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Labor Day
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- At work.
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- Scattered solitude.
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- With one’s pet.
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- Peacefulness in the pages of a book.
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- Last chance at sunbathing while relaxing.
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- Choosing to isolate one’s self.
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- A private hide away to read or play.
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- Children run down a desolate slope.
For this shoot I set out to discover Labor Day. I found that although most people expect there to be an outbreak of parties and barbequing, a large number of people take this day to collect themselves and relax while reading or taking in the peaceful atmosphere that surrounds them. I felt it was important to explore this aspect of Labor Day and the quietude that is present as summer fades into memory.
Posted in Assignment One - Event
4 Comments
My Grandmother’s ‘Life’ After Retirement
I did my environmental portrait on my grandmother, Rose Marie Debonis. She was born May 21st, 1939 to Rafael and Carmela Marotta. Her childhood was spent around her family which she always happily reminices; when her parents and grandparents were alive. For most of her young life she lived on Bleecker Street in Manhattan. According to my grandmother, ” in those days there were a lot of Italians.” If she wasn’t in Manhattan she was visiting her grandparents, Frank and Maria Cirella in Staten Island which was where most of her family lived at the time. When she was 18 she began to date my grandfather, Pete Debonis and married him when she was 21 years of age. At the age of 25 she gave birth to my mother, Isabelle DeBonis who grew up in Queens and had three daughters; Jaclyn, Nicole and Samantha.
Ever since the day I was born my grandmother has helped my parents no matter what was needed. As a result, she has always had authority in my house. She may live down the hall but she is like a third parental figure who not only gives us money but also offers my sisters and I sensible advice she hopes we take into consideration. Aside for caring for her three granddaughters she loves to take care of her “two [other] furry grandchildren”: Sephora and Thumper. In the past she has driven us to school, work, and to do errands. She has always cooked and cleaned not only for herself but for us too, “like a servant” as she always says. I appreciate my grandmother and love her for so many reasons I just hope I can give her what she has given me. Even so, I aspire to be like her someday and when I tell her that she says “well, start now then.”
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- Grandma posing with her two furry grandchildren in her house on a typical Saturday afternoon.
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- She has always kept pictures of those she loves most up in her hallway.
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- My grandmother’s grandfather and grandmother were immigrants from Miglionico, Italy in the early 20th century which was when this painting was done.
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- She’s so meticulous about cleaning that she has to clean everyday. Yet, she really makes those countertops shine.
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- Grandma spending time with her “furry granddaughter” because she decided to give grandma a visit.
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- Thumper looking like a saint in Grandma’s sink, but looks are deceiving.
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- Thumper attempting to jump off grandma’s sink just before he runs around ragged around Grandma’s house.
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- Grandma feeding Thumper, her “furry grandson” broccoli after we all ate dinner on a Sunday night.
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- After dinner and desert Grandma becomes inseparable from her crossword puzzles which she does every night and morning.
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- As always Grandma is always preparing side dishes for the next day, this one is Italian-style roasted artichokes:olive oil, breadcrumbs,salt, pepper and a lot of love.
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- Grandma has always shined a light on her loved ones because they’re most important to her;” your immediate family is what counts.”
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- Before she retires to her bedroom to get sleep for the next day, she makes sure “the gases on the stove and knobs on faucets are closed” and that everything is order right down to her shoes being “on the rug ” and not her “clean floor.”
Labor Day at the Smith House
There are many ways to celebrate Labor day. This year my parents and my siblings were supposed to attend a family barbeque out in Long Island.
Unfortunately my father had gotten sick so we had to miss that family affair in early September 2010. Instead we shopped for my sister’s art class supplies and my photograpghy supplies.
Afterward, we went home and my father cooked shish kabobs and home made, deep-fried chicken along with other side dishes. My grandmother thought we did not have enough greens within our meal so she had cooked string beans.
We were disappointed that we could not go to the family barbeque, but we had created our own family barneque at home. It was small, but it was a perfect way to celebrate an American holiday like Labor Day.
*captions are on bottom of photos*
Posted in Assignment One - Event
3 Comments
pianist.
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- Just another friday morning on the commissioner office.
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- Teaching leadership skills in new jerseys youth.
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- Kevin, a second year student, signs in for his drums and piano lesson.
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- “Last year i just learned a lot of things, a lot!” kevin replied as he showed his skills at the drums.
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- Mr.Ng, plays the piano accompaniment of his own music as kevin learns the percussion to
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- “Me muero porti”, (I’ll die for you) will be showcased at the tribute gala in Dominican Republic
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- While writing the receipt for a student he explains that the best part of his day is sharing his love of music with others.
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- Klarissa, at eight years old, studies the piano as well as singing.
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- Klarissa’s younger brother Jose also studies the piano for the last three years.
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- Some lessons are better taught physically rather then orally.
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- In between classes, Kennedy takes breaks to unwind with his piano.
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- Only a week away from the the Tribute Gala, Mr. Ng puts some last minute touches on his original score.
On a typical day Kennedy Ng gets up and goes to work as a board member of the city commission for Union city , New Jersey building development. At four o’clock he leaves walks two blocks down to his music school, where he teaches for another five hours. But for the last few months he has began to jungle a whole new set of responsibilities, he is the composer and musical producer for a Tribute to Merengue sensations in Dominican Republic. Being his daughter I was lucky enough to see a first hand look to such an extremely busy man’s lifestyle.
Friday, being a day of leisure for most people, ends up being the busiest of Kennedy Ng. As the head of the board of Commissioner he is the right hand man to the mayor and the go to man for Union CIty residents. Apart from this he also takes few days of the month to play at retirement homes which brings him back to his roots of music therapy. After leaving Dominican Republic conservatory, he attended Jersey City University and graduated with a bachelors degree in Music and Psychology. This lead to his work in a Psychiatric Home for thirteen years, helping bring patients back to moments in their lives that were peaceful or maybe those that brought back pain so that psychologists would be able to help. Also after graduating from University he began teaching on the side latin percussion instruments until he opened his own school which has been opened for about twenty-five years. This has become the joy of his day after a long day at work.
His latest project is producing a Tribute to Merengue Sensations in Dominican Republic. So, for the last few months he has been traveling back in forth to Dominican Republic in order to work with musicians in person. On the little spare time he rehearses his own original score which plans to unveil at the Gala. Not to mention he is a father of four, so every sunday he takes a break for few hours and spends some much needed quality time with his family.
