Lunchtime Artistes in the Park

It was a lovely and very clear blue sky 61 degree day when I decided to go to the park at noon to shoot some photos of my artwork in natural lighting. It was still chilly in the shade but in the sun it was bright and warm.

I tried to find an isolated corner, but in the city, that it is kinda hard to do. So, I really thought that I had found one when I positioned my miniature paintings on a stone bench in an alcove that overlooked the walking trail. And then. . . what is that I heard?. Oh my goodness. I looked over the stone wall and there was a man sitting along the trail and strumming his acoustic guitar and yes, he began to sing. It was incredible. I loved the company of another quirky artiste on a lunch hour excursion. Very cool! His style was a blend of Springsteen and Dylan I think. A woman walked by and said "that's good, you should go on American Idol". I tried not to stare too much and to let him continue his lunch hour practicing uninterrupted.

I continued my journey across the street and strolled through the park gift shop that always gives me wonderful ideas. There are lovely flowers scattered around the grounds and a very quaint cafe for al fresco dining. I decided to take some more photos but this time of the scenery. The Pittsburgh Frick Mansion shown here was built circa 1870 and purchased by Henry Clay Frick in 1892. There New York Home was built in 1913. Truly extravagant mansions and built at a time when my great grandparents and grandparents were coming over through Ellis Island and all of their belongings had to fit into one trunk. I had done some research but it was hard for me to figure out how Frick made his fortune and how their lives read so differently from that of my own grandparents. I found a book once about the Battle at Homestead and learned that Frick was one of the steel mill bosses for Carnegie during some of the darker times in American History.

Frick's favored daughter, Helen, inherited 38 million dollars in 1919 and became the richest single woman in the United States. Beautiful and well known for her feisty temperament, she remained unmarried and was very passionate about art. Oh, and did I mention that there is also a greenhouse on the grounds with huge banana trees growing?

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.”
― Etty Hillesum