiful white, starting to sparkle, world to myself. Such a treasure, such a gift.

Once I had finally freed our cars from the ice's grip. I intended to go in and begin work but then thought better of it. There are not moments of beauty like this often and I decided I wouldn't miss this one. So I SLOWLY drove toward the beach. We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country, it suits my soul. Just give me good farm land and the ocean, side-by-side, and I'm content. 

Claudia Ward © 2021

But those of you who have followed me at all know, I don't always look at the bigger picture, I often love, and entertain myself, with the smaller picture. So I share this very brief slideshow with you (please click here) and ask ... do you see any flying fish? Birds looking askance? A baby bird in a nest? A buffalo? How about bottlenose dolphin? 

I feel so fortunate to be able to see the world big and small.

Stay well, one and all. Until later.

 

 

Halloween 2020

Many of you know that I work at the Sag Harbor Historical Society (SHHS) as their Office Manager. Well I'm also sharing some of the skills I've learned by doing this blog for the last 10 years. For the last two years SHHS has had an event called Annie's Field of Jack O'Lanterns. Annie refers to Annie Cooper Boyd (ACB) who once owned the house that the Society now calls home and she was a prolific artist and diarist. The event is held on Halloween Eve and Halloween enthusiasts carve pumpkins and bring them to the ACB House to decorate and light up the porch and pathway to the front door.

This year everyone was exceptionally creative and original. One individual carved a large pumpkin as a jail, barred doors and all, and inside was a smaller pumpkin with beady eyes and wearing a COVID mask! Now that's quite a statement on this persons feeling about quarantine and the pandemic. Others were indicative of our locale such as an anchor and a whale, of course. Dancing gremlins, merry maidens, spooky spirits - all made their presence known. Fortunately the Nor'easter rains ceased earlier in the day, so lots of house-bound adventurers ventured out to join us. It was such an uplifting and inspiring event in this all-too-stressful time. So I created this slide show to share some of Sag Harbor's original creativity. We hope you enjoy it. Happy post-Halloween! 

 

Photos and Slideshow ©2020 Claudia Ward

Special thanks to Brendon Remler for sharing some of his images

Music: "No Rain a Fallin'" by Vince Giordano

 

 

A New Normal

The New Normal

"Necessity is the Mother of Invention" and the need to create a new normal during this pandemic has led to some inventive and entertaining solutions. Outdoor dining is now "de riguere", with sidewalks and parking lots being converted to "patio-dining". Backyards have become gardens where one can relax in the fresh air and enjoy a cool beverage. "To Go" is now the thing to do with pick-up services having fancy titles like the Butcher Shoppe and Curbside Kitchen despite the backdoor delivery. "Cocktails to go" are even permitted with one restaurant loudly advertising in every window the location of a special "Fish Taco and Margarita Window". Plexiglass separates and "protects" us while giving us the illusion of being a part of a shared experience whether in restaurants or stores.

The special service introduced in New York City in the '80s of hiring a personal shopper is back, but this time it's free. Shopkeepers are cleverly creating the allure of catering to the elite amongst us given the limitations imposed upon them due to the coronavirus. One shop is offering FaceTime Shopping - anything to engage and encourage its customers. Stores selling items that appeal to children are posting signs asking the impossible of their young clientele "Hands in Pockets". I wonder how that's working out for them. Churches too are advertising, in their case outdoor services with one church welcoming its congregants to gather for worship under "the old oak tree". And everywhere there are signs demanding that we all wear masks, which now come in various forms from industrial hospital-style to fancy designer patterns. This is the landscape of the new normal and these are the new norms.

Photos and Slide Show © 2020 Claudia Ward
"Too Close for Comfort" by Jackie Gleason and His Orchestra from the Soundtrack of Hollywood ending

 

The First Day of Summer

Main Street - First Day of Summer

Gladiator Allium

Blooming Gladiator Allium © 2019 Claudia Ward

The Gladiator Alliums planted in front of the Sag Harbor Historical Society fascinate me in their various stages of growth and development.

Giant Allium Mid-Bloom © 2019 Claudia Ward

These perennials begin with planting their large bulbs in the fall.

Gladiator Allium in Mid-Bloom © 2019 Claudia Ward

They bloom in the late Spring and early Summer and can be 3-4 feet tall and have blossoms that are 6-inches in diameter.

Giant Allium in Full Bloom © 2019 Claudia Ward

Easy to maintain, Gladiator Alliums thrive in direct sunlight and good drainage, and will appear year after year.

Fading Gladiator © 2019 Claudia Ward

These purple beauties are also known as ornamental onions!

Final Glory Days of a Giant Allium © 2019 Claudia Ward

I hope you enjoyed these images of the stages of a giant/gladiator allium's life.

Reflections and Refractions

Any photographer will tell you that photography is all about the light. In fact, the word is derived from the Greek photos ("light") and graphe ("drawing").

Spotlight Refractions in the Fog © 2020 Claudia Ward

One morning this past week, it was quite foggy which did little to nothing for my sunrise images. On the way home, I pass a golf club that happens to have a small pond just off the first tee. It's often quite still and becomes a rather enchanting reflection pool. I pulled in the driveway at the off chance that this might be the case that morning. Much to my delight I found light having quite the celebration - creating subdued foggy reflections of the trees lining the pond's south shore, and stunning spotlight refractions beaming skyward behind the conical pines. 

Starburst © 2020 Claudia Ward

As I moved around the pond, the sun's light became a starburst showing its rays ethereally through the fog and later it wrapped itself around a tree trunk clearly showing off its versatility.

Refracted Light © 2020 Claudia Ward

The light fog muted the bright colors of Spring creating a pastel-toned image with a variety of softened shapes, textures, and light. What a delightful morning surprise.

Foggy Fairway © 2020 Claudia Ward

East vs West

May 2nd 5:48:32 a.m.

May 2nd 5:48:44 a.m.

I recently posted a photograph on Facebook and was blown away by the response there was too it. I had more likes and comments on it than any other image I've ever posted anywhere.  (Photo is shown below.) I love the image as well but the response made me think.

My husband is a photographer too and I always show him the photos I take in any shoot. I appreciate his experience and his eye, and have learned a tremendous amount from him, photographically-speaking, over the years. So I asked him to re-review the images taken at sunrise on May 2nd, the same day I took that very popular one. I watched as he swiped through the file and I observed something very clearly. All of the images he preferred were vivid, with stark contrasts and shadows, and he sailed over any that were lighter and softer with pastel colors. In fact, he gave the latter no time at all.

By way of contrast, I spend a great deal of time on the images with pastel colors as they seem more of an exception in nature than the rule. They evoke more emotion in me. Don't get me wrong I love capturing the drama of those high-contrast moments; my heartbeat accelerates and my breath quickens as I try to capture the light (and dark) in an unusual juxtaposition. But, the calm, peace I feel when shooting a pastel sky is immensely comforting to me and in some ways the subtlety in the colors and contrasts demand that I focus even more closely on composition.

Thus I come to the title of this post. As you can see from the captions, these two images were taken only 12 seconds and 180 degrees apart. The high contrast image was taken facing East and the soft pastel image was taken facing West. Sunrise is my favorite time of day and most people who join me around that hour are fixated on the eastern horizon, pivoting little if at all. I just want to say, "Look both ways", you just may find nature revealing more subtle aspects of her ever-changing personality, some that may inspire you to say "Ahhh!"

 

May 2 nd 5:51:34 a.m. Sagg Sunrise ©2020 Claudia Ward

Thoughts? Comments? What's your preference, stark or subtle contrast, vivid or muted colors?

Placid

A Placid Morning Moment ©2020 Claudia Ward

Placid: "... serenely free of ... disturbance". When I read the dictionary definition of the word placid, I knew it was a perfect description of what I so appreciated about this early morning moment. 

While our days are so crammed with almost nothing but disturbing disturbances, I yearn to have and to hold on to a moment or two "serenely free of disturbance" and I am determined to have them. We all should seek them out and cherish them when they happen. Small jewels in time that no one can take away from us; precious moments that will shine with hope and comfort in our memory. I sincerely hope you can find some of these moments too, in the meantime, I'll share mine.

 

Up With the Sun

April Sunrise © Claudia Ward 2020

Ever since I was young, my favorite time of day was early morning. The peace and quiet is unequalled and there's anticipation in the air. Of what? We never know, but in my opinion that's one of the joys of life.

At sunrise, while others are still lost in slumber or just beginning to climb out of the comfort and warmth of bed, you can find me in one of my favorite places, the beach. Watching the sun rise out of the ocean is never boring and trying to capture the magic of those moments is one of my favorite pastimes. Thankfully pursuing this pastime doesn't involve a lot of effort to ensure social distancing.

There are four of us who regularly share these moments of peace: a German man who has a charming smile, a friendly wave, and is tucked in a sheltered corner of the beach house on the dune; a woman who's generous spirit includes bringing bread or leftover fish from dinner for the seagulls; and, a newcomer who is bundled to the hilt against the chilly ocean winds and steadfastly watches the horizon for the sun's debut. As for me, I am usually at the water line wearing my Hunter boots capturing the wind, water, and sand as they each dance across the shoreline, leaving only fleeting reflections and colors.

I'll be sharing some of these moments with you here. I understand that morning-people are the exception not the rule, so I think it's only fair that you get to see some of what you've missed.

P.S. I know it's been a long time since I've posted regularly, in part that was due to some "technical difficulties" which I believe are now corrected. Please do leave a comment to let me know you're still there. Share an image of your favorite time of day or pastime.

End of Summer Blues

I can't help myself. The produce we get all summer at our local farm-stands is simply irresistible. Strawberries in the Spring, lettuces of all sorts, corn, peaches, and, of course, my beloved tomatoes! I not only love working with these incredible ingredients in the kitchen, but I adore photographing them as well.

Strawberry Gazpacho with Garlic Croutons

This Spring I filled our freezer with Strawberry Ice Cream, Strawberry Sorbet, and Strawberry Frozen Yogurt (my favorite), and scooped them on top of a Strawberry Lime Crostata every chance I had. When I saw a recipe for Strawberry Gazpacho with Garlic Croutons derived from Eleven Madison Park in NYC, I had to try it. It was a delicious, chilled lunch for us on several hot days in July.

And then there was the Pickled Strawberry Jam, that didn't really "set" like a jam should, but it sure was great poured over ice cream!

Corn has been exceptionally sweet this year, and there's rarely been a day when we didn't have it on the cob dripping with butter, but when it wasn't on the cob, it was still on our plate in a Corn Salad, Chipotle Parmesan Sweet Corn (with Lime), or Grilled Corn, Pineapple and Peach Salsa.

What a great segue to Peaches, my favorite fruit of all. I find it nearly impossible when I'm peeling and pitting peaches not to immediately put them in a bowl with a slight dusting of confectioners sugar and a dash of cold milk and enjoy them right then and there.

This year, when they did survive my lust however, they made it into some yummy Peach Ice Cream and an irresistible Peach Galette (or two or three).

An added bonus to making Strawberry or Peach Ice Cream is there is always some leftover puree and an over-the-moon good simple syrup (with a little Cointreau, if you're inclined). They pair to make some very tasty Daiquiris.

Jellied Consomme Madrilene © 2019 Claudia Ward

Over the winter I've been collecting a variety of recipes calling for fresh tomatoes, heirloom or otherwise. Babinski's Farm Stand is my favorite and they have the very best heirloom tomatoes around - and the most photogenic! What graced our table this year? Marinated Heirloom Tomato Soup (a must every year), Tomato and Gruyere Cheese Galette, Jellied Consomme Madrilene, and Tomato Sorbet (simple and satisfying).

Fresh Tomato Sorbet © 2019 Claudia Ward

As the season is rapidly coming to a close, I still haven't had enough and found myself at Babinski's yesterday buying dozens more peaches, corn, and the prettiest heirloom tomatoes.

Anyone have a recipe for any one of these ingredients they want to share. I'd love to expand my portfolio of recipes in Pepperplate!

P.S. If you are interested in any of the recipes I've mentioned in this post that don't have links, mention them in the Comments and I'll make sure to share them here.

 

Dorian

It will be a very long time before anyone forgets the name Dorian and it’s been said that the National Hurricane Center will most likely permanently retire the name Dorian from their 6-year rotating name list.

This monster storm was named on August 24th and passed by us on the east end of Long Island two weeks later! Moving at a glacial rate, Dorian destroyed the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, threatened Florida, unleashed a barrage of tornados in the Carolinas, and flooded poor Ocracoke, after which it kindly accelerated brushing the East End with only 7-10 foot surf. Thinking it was finally past, I was stunned to hear Dorian made landfall yet again in Nova Scotia, as a ‘hurricane-force post-tropical cyclone’ leaving half a million people without power, toppling a crane and damaging several apartment buildings. Did this monster die?

As these storms get stronger and stronger causing more and more damage and destruction, all of us along the east coast know that it could happen to us. Our hearts break for those who have lost everything, our hands reach out to help any way we can, for we know ... « There but for the grace of God ... »

 

Nor'easter Skylar

Three nor'easters in less than two weeks! Enough already! First there was Riley on March 2-3, then there was Quinn on the 7th and finally (?) Skylar this past Tuesday March 13th.

Nor’easters form when balmy ocean breezes collide with cold air from over the continent - the larger the difference in temperature, the more powerful the storm. And no surprise to most of us, scientists say that climate change is fueling nor’easters, by warming the seas. These powerhouse storms have come with varying degrees of heavy snow and rain, sustained strong winds, and surging waves and tides, the results of which have been enormous power outages, beach erosion and serious coastal flooding all along the northeastern United States. More than a century of sea-level rise, has made seaside cities and towns more vulnerable to floods.

Storms create drama and drama often creates photo opportunities - Nor'easter Riley did along our beaches and Skylar did in our own back yard. There's a berm separating our yard from the parking lot that has 15-20 foot tall Italian cypress-like trees planted along its ridge and a flank of 10-12 foot tall rhododendrons on our side. Skyler's snows began in the early hours of the morning and persisted throughout the day until around 6:00 p.m. We have never seen snow flakes as large as these - some were the size of half-dollar coins, and they clung to everything making the world picture perfect.

When I ventured out, I found the snow was about 16 inches deep and light and fluffy, and between the two banks of trees was a magical cathedral of snow draped branches. So I'm sharing the slideshow I created of the images I captured hoping that you too can enjoy the beauty created by this storm.

Photos and Slideshow by Claudia Ward & Peter Tooker © 2018
Music: "Snow" by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Peggy Lee & Trudy Stevens

 

 

 

The Life of Riley

Sagg Main Post Nor-easter Riley - Photo © 2018 Claudia Ward

In the 1950s comedy series, The Life of Riley", "a lovable lug turns order into chaos" - how apt. One day the skies are clear and then the heavens opened and the winds accelerated and it seemed like it would never end. Flooding, 90 mph winds, downed trees, and hundreds of thousands without power for days and days. That was the life of winter storm Riley, the first significant nor'easter of 2018. Prudence dictated staying at home and off the roads during most of the storm but once the rains stopped it was hard to reign in my curiosity. Surfline, a surf-app we follow religiously, has reported waves 20-25 feet high off Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod and 10-15 feet high off parts of Long Island. 

When I got to our beloved Sagg Main Beach, it was apparent it had been badly battered and Mother Nature was still playing with the tides and surf. So this is a small sample of the life of this Riley.

Photos and slide show © 2018 Claudia Ward
Music: "Guillaume's Confession" from soundtrack of "Chocolat" by Rachel Portman 

 

 

Final Featured Show at The White Room Gallery

Last Saturday evening was the opening reception for my final featured art show at The White Room Gallery, called "Modern Vintage".  In addition to my painterly wave images, the show features the incredible dynamic and diverse work of Sally Breen, Scott Hewitt, and Charles Waller. Sally paints "majestic swathes of sea and sky, land and light". Scott's "style transcends simple photorealism by his use of almost hyper-real hues and strong contrast"; painting "everyday objects like a peeled orange or crayon box transports the object into art". Charles uses vintage materials, like antique wedding dresses, to create multi-media pieces that make the "audience think" and "walk away with a smile".

"Dream Keeper" © 2016 Claudia Ward

The reception was well attended, especially for a post-season, post-holiday Saturday. Music filled the gaps in conversation, which were few and far between. Chilled Montauk Pearl oysters were served outside on the patio, and guests were warmed inside with homemade cheese pastries, Port-infused cheese and fruit, cups of homemade pumpkin and apple pie, and some wine. One piece even sold during the reception - Scott Hewitt's Pepsi Machine. Needless to say we were all thrilled. 

The exhibit can be seen Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from now until December 23rd. There's parking on Main Street these days, and lots more behind the gallery, so stop in to see some truly eye-catching art.

Apple Galette

Everyone knows I can't resist a galette of any sort, sweet or savory, and if you type "galette" in the Search box on this page you will see numerous recipes for these yummy, simple pastries. 

It's apple season here, and the farm stands around us are filled with fall fruits and vegetables, like apples, pumpkins, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, and apples and pumpkins are The Milk Pail's specialty at this time of year.

The Milk Pail is a family-owned and operated farm and orchard in Water Mill and at this time of year they are famous for their wide variety of apples and their homemade cider. Neither can be beat anywhere on the East End. When I went in recently, I was overwhelmed by the choices available to me and had to seek guidance from one of the staff. I told her I planned on making an apple galette and she asked how much sugar I'd be using in the recipe. I didn't know, so she said she'd recommend the Zesta apples. Never having heard of them, she described them as having a flavor between tart and sweet - a safe bet for my creation. They turned out to be perfect. 

Apple Galette
(Serves 6-8)

For Crust
1 cup all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
2 teaspoons sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons ice water
1 egg lightly beaten, for egg wash
1 teaspoon superfine sugar for dusting pastry

For Filling
4 Golden Delicious apples (or Zesta)
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
=========================================

For Crust
In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, sugar and salt. Process just until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 seconds.
Add the ice water and pulse until the pastry begins to hold together, about 6 to 8 times. Do not let it form into a ball.
Transfer the dough to waxed paper; flatten the dough into a disk. Wrap the pastry in the waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Line a large sheet pan with aluminum foil and then cover it with a piece of parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, careful roll out the dough to a 12-13" circle. Transfer pastry to the lines sheet pan.

For Filling
Peel, halve and core the apples and slice them crosswise ¼-inch thick. Set aside the larger center pieces and coarsely chopped the end slices and any broken ones.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.

Assembly
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Spread the chopped apples over the pastry to within 1-inch of the edge.
Drizzle the honey over the apple pieces.
Decoratively arrange the apple slices on top in concentric circles or in slightly overlapping rows.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar evenly over the apples and dot with pieces of butter.
Fold the pastry edge up and over the apples to create a 1-inch border.
Brush the crust with the egg wash and dust with superfine sugar.
Bake the galette for about 1 hour, until the pastry is nicely browned and crisp, and all of the apples are tender.

Inspired by Jacques Pépin.

 

Sag Harbor Historical Society

The Sag Harbor Historical Society (SHHS), housed in the Annie Cooper Boyd House on Main Street in Sag Harbor, New York, was established in 1985 with a threefold mission:

1. To promote and encourage public education and appreciation of Sag Harbor history,
2. To work for the preservation of historic buildings and sites, and 
3. To foster the preservation of the historic character of the village.

I bought my first house just over the bridge from Sag Harbor in North Haven in 1985 and it was a whaling captain's house built in the 1830's. Having grown up in an historic fishing village on Cape Cod, in a house that was over 200 years old, "historic" is a cherished part of the fabric of the communities I gravitate toward. Sag Harbor fits perfectly into that fabric.

The Port of Sag Harbor was founded in 1707. "By the time the Revolutionary War began, Sag Harbor had built up a thriving coastal and foreign trade. In 1789, when George Washington approved the creation of Sag Harbor as a Port of Entry for the newly formed United States, the village had more square rigged vessels engaged in commerce than the Port of New York." "Sag Harbor has the distinction of having had the first custom house in the U.S., the first volunteer fire company in the state of New York, and the first newspaper printed on Long Island. The lower part of the business district, thrice destroyed by fire, rose from the ashes each time, grew and prospered through a spectacular whaling industry, a period of industrial growth, and finally as a place where the population swells each summer with an ever increasing influx of visitors and a bay filled with pleasure craft. Through all of its 300 years, Sag Harbor has retained its special history, beauty, and individuality", the preservation of which is now being aided by the Historical Society ... my new employer.

I have the great good fortune to have been selected to be the new Office Manager for the Historical Society and I started this week. The office is in a house that was originally built in 1795 and it has low ceilings and creaky, uneven floors of well-worn wood. The collection includes over 500 letters, books, documents, diaries, postcards and bibles, ledgers, photographs, and an extensive collection of the artwork of Annie Cooper Boyd. I am truly excited to be working to help preserve the history of this wonderful adopted village of mine.

 

 

Rainbow Spectrum from a Wave

 

The wind was howling yesterday out of the northwest but the sun was shining and the sky was clear. Checking out Surfline, an app that provides us with camera views of beaches near us, revealed an interesting break of the waves on our southern shore with a dramatic spray provided by the offshore wind. Needless to say, we packed our gear and went down to check it all out first hand. 

 

 

It was wild, or at least it felt that way due to the strong winds. We really had to dig in our heels not to be blown off-balance by the gusts. You might think we would be bored by shooting so often at the beach but in fact, it is NEVER the same, so you can't be bored. Today, the ocean was breaking diagonally to the shore, moving west to east - something I have rarely, if ever, seen. Combined with the northwest winds, this created wonderful spray being blown back out to sea. We were shooting around 3:15 p.m., which in the Northeast at this time of year is roughly two and a half hours before sunset - so the sun was low-ish in the sky.

 

The result of all of this was a rainbow spray flying off of tops of the waves. The rainbow effect is not new to me, but I can honestly say I have never seen one that appeared to have the perfect spectrum of primary and secondary colors as I learned them in grade school (right to left): Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple (the last being the hardest to see but it is there). (Remember Red + Yellow = Orange; Yellow + Blue = Green; and, Blue + Red = Purple?)

 

 

What a treat!

 

Artists on the Road

Over the past two years as we dove head first in to the art scene on the East End of Long Island and New England, Peter and I met some remarkable people who create art in many different forms, using many, many different techniques. Among the memorable are Edward Loedding, Tom Rickard, Stephen Palmer, and Chuck Seaman.

Loedding creates digital paintings of amazingly beautiful flowers, he calls it "Visual Choreography". Starting with composition created by multiple photographs and carefully selected parts, he then paints the compositions in a truly unique way.

Rickard creates completely original photographic art. He not only captures the images, he prints them himself to remarkable sizes on archival papers, cuts his own custom mats and glass, and builds his own unique rough wood frames.

Palmer is a multimedia artist who constructs fish from discarded crutches, paddles, or boxes that are then filled with the found objects like dominos, golf tees, mustard tins, cheese graters, and even spatulas, and are then wired and named. 
And, Chuck Seaman is a Master Gyotaku Artist. Gyotaku means "fish rubbing" in Japanese and "is an ancient tradition going back over three hundred years that uses freshly caught fish to create unique, original art prints." Chuck has an incredible studio in Hampton Bays, where he creates his masterpieces and prints them on cotton, silk, rice paper and other mediums using custom inks.

Chuck's incredible skill, refined technique, and commitment to near perfection, this year earned him the artist name "Kaijin" from the President of the International Fish Print Studio in Japan. I believe Chuck is only the third American to earn such a prestigious and hard-earned title. His art is so apparently original when you see it and he is so evidently sincere in what he does and in sharing it with others, it's been a joy to get to know him and share a little of his road.

If you are ever bored and want to meet the most remarkable collection of talented, intelligent people, join a group of artists as they travel the tent-show circuit. It's not an easy life, but the rewards are exceptional.

Thank you Chuck, Stephen, Tom, and Edward for all you shared and everything you didn't even know you were sharing.

Continued success to us all.

 

Montauk Lighthouse

In 1792, President George Washington authorized the construction on the Montauk Lighthouse and it became operational in 1797. Built on the Turtle Hill plateau, the Lighthouse was originally almost 300 feet from the bluff. Over the next 200 years, over 200 feet of Montauk Point washed into the ocean, at its worst losing 2 feet every year.

In 1967, the U.S. Coast Guard began "de-manning" lighthouses, replacing them with automated beacons, with plans to "de-man" nearly ⅔ of all lighthouses along the Eastern seaboard, Montauk Lighthouse among them. Over the next two years there were protests by thousands attempting to get the Coast Guard to change their decision and in 1969, they succeeded - the Coast Guard rescinded the order. Now the lighthouse may have been saved from man but Mother Nature was still a real and pressing threat.

Enter, a little old lady from "up island". Giorgina Reid (age 60) had saved her house, on a 95-foot cliff in Rocky Point, from falling in to the sea by building terraces on the cliff face and planting them with "reeds, phragmites and beach grass". She proposed this Japanese plan for "stopping the sea" in Montauk, and with no opposition from the Coast Guard but no real aid either, Giorgina, her husband and a handful of volunteers began terracing and planting on the cliff face of Montauk Point on the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. Their work kept the lighthouse from falling into the sea by protecting the cliff face, but the ocean could still undercut their plantings. In 1992, a necklace of big boulders was installed around the base of Montauk Point replacing one dating back to 1946 that was failing. Together the plantings and the necklace have nearly arrested the erosion of Montauk Point.

Giorgina and "her gang" were out on the cliff face for 15 years and others including the Coast Guard have taken up the work and maintenance since. Thanks to Giorgina Reid, Montauk Lighthouse was saved but Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with and there's now a need to add boulders to the revetment around Montauk Point.

Montauk Lighthouse became a National Historic Landmark in 2012 and is beloved by all of us who live on the East End. This rocky point is enjoyed by families, surfers, and fishermen. We are thankful that the lighthouse and "point" are still with us and fully appreciate what could have happened to this landmark as we see the inroads erosion is making year after year on the cliffs in nearby Camp Hero. 

 

"Art Sail" at The Art Barge

The Victor D'Amico Institute of Art, affectionately known as The Art Barge in Amagansett is a unique non-profit organization on the East End. It was established in 1960 by Victor D'Amico, the founding Director of the Education Department at the Museum of Modern Art from 1937 until 1970. Victor D’Amico was not only a remarkable artist and teacher, but a visionary and pioneer of modern art education. 

The Art Barge is a summer art school situated on a World War I Navy barge that was towed ashore and beached along Napeague Harbor and dedicated to the ideals of Victor D’amico, “that the arts are a humanizing force and their major function is to vitalize living.” As the arts are increasingly neglected by educational institutions, The Art Barge recognizes the artistic potential within every man, woman, and child. Through weekend workshops, open studio sessions, and evening events, The Art Barge is an accessible art center that prides itself on furthering arts education and reflecting the rich art history of Long Island.

This weekend The Art Barge is hosting an end-of-summer "Art Sail" and I was asked to participate. I am thrilled to be invited into such an artistic community and can't wait to see the variety of art and the artists who create it. Details are as follows:

 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Friday Sept 23 Reception
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday Sept 24 Exhibition
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Sunday Sept 25 Exhibition

Stop by when you can.

 

 

Summer at the Beach

On this the eve of the Autumnal Equinox, a.k.a. the last day of summer, I thought I'd share a slide show of summer fun at the beach. I love the beach and I love watching people of all sizes, shapes, colors, and ages enjoying sunny days playing in the water and sand. Everyone is happy at the beach, worries and cares left in the parking lot.

Beach time is a time to relax, bask in the sun soaking up all that vitamin D, and to test your skills at mastering the waves. Divers, swimmers, and jumpers alike are all smiling ear to ear as they return to the beach after a spin in the surf.

Happy last day of summer everyone. Enjoy the slide show.

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2016 Claudia Ward
Music: "Just Outside Paris" by Mark Adler; Soundtrack of "Bottle Shock"

 

The Mayor of Sagg Main

According to Merriam-Webster, a mayor is " an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough". Well, here on the East End, we have very own, self-appointed Mayor of one of the best beaches around, Sagg Main in Sagaponack. Lester Elliston is a local who adores Sagg Main and in season he is there every single day, rain or shine. He keeps an eye on everything and brings it to the right people's attention when something isn't as it should be. Lester loves to swim and is usually our source for knowing the water temps and the swimming conditions. The lifeguards this year were so impressed with his perfect attendance (even they take a day off), the "adopted" him by giving him an official lifeguard whistle.

If there's an event on the beach, Lester is there. Throughout the summer, there's drumming on the beach every Monday night. Started several years ago, this free-event is attended by tourists and locals, including our Mayor, of course. Dan's Kite Fly on the first Sunday in every August? Lester's there. And, of course, he'd never miss a Mimosa Monday, the day the locals reclaim the beach for themselves, even though he doesn't imbibe. It seems as though the Mayor is omni-present but we have seen him drive out of the parking lot at the end of the day, so we know he does go home.

Off season, the Mayor checks on the beach almost every day and he's "Lester on the spot" if there's a weather event. When hurricane Sandy came through around Halloween in 2012, Lester felt compelled to record the event for himself and posterity, which he did. He even interviewed Peter when we went down to investigate. The Mayor made no exception for the recent tropical storm Hermine, he was there proudly wearing the-one-and-only Mayor of Sagg Main hat.

Everyone knows the Mayor and he knows nearly everyone in turn. Whether ambling the beach, greeting one and all with a smile and a chat, swimming under the protective eyes of the lifeguards, or perusing the shore from the dune deck, our Mayor, Lester Elliston, keeps a loving eye on our beloved Sagg Main.

Coastal Home Bridgehampton

Bridgehampton's Coastal Home is one of two interior design and home furnishings stores owned by  Interior Designer Patricia McGrath. The second store is Coastal Cottage in Shelter Island Heights. According to Patricia, “Our store brand is easy to characterize, we furnish homes that emphasize their proximity to the water. We have new as well as custom furniture, beautiful artwork and art photography; both favorites of mine, and one of a kind vintage.”

Patricia saw my wave images and contacted me earlier this summer asking if I'd like to show some of my work in her stores. Needless to say I agreed and am thrilled with her display of five of my face-mount acrylics directly behind the register. They can't be missed. The store is packed with lots of fun, beachy decorating ideas. If you have a chance stop by the Bridgehampton store to see my waves and lots, lots more. Coastal Home is on the north side of Main Street right next to Thayer's Hardware and convenient parking.

 

Labor Day Weekend at the Beach

The forecast for Labor Day Weekend for the Hamptons was initially pretty bleak. Hurricane Hermine was not only going to visit with extreme tides and extremely strong winds, but she was going to linger just off the coast, ruining the entire weekend. Fortunately that didn't come to pass. The ocean surely did get churned up and tides were quite high but not as damaging as originally forecast. We had a great time visiting our favorite beach (Sagg Main) every day to see what effect Hermine was having on our shores. I found it particularly entertaining to observe the lifeguards every day - now you see them, now you don't - a chair one day, a mound the next, railing on the deck in the dunes by Monday, and finally the parking lot. Summer in the Hamptons is officially over.

Friday 9/2/16 

Saturday 9/3/16

 Sunday 9/4/16

 Labor Day - Monday 9/5/16

 

Tuesday 9/6/16

 

Tumbleweed Tuesday

Tumbleweed

On the East End of Long Island, the part some call "The Hamptons", the season between Memorial and Labor days is long, hard, and crowded, but it's also the season to work hard and make money. During these seemingly endless three months, we locals are taught tolerance from those who are the most intolerant. "In season", New York's beautiful people descend like locusts, taking possession of roads, beaches, and restaurants. Many of us question why we stay ... putting up with the crowds, and their entitlement and arrogance, but when these interlopers leave we are reminded very quickly why we stay. It's one of the most beautiful places on earth populated with hard-working, caring, bone-marrow good people who truly enjoy the simple things in life - good friends, good food, and a plainly simple good time.

Today is Tumbleweed Tuesday, the day after Marguerita/Mimosa Monday. Yesterday Sagg Main beach was filled with locals reclaiming the beach and celebrating survival with a beverage of their choice. Today the roads are once again empty (relatively-speaking), parking abounds, and a sense of sanity and calm has returned to our beloved East End. Not one car can be seen driving or parked along our street in the center of town, ergo Tumbleweed Tuesday. For those of us who live here, this is the start of our summer, "local summer". In the months of September and October, as the city-folk return to their unendingly fast-paced city-life and their concrete world, we are relaxing on empty beaches, enjoying warm waters, warm days, and cool nights.

We earned it and so do they.

Happy Tumbleweed Tuesday to our local friends. Maybe we can get together now.

 

 

 

 

"Sweet Imbalance" at The White Room Gallery

This is the final weekend for the "Sweet Imbalance" exhibition at The White Room Gallery at 2415 Main Street in Bridgehampton, NY.

The exhibition features Laura Benjamin's wonderful "candy-wrapper" art which is wildly entertaining and colorful, the uniquely visual and thought-provoking art of Robert Perez, and the very original photographic works of first-time exhibitor Lauren Loscialo.

In addition, the "group exhibit" has pieces by Bob Tucker, Mark Zimmerman, Kat O'Neill, Michele Dragonetti, Melissa Hin, Ann Brandeis, June Kaplan, EJ Camp, Dianne Marxe, Sally Breen, and yours truly, Claudia Ward.

If you saw the cover of Dan's Papers on August 5, the one with the beautiful water image and you want to see the original, stop by The White Room and enjoy Sally Breen's "East End Lace" - it's truly lovely.

My show-piece in this exhibit is "On Point" printed directly on aluminum.

Stop by the gallery before Sunday to see this eclectic blend of contemporary art.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomato season is upon us once again and what do I do here every year? Each and every August, I sing the praises of the farm grown tomato, especially the heirloom tomatoes.  On the East End of Long Island, we are very fortunate to have many farm stands all offering fabulous, locally grown fruits and vegetables from mid-May to late fall. However, only one near us grows and sells real heirloom tomatoes. You know ... the ones that come in bizarre and even awkward shapes and beautiful, bold colors. Babinski's Farm Stand at 160 Newlight Lane (south of the highway) in Water Mill is, hands-down, our favorite farm stand for heirloom tomatoes.

Babinski's Farm Stand - 160 Newlight Lane, Water Mill, NY

Over the past 6 years or so, we've had great fun finding lots of new things to make with these beauties such as Heirloom Tomato Basil Soup, Bruschetta, Caprese Salad, Tomato Tarte Tatin, Roasted Tomatoes with Fennel and White Beans, Chilled Tomato Peach Soup, and Tomato and Gruyere Galette. But, best of all is a simple slice with a drizzle of olive oil and a whisper of sea salt.

Delicious as this summer fruit may be, they are also striking in their appearance. Bright yellow, fire-engine red with orange stripes, deep purple with green marbling, and a wonderful variety of greens ranging from something close to evergreen to light, bright kelly green. They just make my heart sing and, of course, they beg to have their pictures taken. Inside and out these beauties satisfy so many senses, so I made a brief slide show of several of the closeups we've taken over the years to entertain and entice you to seek these heirloom treasures out.

 

Photos & Slide Show © Claudia Ward & Peter Tooker
Music: "Anticipation", Peter Breiner & Don Gillis - Edwardian Danse Music 

Soap Box Derby Sag Harbor, Sunday, June 26, 2016

June 26, 2016, the Soap Box Derby will be run on High Street in Sag Harbor for the fourth year in a row. I photographed the first one and can honestly say I hadn't had that much good clean fun in a very long time. Revisit my slide show of that event by clicking here if you want a "preview of coming attractions". The scouts, their families, the event's sponsors, and the entire community pull together and work hard to bring this event to everyone and anyone who will attend. They'll have a lot of fun and reap many rewards whether we're there or not, but I must tell you this is an event not to be missed.

Not many spectators will stay for all 40 plus runs, each of which only runs seconds, but catching just some of them brings joy to one's heart. The energies of all of these people with the organization and enthusiasm of Laurie Barone-Schaefer behind them create memories for everyone and bring them back for some of us.

Sunday at 1:00 p.m. on Main Street in Sag Harbor the parade begins, with the races to follow on High Street. Weather forecast is perfect for an event well worth watching.

Racing in Sag Harbor? Who ever heard of such a thing?

 

A Featured Gallery Exhibition

 

"At Sea", a Designer Showcase at The White Room Gallery, from June 7 to June 26 will feature EJ Camp, Michele Dragonetti, Jill Krutick, and me! I cannot tell you how excited I am to be a part of this and can't wait to see all our work hung in the gallery on Main Street in Bridgehampton.

Please come to the Artists' Reception Saturday June 11th between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. We would love to have you join us and are pretty sure you'll love what you see.

See you then!

 

The Cannonball Train

The Cannonball Train from Penn Station in NY to the Hamptons is the only way I traveled home on the weekends when I worked in the city. Most Long Island Railroad trains from New York to the East End took between 2½ to 3 hours, but the Friday evening Cannonball is an express to "the Hamptons" with the first stop being just 90 minutes after departure, in Westhampton Beach, making my trip home just less than two hours long.

During "the season" (May to September), the Cannonball doubles in size, going from 6 double decker cars to 12, requiring the train to stop twice at each station as the platforms only accommodate 6 cars at a time. I used to position myself in front of the last door of the sixth car ready to leap off the train, dashing for the stairs and Peter waiting in the car to whisk us home before all bedlam let loose. Hundreds of people disembark at each stop with all of the patience of a typical New Yorker and all trying to find their "honey" ASAP. It's a sight to see and one that I took great pleasure in photographing and turning in to a slide show the first Memorial Day Weekend, after the bank let me go.

I rarely repost but this one just makes me laugh. For those of us who live here year-round .... "They're heeeeere!"

 

See you in September!

 

The White Room Gallery

I am thrilled to inform you that I have been selected to be a contributing member of The White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton for the year April 2016 - March 2017. You may recall that I participated in a group show last February at The White Room, called "Love & Passion". That led to this invitation which means that I will participate in 2 featured shows and at least 4 group shows over that twelve month period. Artists in featured shows are allotted 35-40 feet of wall space (roughly ¼ of the gallery) to exhibit their work.

The White Room Gallery opened in Bridgehampton in the Spring of 2015 under the direction of Andrea McCafferty (former founder of the Crazy Monkey Gallery in Amagansett) and her partners Sally Breen and Daniel Schoenheimer. The new, and much larger space in Bridgehampton, "allows the continuation of the cooperative ideal, while also representing well-known artists in the community".

 

"Earth, Wind & Fire" was the first group show that I participated in. It featured June Kaplan, E.J. Camp and Susan Zises with group contributors including Mark Zimmerman, Ellyn Tucker, Kat O’Neill, Ann Brandeis, Michele Dragonetti, Claudia Ward, Melissa Hin, and Sally Breen. Each show is exhibited for about three weeks. 

The next show “The Golden Age of Rock n Roll Part II” will be shown between May 18 and June 5 and is already getting great press from The New York Times already. It's dynamic, original and colorful.

The Opening Reception for this show will be May 29th, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Following that will be my first featured show exhibiting June 7 - 26 with an Opening Reception Saturday June 11 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. To see some previews of pieces that will be included check out my page on The White Room Gallery website.

This is going to be a very exciting season at the gallery and I recommend checking out it's entire schedule as there are book signings and music events in the courtyard throughout the summer too.

More later.

 

 

Spring Equinox 2016

One week ago today was the official first day of Spring and for the second year in a row we had snow. I really don't mind. In fact, I love it - that's one of the many things I love about living in the northeast. Here's a quick look at what Spring looked like on the morning of March 20 in the Hamptons.

  

Photos & Slide Show © 2016 Claudia Ward
"A Nom de Plume/ Carnivale!" by Alexandre Desplat; Casanova Soundtrack

And 9 hours later it was all gone.

P.S. When I was confirming when the official start of Spring would be this year, I learned something I would probably never have discovered without the internet. Could I have lived without this little tidbit - of course, but I found it interesting in all its obscureness so I had to share it with you.

Spring equinox usually happens on March 20th or the 21st, and this year it will be the earliest since 1896 (120 years ago). Why? Well the reason goes back to Pope Gregory XIII, the guy who created the Gregorian calendar in 1582 (today's internationally accepted civil calendar).

A year on earth lasts 365.242 days which is dealt with by having most years have 365 days and every fourth year having 366 days; those years we call Leap Years. Under this system, a year is 365.25 days which is a hair longer than the actual length of a year. Trying to address this, Pope Gregory XIII declared that "years ending in '00' should not be leap years unless they are also diviseible by 400. So the year 2000 was a leap year but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not, and 2100 won't be either." 

According to EarthSky, via livescience.com, the 2000 leap year caused the Spring equinox to come about three-quarters of a day earlier than it did a century earlier in 1900. Ever since 2000, the March equinox of each leap year has happened earlier than the previous leap year, e.g. 2:25 a.m. EST in 2000, and 1:15 a.m. EDT in 2012 (on March 20th). This trend will continue until the end of this century and will even cross over to March 19th, e.g. 11:50 p.m. EDT in 2020, 11:06 pm. The earliest Spring equinox of the century will be at 10:03 p.m. EDT on March 19, 2096. (Check out the chart below.)

But remember Pope Gregory's rule, years ending in "00" shall not be leap years if they can be divided by 400, thus 2100 will not be a leap year and Spring will arrive later that year, by about a quarter of a day - once again on March 20th, around 9:01 a.m. EDT.

2000    March 20    02:25 a.m.    EST
2004    March 20    01:49 a.m.    EST
2008    March 20    01:48 a.m.    EDT
2012     March 20    01:15 a.m.     EDT
2016     March 20    12:30 a.m.    EDT
2020    March 19     11:50 p.m.    EDT
2024    March 19     11:06 p.m.    EDT
2096    March 19    10:03 p.m.    EDT
2100    March 20    09:01 a.m.    EDT

 

Home Clean Home

Home Clean Home is not a typo or an error on my part. As many of you know, we've been decluttering and cleaning for well over a month now and I can happily report that we are finished in the living spaces of the house.

Once upon a time, there were four properties in our family life: my house, his house, his step-mother's house, and our apartment in NYC.

My husband and I renovated the house that he has owned since the early 70s in 2002. At that time, I had just sold the 5 bedroom whaling captain's house in North Haven that I had run as a bed and breakfast. It also had two parlors, a den, a dining room and a sizable kitchen. All of the furniture, kitchenware, china, bedding and art work for this house was placed in storage awaiting the completion of the renovation. Challenge? The Corwin House was well over 4,000 square feet and our new house would be a little less than 2,000 square feet!

With the renovation complete, choices were made and some furniture was given to a cousin of Peter's who was thinking of also running a bed and breakfast. The rest remained in storage. 

Peter's step-mother lived just down the highway in a house that was built by her family in the 1730s.  She and her ancestors lived there all those years. When she passed away in 2006, we had several tag sales, auctioned somethings off, and then brought the rest to our tiny little house down the road. Never having met a bookcase I didn't like or a book I couldn't probably cherish, the last unoccupied corners and spaces were filled to the brim.

Finally, I was laid off from my job in New York in 2009 which meant we no longer needed the apartment there. Once more choices were made for what we would incorporate into the house. Now the final unoccupied surface spaces were filled with family photos and bric-a-brac. Our house had become an amalgamation of all four of these properties and was exceptionally over-crowded.

When we pulled all four together we had multiples of everything: 13 cutting boards, 11 wooden salad bowls, a dozen large platters, 5 sets of china, 9 crystal decanters, 8 liquid measuring cups, 9 cast-iron irons (the ones without cords), 6 sets of bathroom towels, 7 stand alone bookcases, close to 1,000 books, 7 TVs, 9 VCRs, 5 plant stands, 4 desks, and don't even get me started on our knives. You get the picture, multiples of everything.

The straw that broke this camel's back was this past year when my husband and I ran our photography business out of our house. The tiny den housed most of our large framed pieces with no floor space left for anything else, the queen size bed in the guest bedroom became a working platform for matting/bagging bin photos and for wrapping large pieces for transport, the front hall became a staging area for receiving inventory, and the kitchen became our workspace for doing all of our computer work.

There was chaos everywhere and it finally got to me. So in January we began the decluttering process, sharing books and family documents with relatives, sending excess furniture to storage, and planning for a Spring yard sale by placing sale items in a self-storage unit.

We made it and have survived to tell, so I thought I would share this slide show, of our decluttered little home - our home clean home.

 

Photos and Slide Show © 2016 Claudia Ward
Music: "Waltz for Peppie" by Ludovic Bource from The Artist Soundtrack

 

Winter Cleaning

Peter and I are getting a jump on Spring Cleaning while we're house bound in this Arctic blast. We've sent family letters and photos to our family archivist. We've contributed several book collections to my nephew's fledgling library. We've donated bags and bags of hardback books to the local fire department. We've gifted dessert plates and Creuset cookware to a good friend's son and his fiancé. Slowly but surely we're going through every category of things that we have including  liquor and look what Peter found in the back of the liquor cabinet. This (possible) single malt Scotch appears to be around 125 years old and it was a gift from Peter's boss, Ted Conklin, in the late '80s. 

For those of you who don't know, Peter worked as the bar manager of The American Hotel in Sag Harbor for about 17 years. "The hotel" as it is affectionately called by one and all is owned by Ted Conklin. The Conklins are a longstanding, prominent local family. Ted bought the hotel in 1972, and at that time it "was a decrepit boardinghouse and saloon with four outhouses out back and a cellar full of coal in a depressed whaling village turned depressed industrial village on the East End of Long Island" according to a NY Times article from August 2012. Peter began working at the hotel around 1973 and participated in its transition into a high end French restaurant with an award-winning wine cellar. During the time he was bar manager, Sag Harbor was a haven for artists, and writers. On any evening, at Peter's bar you could see Willie Morris, Wilfrid Sheed, Truman Capote, John Knowles, Irwin Shaw, Lucian Truscott, James Jones, or Tom Harris. Good conversation was king and no one cared about being seen.

Sag Harbor eventually transitioned to an unacknowledged part of the Hamptons - a part with no beach, no pretense, and, for a while at least, little sticker shock. All of that, sadly, has now changed as the simple houses of the town's factory workers are rapidly being torn down and replaced with Mc-mansions. New Yorkers, seeking new frontiers, have "found" the Harbor and are leaving their very large footprint on this formerly small and unpretentious village.

Think we'll sip a little of this Scotch this evening while we reminisce about the days of yore.

 

Love & Passion

"The Kiss" © 2015 Claudia Ward

Now that I have your attention, I'd like to tell you about the 11th Annual Love & Passion Art Show that will be at The White Room Gallery at 2415 Main Street in Bridgehampton NY for most of the month of February. I have been selected to show my image "The Kiss". There will be an opening wine reception on Saturday, February 6 between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m., and a closing wine reception on Saturday, February 26 between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. This is a juried show with the general public voting for Most Original, Most Thought Provoking, and Most True to Theme. The White Room is open Fridays through Sundays between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Best in Show Jurors are Karyn Mannix and Andrea McCafferty and the winner will win a two-week feature exhibition in a 1-3 person show in the summer of 2016.

In 2004, Karyn Mannix collaborated with Vito Sisti creating The Annual Love & Passion Show with the first show taking place at Karyn’s original gallery on Main Street in East Hampton. The show's main purpose was and is to bring the local community together in one common thought…Love & Passion. The show has morphed and moved to a variety of locations over the years; this year karyn mannix contemporary is teaming up with The White Room Gallery to bring the show back to the public with the sub-context being "Peace, Love & Understanding".

In 2000, Andrea McCafferty founded the Crazy Monkey Gallery, pioneering as the first Fair Trade boutique on the east end, selling artisan works from around the world. Within a few years the gallery gradually evolved to display artwork by local artists, and within a short time had transformed into a vibrant member of the Hamptons art community. In November of 2004, the Crazy Monkey reopened as the first co-operative Fine Art Gallery in the Hamptons, with a rotating stable of up to 24 artists, and operated until 2014. In the spring of 2015, Andrea McCafferty, with partners Sally Breen and Daniel Schoenheimer, opened The White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton NY. The new, and much larger space, allows a continuation of the cooperative ideal, while also representing well-known artists in the community.  

So if your wondering what you can do on these quiet winter weekends in the Hamptons, visit The White Room (it's right next to the Presbyterian Church) and enjoy each artist's spin on "Love & Passion" ... and don't forget to vote!

 

Open Window's Sixth Year - 2015

Open Window was ajar most of 2015 as energies needed to be directed toward our photography business. In fact, there were only 47 posts to Open Window in 2015 compared to 231 in its inaugural year. Sadly I found it much easier to post a photo or comment to Facebook from "the field", and I know many of you don't participate in Facebook.

"Second Thought" © Claudia Ward

At the beginning of 2015, we'd planned on exhibiting in two shows in Florida, the plans for which had to change as Peter hurt his back just before we left and needed surgery once we got there. Brave soul that he is however (and with doctor's approval), we did meet up with our friends in Rincon, Puerto Rico where Peter rested and recuperated, and I got some of the best wave images I've ever taken. 

Chatham Arts Festival 2015

Spring, Summer, and Fall were filled with art festivals in New York State and Massachusetts (Memorial Day to Thanksgiving). In all, we participated in 12 art festivals (10 outdoors and 2 indoors). In addition to those, we participated in our own private show at Ashawagh Hall along with two other incredibly talented artists, 4 gallery shows, and one Christmas Fair. There's a lot of work involved in planning and executing the participation in these shows, which I hope explains my absence from Open Window. It simply could not be helped. Not only did we meet incredibly wonderful artists and sponsors, but we also found individuals who truly love our work. Connections have also been made with a Surf Clothing Company, a couple of galleries, and a framer/gallery in the Design Center in Boston. As we all know, "it's not over 'till the fat lady sings" - please pray she sings.

Good fortune had us shooting in the Southern Caribbean for a week just before Christmas. Water may have been the draw but it was the sunrises, sunsets, and fall skies that truly took our breath away, every single day. 

The Freedom Tower © 2015 Claudia Ward

As I watched the attached slide show before sitting down to write this, what struck me was how very fortunate we have been in addition to having worked harder this year than either of us have for several. Given all that, the highlight of my year was spending two nights in downtown Manhattan in the beginning of December. Having been on Wall Street on 9/11 and living down there from that day until I left in 2009, I'd seen the cleanup, read about the plans, and watched the beginnings of rebuilding, but it wasn't until December 7th (truly) that I saw for the first time, in person, what has replaced all of that destruction/construction and I must say, it is nothing short of breathtaking.

Past & Present Downtown New York ©2015 Claudia Ward

We came upon the reflecting pools our first night walking back to our hotel after dinner and I can honestly say I wept to see what we have created in memory of so many and despite so few.

The Reflecting Pools in Lower Manhattan After Dark 2015 ©Claudia Ward

The next day we explored it all and Peter was even able to coax me to the top of the Freedom Tower - something I will remember for all of my days to come.

New York After Dark from the Top of the Freedom Tower ©2015 Claudia Ward

Despite all of the despair we all felt that day, there is nothing but hope in the air as you traverse the park, or linger to contemplate  - watching the waters cascading into the reflecting pools.

As 2016 begins - there's an Open Window for all of us.

I hope you enjoy the slide show of 2015.

 

Photos and Slide Show ©2015 Claudia Ward
Music: "Up with End Credits" from the soundtrack, Michael Giacchino

 

Peach Galette

How do I relax in the middle of the summer art festival season? I cook. It occupies my mind (a must), I enjoy the required organization (no surprise there), and the results are usually delicious (the reward for a job well-done). I haven't been able to partake as thoroughly as I would have liked in all the incredible fresh fruit and produce we have here on the East End this summer season, but I'm trying at every possible opening, and there was one last week. Guess what? Fresh peaches are here!

Peaches are my absolute favorite fruit on earth and my favorite preparation is the simplest - peeled, sliced, ripe peaches, with a dusting of confectioners sugar and a dollop of cold milk. It is a sublime way to start the day. However, today I started with something new: a Fresh Peach Galette with a dollop of vanilla ice cream (for calcium of course).

I bought almost two pounds of peaches from Babinski's Farm Stand just before last weekend, not wanting to miss them at the height of the season, and then the weekend and another art festival was upon us. By the time that was behind us, I'd lost a couple, which infuriated me, so I peeled and sliced the remaining peaches, and wrapped them under plastic in a bowl and put them in the fridge hoping I could buy myself one more day.

Cooking seemed in order for these peachy gems and I found the simplest recipe - for a galette. What's that?  I asked too. It's a simple pastry, wrapped around slightly sweetened cut fruit - making a "rustic" tart. Pâte Sucrée and it's cousin Pâte Brisée used to intimidate me but I can honestly say now that I find it simple to make, easy to roll out, and it makes the flakiest pastry in the world. The filling for this galette is simple too just peaches, a little sugar, a dash of salt, a little lemon juice and some cream of tarter to deal with all that peach juice. Try this before the season is over - it's wonderful for breakfast.

Pâte Sucrée
(1 12-13" pastry round)

1 cup all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
2 teaspoons sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons ice water
==================================

Place 1 cup of flour, the butter, sugar and salt in a food processor. Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 seconds. Add the ice water and pulse just until the pastry begins to hold together, about 6 to 8 times. Do not let it form a ball. Transfer the pastry to waxed paper, flatten the dough into a disk. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle with additional flour, incorporating 1 tablespoon at a time. Wrap the pastry in waxed paper. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Peach Galette
(Serves 8)

1 1/2 pounds peaches, sliced 1/2 inch thick (4 3/4 cups)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 disk Pâte Sucrée
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Sanding sugar (optional) for sprinkling
=================================

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, then parchment. Stir together fruit, granulated sugar, lemon juice, salt, and cornstarch.
• Roll out pâte sucrée into a 13-inch round, about ⅛ inch thick, on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to baking sheet. Arrange fruit in center, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold over border to enclose fruit, leaving center open. Brush crust with egg, and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
• Bake until golden brown and bubbling in center, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet 10 minutes, then slide galette on parchment onto a wire rack. Let cool completely. Serve with whipped or ice cream.

 

 

My Ad Image

The Paragon Festival of the Arts in Westhampton Beach is being held Saturday and Sunday this weekend and the Paragon Group has used my image "Shore Break" in the promotion campaign for the event. This is one of the top 50 art events in the country. How cool is that! Can you see my happy face?

Please come see me on the Great Lawn at 35 Main Street between 10-6 each day.

Westhampton Festival of the Arts

"Paragon: always original, always quality, always boutique!"

I am thrilled to be participating this weekend in the 7th annual Westhampton Festival of the Arts in Westhampton Beach, NY sponsored by Paragon. It will be on the Great Lawn at 35 Main Street Saturday September 5th (10-6) and Sunday the 6th (11-6). Bill Kinney is at the helm of Paragon Fine Art Festivals and arranges fine art festivals in premier locations in New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and all over Florida. This particular show is one of America's top 50 fine art events and features ceramics, glasswork, metalwork, painting, sculpture, and, of course, photography. Jurors, selecting participants, weigh their decisions 70% on the quality of the work and 30% on the artist's booth presentation - I feel quite honored to have been chosen, and guess what I've been told I have a corner booth (#35), which means more visibility and more art hung. The weather report is perfect, cooler (high around 80) and less humid with plenty of sunshine - so come visit us on your way to or from the beach, art won't spoil in the car and there's lots to see.

AND, keep you're eyes peeled in the local newspapers for ads for this event. In July, they asked me to submit copies of my image "Shore Break" with "the possibility of including it in the promotion of the Westhampton Beach Festival of the Arts". Let me know if you see it. 

 

Outstanding New Artist

This is a first - I was named "Outstanding New Artist" at The Mary O. Fritchie Outdoor Juried Fine Art Show which was held on the Westhampton Beach Village Green this past weekend. "Juried" to me has come to mean that a jury reviews your work and booth display before a show and then decides whether or not you will participate. All of the shows I've been participating in this summer have been juried in that way, and I've felt truly honored to have been selected amongst so many talented artists in so many different mediums. This, however, was the first show in which I've participated where judges awarded prizes in a limited number of categories to a handful of artists. So wasn't I surprised and thrilled when the representatives from the Chamber of Commerce stopped in my booth, congratulating me for being selected "Outstanding New Artist".

Although this show is heralded as the 43rd annual Mary O. Fritchie Show that only marks when Fritchie took "lead in orchestrating the annual summer assembly of artists in Westhampton Beach". In fact, the assembly of artists began in the summer of 1937 and probably occurred several undocumented years before that. Visiting artists would gather with "their paints, easels and canvases on the sidewalks along Main Street for a weekend in August to share their techniques." Each year word spread of the informal gathering of talent and more and more artists started appearing every year. "By the early 1950s, Main Street in Westhampton Beach became dotted with artists clad in paint smocks and their talented hands holding paint brushes dabbling in watercolor and acrylic or fervently etching in pencil or ink." The shows continued to grow each year with the involvement and structure of the local business community and chamber of commerce. "By the 1960s, Westhampton Beach had become a  destination for those desiring fine art." The caliber of this annual art show event has escalated each year "as the jury selection process has become more stringent and competitive thus gaining higher notoriety as one of the most respected art shows in the Northeast". This year the Chamber reported that over 140 artists displayed their work during the two day show.

Mary O. Fritchie Art Show Westhampton Beach

This weekend, I'll be showing in the 43rd annual Mary O. Fritchie Juried Art Show in Westhampton Beach in the charming park at the intersection of Mill and Main. The show runs from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Saturday August 1st and 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday August 2nd. Please stop by and say hello if you can, I'd love to show you some of my new waves.

 

Taste of Two Forks

The Hamptons were rockin' this weekend but the biggest attraction of all was the 5th annual Taste of Two Forks, billed by Dan's Papers as "the premier food & wine event on the East End". For those of you who don't know Long Island in the great state of New York, the East End of the island is made up of two forks: the North Fork and the South Fork, so the title is really quite clever.

Sayre Park in Bridgehampton (used as a parking lot for its neighbor the Hamptons Classic Horse Show in late August) was the location where a gigantic tent was erected. VIPs were permitted early access and even had their own seating area where they could watch the GP (general public) mill about, cue up for Casamigos Tequila, or pose for photographs that were streaming to a large screen monitor nearby.

We in the GP loitered about on the grass outside until the "flood gates" were opened at 7:30 p.m. when we funneled ourselves into a forced cue marked by zig-zagging fences that were intended to feed us (pun intended) in a somewhat measured manner into the tent.

The outside walls were lined with double-table locations for each of the 50 odd restaurants that were participating and those who couldn't fit along the walls joined the dessert and beverage purveyors in the middle, with a couple of "hot" cars and a few local designers advertising their wares. Over 16 of the East End wineries also shared their reds, whites, and rosés, and, of course, a band played lively dance music finishing off the party feeling of the evening.

What food did we sample you may wonder? Well Peter tried the tasting dish of 27 of the restaurants represented which included:

• The Hamptons Shrimp Cocktail Deconstructed and Reconstructed from The Inn Spot on the Bay (their words not ours),
• A Cornmeal Crusted Fried Bluepoint Oyster from Boutique Southampton (a favorite),
• Pork Belly in Hoisin BBQ from Harlow East (eye-rolling good), 
• Jerk Spiced Long Island Duck Tacos from 75 Main (yum), 
• Little Neck Clam Ceviche from Navy Beach (unique), 
• Chicken Satay in Creamy Peanut Sauce from Red Stix (easy to eat), 
• Applewood Smoked Duck Breast - Grilled local Sweet Corn and Baby Arugula Salad, Gingered Peach Relish from Ram's Head Inn (THE very best), 
• Lemon Curd with Strawberry and Rhubarb from Jedediah Hawkins (sublimely delicious), and
• Duck Confit with Soft Herb Cheese on an Edible Spoon (original).

 

Upon arrival we were provided with a clear plastic glass and were told we'd be using it all evening for any beverages we wanted to sample. We tried a couple of wines from the Martha Clara Vineyards on the North Fork which were really quite good, and Peter tried "The Go To" cocktail from Tito's Homemade Vodka which was mixed with elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice & ginger beer, but our favorite cocktail was the Casamigos Margarita Light, made with the best tasting tequila I've ever tasted and why wouldn't it be? The tequila was created by George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Feldman to be "the best-tasting, smoothest tequila" the taste of which didn't have to be covered up with salt or lime. Now that was refreshing.

Thousands of people, including us, made their way around the tent several times and after an hour and a half we'd had enough of the throngs, theater, and food, so we walked the length of the park to retrieve our car which had had to be parked at the far end of the park in the long grass.
We were lucky to be on the park property, the overflow parking was down the road in the parking lot at Bridgehampton Commons. Satiated, we smiled as we drove out of the park at sundown, happy to have participated in the Hamptons social scene this year, but even happier to be headed home.

"Sold"

"Harbor Moon" © Peter Tooker

In the world of art shows, there's one little thing each artist hopes to see and that's the "little red dot". The red dot is placed on the label that is on the wall next to each piece and it tells the world that that item has been sold. Recently Peter has been seeing lots of dots.

"Autumn Sky" ©Peter Tooker

Peter and I both now belong to Guild Hall and the Springs Improvement Society (S.I.S.) in East Hampton and participated in their members' shows during the last month. Peter submitted his very popular "Harbor Moon" printed on metal to the Guild Hall show and it sold the first night during the opening reception. For the S.I.S. show in Ashawagh Hall, Peter showed "Autumn Sky" printed on canvas and it too sold early in the show. So Peter's seeing lots of dots and hopes this is "the beginning of a beautiful friendship" with the art-buying public.

Bravo!

Westhampton Beach

"Curtain Call" © 2015 Claudia Ward

In the wonderful village of Westhampton Beach this weekend, where Mill Road and Main Street meet, there will a small art show on the green in the center of town. I will be participating once more - this the second outdoor festival of our "season". The show will run for Saturday (10-6) and Sunday (10-5) and I sincerely hope you'll stop by to say hello if you're in "the hood".

Many of you have been so supportive and interested in our endeavors, especially asking to hear more after our first show in Montauk two weeks ago. There was a LOT for us to digest and rethink, and there have been preparations to make for this show and others coming up this month, so I have had little time to write. But, I should be able to share some of these adventures with you after this weekend - some funny and some alarming (at least to me). I promise I will try.

In the meantime, come if you can, and if nothing else, please stay tuned.

 

East End Photographers Group Spring Photography Show

Organized in 1988, the East End Photographers Group (EEPG) is the longest exhibiting arts organization at Ashawagh Hall with the exception of the Springs Improvement Society. The EEPG is having its annual members' show this weekend at Ashawagh Hall. Each photographer is allotted 6 running feet of wall space and will show between three to six images. The show runs from Saturday, May 30th to Sunday June 7th. The Opening Reception will be tomorrow at the Hall between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Peter and I are both showing works at the show - Peter's are all on canvas and mine are all printed on metal. The variety we saw when we dropped off our pieces yesterday was wide and promises that the show will be captivating. 

The Opening Reception will be fun with "Funk & Fusion" music on the patio from "Out East", but if you miss that and still want to view great images to music stop by the Hall on Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to hear the "Acoustic Healing Music" of Gene Hamilton & Friends, or Friday between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. for "Americana/ Folk Music" played by Job Potter & the Friends Band", or hear the "New Metal" music of "Volcan Destructol" on Saturday June 6th between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Normal gallery hours are weekends between 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. and weekdays between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Peter and I both joined the EEPG this year so this is our first showing with other photographers from the East End and we can't wait to get to know them and their work. We love spending time and sharing with like-minded individuals. Hope you join in the festivities.

Art on the Montauk Green Memorial Day Weekend

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend, The Montauk Artists Association will sponsor the Memorial Day Weekend on the Green Art Show. I was selected to be among the 90 odd artists to participate this year and I can't tell you how excited (and anxious) we are.

In the past several weeks, we made some additions to our little gallery by adding a much needed back door and also a French door to give us back that back-door wall space. We've rehearsed twice erecting the tent, weighing it down, and hanging the art in our backyard, and now feel we're as prepared as we can possibly be. There are lots of new waves this year presented on wonderful materials like metal, canvas, and acrylic, with unusual names like "Second Thoughts", "Curtain Call", and "Lit from Within".

I hope you'll come by the show - it's always fun, and the weather is going to be perfect for strolling around the green. It "opens" at noon tomorrow (Friday) and at 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and it runs until 6:00 p.m. each day. 

Come one, come all, you'll have a good time in Montauk this weekend.

P.S. Peter and I are also participating in the 31st Annual Springs Improvement Society Members' Art Show at Ashawagh Hall in Springs, East Hampton this weekend. This indoor show will be running from May 22th to the 25th, with a reception being held on Friday evening from 5:00-8:00 p.m. serving wine and hor d'oeuvres. There's a $5.00 charge at the door to get in, but what a wonderful cause to support - our own little gallery in the Springs. 

First Day of Spring on the East End

Granted March allegedly "comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" but today is the first official day of Spring and we got four more inches of snow.

It started falling yesterday afternoon and didn't really stop until about 11:00 a.m. today.

This is what the first day of Spring looked like this morning. 

And this afternoon? It's almost all melted. We're back to the packed snow and ice from late January.

Spring please bring us your color and brightness soon.

 

Memorial Day Weekend on the Montauk Green

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 22, 23, and 24, you'll find us on the Montauk Green! I've been accepted into the Memorial Day Weekend juried show and we are thrilled to be showing locally.

We've been to this show many times and always love the energy, not only of the artists but the crowd as well. Weather permitting, there's a smile on everyone's face.  Here's hoping this will be the first of many.

Open Window's Fifth Year

First Sunset of the New Year on Baker Beach San Francisco CA ©2015 Claudia Ward

It's hard for me to believe that it was five years ago this week that I began Open Window as a blog to feature posts on travel, food, photography and life in the "not-so-fast lane". Not unlike last year, posts to Open Window were less frequent this year as attention had to be paid to building the business part of our photography venture and to participating in art shows whenever possible. We did travel some, starting the year in San Francisco, taking a slow road trip south to visit friends and sisters in Florida in the Spring, and swinging by Newport RI, on the way back from the Cape, for the start of the Newport Bermuda Race in June.

Newport Bermuda Race Start 2014 © Claudia Ward

Summer found us attending any and all art festivals that we could find on either fork of the East End, researching tents, displays, and transport. We were pleasantly surprised by how helpful and forthcoming so many of the artists are, making us feel more confident about our decision to embark on the Art Festival Circuit this year. We've bought a tent, a trailer, and lots of prints, and have been accepted into two juried shows and have seven other applications pending. This is going to be a year filled with lots of learning and adventure, and we're looking forward to it with excited trepidation. Please do stay tuned.

Art Show Booth

Our photography was focused much closer to home this year which resulted in a series of still life projects centered on all manner of fruits and vegetables. Those shoots were some of my happiest days this year and I'm glad to be able to share some of the images with you now.

Basil & Tomatoes © 2014 Claudia Ward

As always thank you all for your continued interest and support. I hope you enjoy this summary slide show of 2014 - Open Window's fifth year!

 

Happy New Year everyone!

HooDoo Loungers at the Sag Harbor American Music Festival

The last weekend in September was all about music around these parts and one of the highlights was the Fourth Annual Sag Harbor American Music Festival. It started Friday night and there was a full day of music on Saturday. In every nook and cranny of Sag Harbor music was heard from 10:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night - in the corners and open windows of restaurants, in art galleries, in alleyways now called stages, on lawns, on sidewalks, in tiny courtyards, and even on the street - music was in the air. Country music, blues, folk, rock 'n roll, jazz and even New Orleans Mardi Gras-style party music could all be heard somewhere throughout the day.

The HooDoo Loungers started the day in the alleyway next to the American Hotel, a location known only today as the Off Main Stage. Their music is simply wonderful - New Orleans party music - with two incredible singers out front, a three piece horn section, and a great rhythm section.

Lively, dynamic and entertaining, the singers and horn section got off the platform several times, joining the crowd on the tarmac singing, playing, and dancing with old and young alike - we felt like they were part of us and we were part of them with everyone simply having a good time.

We had such a good time and enjoyed their music so much, I wanted to share a little of it with you, so here's a slide show set to some of their own music, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

  

The HooDoo Loungers at the Sag Harbor American Music Festival
Photos and Slide Show © 2014 Claudia Ward
Music: "I Want You To Be My Baby" by the HooDoo Loungers

According to their website, their next performance on the East End is at The Stephen Talkhouse, from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on November 21st - seek them out, you'll have a fun time and hear some great music.