Oh what a night!
Hey there,
I know that you probably thought - OH NO! Monkey forgot to write her blog. Waaaah. Fear not gentle reader, I'm here!
Just walked home from Queen and Richmond (that's a GREAT walk by the way) after attending the reception and opening for an incredible art exhibit by Sandra A. Morris (Sam) entitled "New Orleans: Life Interrupted." Her photography from Katrina truly captures the emotions, frustration, pain, and heartbreak felt by the people who were abandoned by the country and the government.
Back tracking a wee bit here - Sam's wife Mary Rowe was my boss back in the mid 80's when I had just graduated from University. While I only worked for Mary a short time, I enjoyed my time in the office and her professionalism (and fabulous sense of humour) always stuck with me. Mary's father was actually my favourite Professor at Western. Talk about layers, huh?
A few years ago I decided to find Mary online and thank her for the work ethics she instilled in me all those years ago. Finally tracked her down and discovered that she was also on Flickr (this was before I joined Facebook). Then I found out that her wife Sam was an extremely gifted artist and I immediately became a fan. They were living in the U.S.
Left Flickr in 2008 but continued to visit their pages.
Fast forward to this year when I located Mary on Facebook and then found Sam again! Bliss!! A few weeks ago, Mary sent out a Facebook invite for tonight's event and I knew I had to attend. Was so lovely seeing Mary again and to finally meet Sam.
OH and the art - let me tell you! While the Flickr pages and Facebook images are wonderful, I wasn't prepared for the emotional impact of seeing the art "live"! I walked around the gallery and happily absorbed every photo and painting into my memory. The colours were spectacular, the energy intense, and stories were moving.
I was one happy gal when I left.
You can visit Sam's art at www.sandraamorris.com and tell her that Chartreuse Monkey sent you! If you are in Toronto, you can view Sam's art until October 31, 2009.
Hope you had a great Saturday. Here's to a great Sunday!
Linda
I know that you probably thought - OH NO! Monkey forgot to write her blog. Waaaah. Fear not gentle reader, I'm here!
Just walked home from Queen and Richmond (that's a GREAT walk by the way) after attending the reception and opening for an incredible art exhibit by Sandra A. Morris (Sam) entitled "New Orleans: Life Interrupted." Her photography from Katrina truly captures the emotions, frustration, pain, and heartbreak felt by the people who were abandoned by the country and the government.
Back tracking a wee bit here - Sam's wife Mary Rowe was my boss back in the mid 80's when I had just graduated from University. While I only worked for Mary a short time, I enjoyed my time in the office and her professionalism (and fabulous sense of humour) always stuck with me. Mary's father was actually my favourite Professor at Western. Talk about layers, huh?
A few years ago I decided to find Mary online and thank her for the work ethics she instilled in me all those years ago. Finally tracked her down and discovered that she was also on Flickr (this was before I joined Facebook). Then I found out that her wife Sam was an extremely gifted artist and I immediately became a fan. They were living in the U.S.
Left Flickr in 2008 but continued to visit their pages.
Fast forward to this year when I located Mary on Facebook and then found Sam again! Bliss!! A few weeks ago, Mary sent out a Facebook invite for tonight's event and I knew I had to attend. Was so lovely seeing Mary again and to finally meet Sam.
OH and the art - let me tell you! While the Flickr pages and Facebook images are wonderful, I wasn't prepared for the emotional impact of seeing the art "live"! I walked around the gallery and happily absorbed every photo and painting into my memory. The colours were spectacular, the energy intense, and stories were moving.
I was one happy gal when I left.
You can visit Sam's art at www.sandraamorris.com and tell her that Chartreuse Monkey sent you! If you are in Toronto, you can view Sam's art until October 31, 2009.
Hope you had a great Saturday. Here's to a great Sunday!
Linda
Posted by Chartreuse Monkey at 10/24/2009 9:27 PM 
Categories: Sandra A. Morris, Mary Rowe, art
Tags: art
Categories: Sandra A. Morris, Mary Rowe, art
Tags: art
Linda! What a lovely, gracious entry and how wonderful to have you at the opening!
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Hi Mary,
My pleasure!! I am still giddy from the show. Safe travels back to the US.
Hugs to you and Sam.
Linda
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The local government in New Orleans didn't do anything to protect its citizens when it knew if a Katrina hit it would wipe out the city. The federal government, for some reason, waited for local authorities to request assistance when Katrina did hit and lost precious time in the aftermath of the flooding. But I have to take issue with saying the country abandoned them. Many churches from every part of the country sent teams of volunteers to help cleanup, and continued to do so year after year. The thing that bothers me is we'll drive cross country to help strangers who knowingly lived below sea level in a hurricane-laden area, but the same people often won't help their local neighbors in mundane things like meals on wheels or esl tutoring or literacy help or giving blood at the Red Cross. We need artists to demonstrate that plight on canvas. It's good to showcase the extraordinary, but what about the everyday?
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True Steve, very true. From the Canadian perspective we got a very different view mind you. American citizens were amazing and did a tremendous amount of good work! The federal government's initial response (or lack of) was alarming. Our news showed stranded individuals on rooftops waving signs for help. That's the biggest imprint up here.
Sam's work (especially photography) shows the heart of New Orleans, the people, and their incredible spirit.
I visited New Orleans in 1989 and loved the city, the people, THE FOOD!
So true too that we tend to want to help those "over there" and not right in our own backyward.
Thanks for your comments!
Linda
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