Embroidery: Blonde Daffodil

This is another piece from the Figures series which combines photos of people with flowers and embroidery.  

In this case, I combined a photo of a woman with short blonde hair with photos and embroidery of daffodils because her hair color reminded me of them.  I particularly liked the way one of the daffodils ended up looking like a tattoo.

Ciao

PJ

© 2013 PJ Lehrer

Yellow Roses

I’ve always loved roses for their wide variety of exquisite colors

 and the softness of their petals. 

They do require a bit more TLC than some plants,

especially during aphid season or when they get moldy from too much rain. 

But, it’s a small price to pay to enjoy their beautiful flowers

which generally last from June to December. 

I’m not sure that I have a favorite color. 

But, yellow roses were my father-in-law Howard’s favorites. 

So I think of him whenever I see them. 

It brings back many good memories.

Ciao

PJ

© 2013 PJ Lehrer

The United Nations

The headquarters of the UN, located on the east side of midtown Manhattan adjacent to the East River,

is one of those buildings that make New York special. 

Built by a team headed by Wallace Harrison in 1952,

on a site notorious for having previously housed slaughterhouses, it soars gloriously to the sky. 

It’s beautiful both with and without its flags. 

When I worked nearby sometimes during my lunch hour, I would sit in the garden and read

These days so many large buildings are surrounding it that it’s a good thing it has a fair amount of lawn and open area in front. 

Recently the city made a deal with the powers to be for a swap. 

The city gets the land along the river so that the 32 mile greenway that will line the entire shore of Manhattan may be completed. 

 And, the UN gets the land currently being used as playground on its south side for a new tower.

Sounds like a win win.

Ciao,

PJ

© 2013 PJ Lehrer

Salzburg

I spent the summer of 1978 in Salzburg Austria studying Baroque and Rococo art. 

It was the perfect place to do it,

since we could visit all the churches in the town

 and see the ultimate expression of the style in person

instead of just looking at slides in a classroom. 

 Of course it’s a very picturesque city. 

 And inevitably “Sound of Music” tunes end up running in your head

as you see some of the sights that are easily recognizable from the movie. 

But mostly I remember the delicious strudel and gluhwein (hot spiced wine)

 – and the beer garden where I had to figure out how to order my food in kilos.  

Ciao

PJ

© 2013 PJ Lehrer