morgana and i walked the high line at 9:40 this morning on our way to meet ellen at the allan stone gallery.
it was rainy enough that we needed our umbrellas. she's been using nonno's umbrella when necessary (even though i would like to buy her a met umbrella or a marimekko umbrella. she keeps refusing.) he gave us this umbrella years ago when it was pouring and we didn't have one in our car. he pulled it out of his car, of course. his car was always filled with important accoutrements such as umbrellas, first aid kits, measuring tapes, towels, fire extinguishers and jumper cables.
the allan stone gallery was having an exhibition of paintings by george deem, ellen's boyfriend of many years who passed away in 2008.
the pieces on exhibit were produced in 1961 - 1963, just before ellen met george in 1964.
he grew up on a farm in indiana. he helped his father grow cantaloupes along with his older sister, until a teacher persuaded the family that he should study art, and he moved to the school of the art institute of chicago.
years later he moved to nyc, where he and ellen met in a dance class at the mary anthony studio on broadway. he collaborated with her on several dances she choreographed, especially walkaround vermeer, johannes vermeer being his favorite artist. in the photo above, morgana is demonstrating one of the dance moves he created for vermeer's solo in the group piece.
afterwards, we had coffee together at a cafe up the block from the gallery.
we enjoyed talking with ellen about her adventures in europe. she visited russia and met her relatives there in 1965. she visited tolstoy's home with the help of a resident who enthusiastically showed her how to get there. she said she wasn't supposed to go so far outside of moscow (according to the authorities), but who can resist a visit to tolstoy's estate, yasnaya polyana?! she said they had his study arranged as if he had just left the room.
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