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Category Archives: Profiles
Protected: Profile on Cristabelle Tumola; Draft–
Posted in Neighborhoods, ProfilesDRAFTS
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Protected: ‘Horsing’ Around in Forest Hills: Draft
Posted in ProfilesDRAFTS, Uncategorized
Tagged Thomas Seubert
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Protected: Neighborhood Query: Carolina’s Journey through Spanish Harlem
Posted in ProfilesDRAFTS
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Protected: Parkchester Provides Creative Inspiration
Posted in ProfilesDRAFTS
Tagged Earl Mays, Profile Draft
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Neighborhood Face: Riley Greene
Paintbrush in hand, Riley Greene began to transform an empty hallway into a canvas that made others stop and stare. With strokes of blues, greens and reds Riley’s mural slowly became part of her high school, Williamsburg Prep.
Even before setting her mind in pursuing a career in art, Riley Greene was developing her artistic abilities throughout her childhood days. “I remember having drawing competitions with my aunt, drawing objects, “Riley Greene recalled, “I would lose but failing helped me.”
Evelyn Mendez, a college student from Williamsburg wants to be a famous artist one day and goes by her artist alias Riley Greene. Majoring in Illustration in Fashion Institute of Technology, Riley hopes to obtain a career in art whether it be a career in advertisement, illustrating books or designing clothes.
Riley’s love for art developed during her sophomore year in Williamsburg Prep. Before then, she was undecided on what career path she wanted to take. Her high school allowed her to gain some experience. She illustrated for the school’s magazine for two years and painted a mural in the school’s hallway.
Being in a school where she draws all day, Riley likes to do non-related art work when she feels inspired. “I finished my homework at 1:00 am, so tired but I feel like I needed to draw because I hadn’t drawn all week.”Boyfriend and self-proclaimed manager, Joe Julian, encourages her to network and get her name around. “She’s a perfectionist,” he describes. Her need for perfection elongates the time she works on a piece but it also makes sure that when she is finished, she is satisfied with the final product.
In a neighborhood of artists, one must be persistent and original to stand out. Riley feels like there is no need to feel like other artists are her competition because everyone has their own style. “It all comes down to what you draw,” she said “what you may be good at another person might not.”
Although Williamsburg is a neighborhood filled with artists and creative hipsters, it didn’t have an influence on Riley’s decision to pursue art. “It’s not quiet, which is great,” Riley said referring to Williamsburg. “It’s a great environment, people can express themselves without restrictions. Riley hates the fact that Williamsburg is a divided neighborhood, the have and have-not’s. She believes that the division creates problems and tensions that are not necessary.
She is influenced by M. C. Escher. He is a famous graphic artist most famous for creating structures like his Ascending and Descending. He is able to combine art and math, making his art work precise.
The New York Foundation for the Arts wrote an article on habits that successful artists possess that aspiring artists should imitate. “Once your goals are clear and you can break them down into effective strategies, walk through them step by step in your mind,” guest writer Geoffrey Gorman writes, “This will not only help you prepare for each step along the way, but it will also guarantee arrival at your destination.”
Although pursuing a career in art can be competitive, but Riley feels that no matter what you study in college, a job when you graduate is not a sure thing. Despite her mother’s wishes of her becoming a lawyer, Riley has managed to get her family on board. “ My mom wanted me to be a lawyer, thought that art wasn’t a way to make money but I believe it all depends on a person,” Riley stated, “You make your future.”
Posted in Neighborhoods, Profiles
Tagged Margarita Lappost, Neighborhoods, Williamsburg
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Protected: Profile Draft – Mayor and Resident Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald
Posted in ProfilesDRAFTS
Tagged John Friia, Malverne, Mayor, Profile
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Protected: Pastor Curtis Riley
Posted in ProfilesDRAFTS
Tagged Hempstead, Nirvani Harriram
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First Draft: Neighborhood Faces: Astrologist tells the time of SoHo’s Evolution
A gaunt woman sits in a corner on the second story of 180 Prince Street in SoHo. Her unruly silver hair hasn’t surrendered all its ebony. Her black shirt is adorned with golden buttons, a black choker lines her neck. Her bony hands gloss over a set of tarot cards set before her. Above her head hangs one of her husbands pieces; a large painting of an orange man in a turban.
There is only one table on the second floor. It is reserved for the restaurant’s resident tarot card-reader, Nancy Stark. Stark, 77, has been conducting tarot card and palm readings over the heads of Raoul’s Restaurant patrons for 24 years. She has watched SoHo evolve. Her lens through which she has watched has been from across a small table on the second floor of Raoul’s.
She finishes up a reading with a young woman who had come to see her from the bar below. They exchange a handshake-ridden “thank you.”
“But I’m not good with dates,” Stark says over the light of a single votive sitting on her table large enough for a dinner party of one.
Raoul’s, a famed French bistro to the businessman and a cherished local niche to the SoHo resident, recently celebrated their 43rd anniversary.
“I have been married over 30 years. I don’t know exactly how many years, but it’s been over 30,” says Stark of her husband, Barry.
Barry is a retired architect, now a painter and poet.
A graduate of Cooper Union in the East Village, wife and mother of one son, Stark has been reading palms and conducting tarot card readings for 48 years. Keep in mind her “dates” disclaimer.
Nancy Stark emigrated to from Chile to New York at age 13. Her father was already in Manhattan, prompting her family to follow. Her family is full of “spiritualists,” says Stark.
On the recently implemented hike in Cooper Union tuition for students entering in 2014, Stark says, “It’s criminal. It was one of the last schools that you could enter based on merit alone. It’s ridiculous.”
“It’s funny,” says Stark. Her hands dance atop the white tablecloth.
“I used to get a lot of young women. Now I get a lot more mothers and men asking questions about business, their personal life. We’re all human. Without love, we are nothing. Love, health, and material security.”
The employees of Raoul’s, especially the longtime staff, know Nancy.
“She is a cat lover, and she’s a longtime vegetarian,” says server Catherine.
Working late on a Monday night, Catherine describes Nancy’s quirks.
“She’ll greet me like this,” Catherine says before throwing her palms up in the air like that of a kitten and clasping her fingers up and down, meowing.
On SoHo, Nancy is blunt about the decline of what was once a vibrant neighborhood. Although a resident of Chelsea, Stark travels down to SoHo Sunday through Wednesday to set up her table up the winding staircase of Raoul’s.
“In the 90’s, [Raoul’s] was popping. Jumping. The parties were everywhere. When the money was plentiful, the neighborhood was wild. There were so many personalities, so many celebrities. I met some,” says Stark. “There was a lot of action. It was all very exciting… very, very exciting. A lot of that joie de vivre.”
“Now,” Stark says as her hands dance downward from the air toward the table, “it’s not as wild. I think after September 11th, that was the demarcation. It was a very sobering time. Since then, it’s just been a sobering time. But it has been for the whole economy, hasn’t it been?”
Stark believes that SoHo has gone through a maturation that may be a depression, reflected largely in the economy.
At 11:30, Nancy packs up and goes home. She will usually finish at 11 o’clock, making exceptions only when a customer calls in advance.
“I take a cab,” Nancy says, her folder of fliers in hand.
“Coming down here is one thing, but I take a cab when I go home.”
Posted in Profiles, ProfilesDRAFTS
Tagged Faces, Rebecca Ungarino, SoHo
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Protected: Washington Heights Profile: Mike Draft
Posted in ProfilesDRAFTS
Tagged Willie Diaz
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