inspiration

"Love yourself, love your work, love the people around you. Dare to love those who are different from you, no matter where they're from, what they look like, and who they love. Pursue this life of love with focus and passion and ambition and courage. Give it your all. And that will be your path to true success."

This excerpt is from John Legend's commencement speech.

It's....different

As a baby I ate anything...I have the pictures to prove it. As a child I could not have been pickier. The first time I went to South America with just my grandparents. My mother told me if I refused to eat the food I was given it would be seen as a sign of disrespect. I had to eat everything on my plate. . . always! Never mind the fact that I spoke about ten words of Spanish, I was terrified of the food situation and all the horrible things I would be forced to eat. Through this experience I learned that food from Bolivia is not bad (in fact it's great) just different. I developed an understanding that we make the best with what is around us and that is how we shape our culture, cuisine, rituals, and so on.

I have lived in New York City, home of the greatest bagels you will ever eat. I do not think there is any controversy there. Presently, I am eating a bagel from an organic bagel shop in Massachusetts and I have to say it might be the worst bagel I ever had. It is more like a stale roll with a hole in the middle of it but I will make do and eat it because there isn't anything wrong with it really. It is not that this is the worst bagel, it is just different.

Some people can't handle something that is different. Sometimes you need to gain some perspective and think 'whoever made this bagel had different ingredients and different limitations than a New York bagel-maker'.

We all have a goal to succeed in life, some of us just have different ways of getting there or they do not desire the same goal as us. The person who made the bagel I am currently eating wanted to make a decent organic bagel. The baker at the bagel shop in New York is competing with fellow great bagel makers in the Mecca of bagels. In the end...it's just a bagel.

Abstract Art in Western Massachusetts

I love contemporary art, the creative process has evolved and it is truly beautiful to see. The work that artists are creating today is so different than what used to be considered masterpieces but that is what makes is beautiful and unique. Understanding contemporary art does not come easy to the masses and I believe this comes from a lack of understanding of the creative process. I am beginning to emerge my career in the contemporary art world, this past summer I got my foot in the door at several places in New York City and I am very excited for the future. Currently, I am finishing my last year of my undergraduate degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am working as an art consultant for local artist Lorna Ritz who is an inspirational abstract painter. She has worked all over the world and is truly a unique person and that can be seen in her interesting interpretations of landscapes and emotion.

One of my personal favorites by Lorna is "Mt. Norwottuck and Apple Trees" This mountain can be found in Western Massachusetts where she was inspired to paint the beautiful fall colors. The foliage in New England is really something spectacular, people come from all over just to spend an afternoon or weekend seeing the foliage themselves. The ability to capture the beautiful red, yellow, and orange colors that so harmoniously illuminate the Berkshire Mountain Range of Western Massachusetts.


                          


To learn more about Lorna Ritz please visit lornaritz.com

If interested in looking at what is available for sale from her, please visit:          https://www.etsy.com/shop/LornaRitzPaintings

To pay for a drone strike or a patients cancer treatment?

What if, GOD FORBID we valued the life of every American citizen. What if health care for every citizen was included in the homeland defense budget? Couldn't we argue that the health and well-being of citizens of this country was of the upmost importance? In order to be a successful and productive global power we need to have a health care infrastructure that provides a defense against foreign invaders whether they be illness or a missile strike. Why will the government spend every penny they have against a drone strike or just at the idea of another country having the ability to create a nuclear weapon (the recent crisis in Syria) but they would not help pay for cancer treatments? Our country needs to really question their priorities...

Starstruck

Living on the Upper East Side means passing by the high end fashion boutiques on Madison Avenue pretty regularly. I am a full-time student, working part-time and I do not have a trust fund so I do not find myself able to purchase clothes on Madison Avenue very often. However, I do love to walk in them to just see what styles are popular at the moment, it is one of my favorite past times while living here. A more affordable store on Madison Ave is Joe Fresh, it is one of my favorites for the great price and very sleek and traditional style. (After taking a recent style test I have learned I am a traditionalist, this is no surprise to me.)
When I am not galavanting up Madison Avenue or working at El Museo I find myself working as a hostess at a small American Bistro on the UES. Last night was a typical night at the restaurant, pretty busy but we usually are. Usually customers see me walking by their table and will ask me a question or if I could get their server or get some pepper for them, nothing major. Some customers like to make some small talk with you, there was a customer last night who asked me to run his credit card for him and when I came back he said "I want you to know that I really love this restaurant, I just started coming here and I have such a great time every time." I obviously get delighted to hear compliments about the place I work. I replied "I am so glad to hear that, you know it's a really residential area so we do have a lot of regulars and we like that. We like giving you an experience that makes you want to come back." I then politely introduced myself and he did as well, he said his name was Joe from the store Joe Fresh and with him was one of his designers Paul. I was ultimately a little starstruck but also awed at how humble this man was. I let him know of my art background and he really engaged in a conversation with me about my interests and where I could see myself working. I am so very appreciative to have met these gentlemen, they showed me a different side of the art world and that there are down-to-earth UESiders.
Today I have done some research on the background of these two established designers. I learned that they also are the founders of Club Monaco which is another well-established retail store in Manhattan. I feel very blessed to have met them and I hope our paths cross again sometime in the future.

Trying to Have it All

Hi there, my name is Dara Chelle and I love art. More than art I love any creative expression, for example; music, poetry, literature, painting, sculpture, film, anything. I am study art history, seems appropriate. I do not have much creative talent besides being a pretty elaborate story teller and I have extensive karaoke talents. Alas, I am merely an admirer which is okay because when I invest my time into something I really mean it. Right now I am living in New York City in Manhattan's Upper East Side. I have been seeing as much art as I can in both museums and galleries as well as, working part time for a museum and at a restaurant (to make ends meet). I am also helping out an artist who is friends of the family with some projects he has going on.