Sitting here with a morning quadruple shot caffe latte reading the New York Times (some of us still do that) and came across this charming story about artist Shantell Martin, who lives in Brooklyn with generous friends who allow her to paint the walls of the rooms she rents from them. When I was a kid I shared a bedroom with my younger sister. This was a less-than-serene scenario, because my younger sister was, well, not neat and I am, well, quite neat. We were of a mind, however, when it came to one wall of our shared living space…a pure expanse of white on which our mother let us paint – Jackson Pollock-like – to our hearts content.
We did this mostly with crayons (the colors abounded and their slim shapes made them easy to work with). We made big, loopy, geometrical, lopsided and crazy shapes, joined together with lines, arrows and other shapes, creating a massive meandering maze of a painting, which would change daily when one of us added something to it, or when I, for instance, would lie down on my back on my bed on the other side of the room, my head draped over the side so that I could look at our masterpiece upside down and contemplate just the right amount of red, or blue, or orange…to make it perfect.
When it became an indecipherable blob, the wall would get white-washed and we’d start all over again. I do not remember for what period of time we did this. I do not remember how it suddenly started, or why, or when it suddenly ended, or why (things do seem to begin and end suddenly, don’t you think?). But it doesn’t matter. The image of the whole experience is etched into my memory as though it were yesterday, even though our “cave paintings” vanished decades ago and I have no idea whether my sister remembers what I remember. Roshomon.
Collaborative art. A mother who appreciated her unschooled children’s chaotic and impulsive creative urges. A place to paint. A moment in time.
Express yourself.
And have the loveliest of pre-Memorial Day Weekend Fridays.
Giselle
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/garden/a-brooklyn-artist-free-associates-on-her-walls.html?_r=1
May 25, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I think you must have had a pretty cool Mom.
May 25, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Morning Giselle!
I did this for my children but the blooming sharpies keep coming through!
I wonder if this landlady would like her walls covered in Cats and Bats and Trolls. ( not forgetting Sea Dachunds ) It would be a very convenient base for visiting the publisher of my latest book, who lives on Park Slope!
May 25, 2012 at 12:30 pm
This beats what I had growing up. My parents painted the walls with a sand textured paint.
I just saw something yesterday that’s a paint you put on your walls to make them a dry-erase surface.
May 25, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Bill Collins She was pretty cool. Her coolness was enhanced by the fact that she truly loved art and artists and most of her female friends were painters, which was unusual way back then. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if there had been a certain amount of “pressure” from her friends to let us do this. One of them die when she was just becoming well known, and another became a quite famous Contemporary artist. I’m lucky to have art works by both of them on my walls…instead of my own scribbles!
May 25, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Paul Stickland You must let me know when you next have plans to be in NYC. Would love to meet. Ah, yes…the Dreaded Sea Dachsund. If one washes ashore would you kindly let me know?
As for Cats and Bats and Trolls that is infinitely more difficult to pull off then the swirls and scrolls I managed when I was little. How clever!
ALSO…Did you share a Circle for we Flower Freaks? I thought you had, but I cannot find it…or do you just notify those of us who are interested?
May 25, 2012 at 12:41 pm
My daughter has a blackboard paint on one wall, so she can write in chalk and erase. Not quite as good as a real one, but works rather well. She’s gotten a lot of use out if it.
Good morning Giselle Minoli !
May 25, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Your mom seems like a very special lady! I’ve told this before but my mom let me paint one of the walls in my room black! What makes this even more crazy is that we lived in an extremely conformist environment. I still can’t believe it looking back.
May 25, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Good morning, Thom Miller! I thought we were a dying breed! Times on line! Don’t have an iPad and don’t do anything on my phone except get email. I don’t like the digital version. I think it’s very weird.
May 25, 2012 at 12:49 pm
And Thom Miller, much to my dismay…you can’t even get it delivered in some parts of the Shenandoah Valley. You ask for it and people say, “The New York what?”
May 25, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Well, Anita Law it sounds like your mother was the cool mother. Teaching her child the power of opposites. I love that. Brian Titus …okay…so this is sad…but I have never even heard of Blackboard Paint. Oh woe is me…
May 25, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Warren Buffet is buying newspapers; ’nuff said.
May 25, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Okay, so we’re buying Warren Buffet stock and not FB stock Gary S Hart? ‘SOkay by me!
May 25, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Hi Giselle!
I have instructed Louise McCarthy to get started on a text. I really want to draw Dave the Salty Sea Dog!
I will post the gardeners circle and will try to remember to notify, although not everyone likes this.
As for NYC, I ache to return! I was last over in 2007, when I had six glorious weeks in the East Village, whilst doing a book tour for Barnes and Noble.
I spent a great deal of time in the US when we published there between 2001 and 2006, which involved many trips to NYC and San Francisco, where we were distributed by the wonderful Chronicle Books.
So with this new book I am hoping for a visit or two, although hangouts are making the whole ‘flying over for a meeting’ a bit less likely sadly. Still there is always the launch party and Helen has not visited the US, so we will be over before too long and if so, would love to meet up, what fun!
May 25, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I live in three states Thom Miller. NY, VA and KY. Let’s not go there…okay? I cannot tell you how much I miss the Shenandoah Valley. You know, the skies there are similar to the American Southwest. I’m from New Mexico. Where in Colorado are you?
May 25, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Paul Stickland The international Internet is fabulous. Hangouts are a writer’s/publisher’s/artist’s dream. But… nothing takes the place of real life travel. Nothing. Get thee and thy bride across the Pond, my friend!
May 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Better get on with my book then!
May 25, 2012 at 1:03 pm
I like the complete country aspect of the Valley…not so much the cities…like Winchester… I do love to be out in complete farmland… I wonder if we end up feeling the way you feel wherever we are sooner or later? Don’t know…maybe…
May 25, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Giselle Minoli lives in two other stats, engagement and creativity, to our good fortune {smile}
May 25, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Gary S Hart My husband and I are going to be back in VA ’round the Fourth of July. Any chance of a get together?
May 25, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Giselle Minoli I probably should have said “chalkboard paint.” It’s a wall paint that simulates a chalkboard surface. Writeable, eraseable, washable. There are a few brands of it.
May 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Sounds wonderful and very possible. Let me check with Herr Direktor Fräulein Hart.
May 25, 2012 at 2:43 pm
It’s amazing ! When my daughter see this, she will aks again :”When I can paint my room? “
Boy’s already did it and it’s still nice 🙂
May 25, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Hello Stacie Florer! I don’t know where to get started with that one…My mother was very tolerant of art/artists, but she was a complete “slob” (bless her) and therefore, to tell you the truth, it was almost impossible to be creative…because there was nowhere, no space, no quiet, no private within which to do it. I personally longed for neatness and tidiness because the chaos of our house, as much as I loved the house, completely encroached on all efforts to be creative. With the one exception of that blessed wall!
But…clearly you got your artistic sentiments from your Dad?!!!
May 25, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Giselle Minoli I was so embroiled in my G+ name escapade I neglected friends’ posts including you,who so vociferously came to my rescue. Finally I can relax and read and catch up. Wow…I knew your mom was great…and this “gels it”. When I read your writing I feel as if I’m reading one of the classic writers….always so beautiful. As always,thank you for sharing YOU with US. Anita’s mom sounds cool too,yes indeed. And I am still bewildered by what stocks to buy and what not to buy… night!
May 25, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Kim Crawford you had many better things to do today than think about what you might have painted on your bedroom walls, had your mother encouraged it. Perhaps it would have been lasses with long tresses being warriors and athletes and doctors and such. Glad to have you back among the “accepted” and “authentic” on G+!
May 25, 2012 at 11:00 pm
#davethedog sighting!
May 25, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Nothing better than reading one of your posts, Giselle Minoli and it’s nice to be back,that’s for sure! My walls would have been musicians and athletes for sure….
May 25, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Paul Stickland Noted! Kim Crawford Dave the Dog (otherwise known as the Dreaded Sea Dachshund) alert: https://plus.google.com/117245054937343378617/posts/3k4zVZNjTNh
Kim Crawford you and Paul Stickland must meet…if you don’t know one another already!
May 25, 2012 at 11:19 pm
Have now, hello Kim!
May 25, 2012 at 11:23 pm
HI Paul….will go look at you (circled you already) after I see Giselle’s link there….
May 25, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Ohhhhhhhhhhh Giselle….you are a brilliant matchmaker!!
May 25, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Kim Crawford We need to schedule a dachshund kidnapping in the middle of the night. Don’t worry Paul Stickland…Dave will be well cared for. He will get to live in New York, Florida, Virginia and Kentucky. And be spoiled rotten.
May 25, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Hehe! This would be my best calling card, to give you a clue about me… http://bit.ly/PaulSticklandArt
May 25, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Paul Stickland your talent leaves me slack-jawed. The collective talent under your roof (fiancee and son, among others I’m sure)…leaves me speechless. The inventiveness of your world is beyond the beyond. Thank you for being you. Here. On G+. Or I never would have met you. Smiles.
May 25, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Yes,G…LOL and wow Paul!!
May 25, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Dear Giselle that is so kind, thank you and Kim, so pleased to have met you both.
This is an amazing place, I am smitten, I think this is a very big change in the way we communicate and the last ten months have been a complete delight.
Most of the work you have seen has come out of the meetings and interactions and engagement here, it’s a very stimulating and interesting place, I love it!
May 25, 2012 at 11:47 pm
Pleased to have met you Paul. I’ve only been here since mid January but am mesmerized!
May 25, 2012 at 11:49 pm
So glad Kim. It is entrancing, to meet so many fascinating people and from so many diverse disciplines. It really is a dream come true for me.
May 25, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Indeed,Paul!
May 27, 2012 at 5:45 am
The Brooklyn artist article is great. I think every painter must love working on walls. To survive as a painter here in Italy, I also worked restoring 1800’s tromp l’oeil decorations, which led me to doing my my own ideas for people with blank walls. There’s something wonderful about working on such a large scale and changing a living space with paint.
June 9, 2012 at 9:05 am
Your posts are always a treat. Great story here, what great memories.
June 9, 2012 at 11:34 am
Why thank you, Eric Reich. I appreciate that…
June 9, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Why did I write “Warren Buffet is buying newspapers; ’nuff said” and how did I miss this gem?” I must have been in vinoland to confuse your memoir with another post.
Your mother was a saint Giselle Minoli. Do you have any photos of your fresco? Your story brings back memories of our daughters decorating the room beneath the stairs with anything that would stick to the walls.
Paul Stickland, I love your sleepy owl from last night.
June 9, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Gary S. Hart how much do I wish I had photos of those frescos from long ago? But I tell you – if you gave me a white wall and one of those gigantic boxes of crayons, I could go at it all over again, and create a painting – Jackson Pollocklike – that would be strikingly similar. _That’s_ how well I remember them. _That’s_ how carved into my brain those images are!
Good morning Paul Stickland in Paul Sticklandland!
June 14, 2012 at 6:40 pm
What a late reply to a mention! Hello!
June 14, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Thought you’d gotten knocked on the noggin by a towering teetering tottering topiary Paul Stickland!
June 14, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Rain is the problem here!
June 14, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Alluring articulations and alliterations. Awesome.