An Artist's American Dream

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A Different Sort of American Dream

On my way to enjoying Java Joe's indie coffee shop in Rochester, NY, we passed this house. Every inch of the walls and yard (and I'm willing to bet, the interior) are part of this artist's expression. 

We know that artists have a different sort of American Dream. It's can be about artistic freedom (which goes hand in hand with the individual freedoms we enjoy in the U.S.) Take a look at this:

A tile sculpture next to the driveway.

"Imagine" and "Dream".  Yeah!! And how about those wrought iron gates?

A carousel horse with a weathered Santa. Say, if you like my blog, would you sign up to follow it? Thanks!!

Rochester Indie Coffee Shop II

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Last week in this blog, we visited Java Joe's in Rochester, NY.

I'm not sure what owner Joe Palozzi's American Dream is, but if it's making a great environment for people to meet and mingle on a Saturday morning, his dream is coming true.

Here are a few more scenes from this noteworthy independent coffee shop.

Here's Joe, owner of Java Joe's, loading the coffee roaster.

A player piano -- ever seen one in a Starbuck's?

The milk and sugar bar. Different -- that's what makes an indie coffee shop so cool.

The front door to Java Joe's.

You can take home a pound of coffee from anywhere in the world.

Warning: highly caffeinated!

Java Joe waiting for the beans to roast. How about you? Do you seek out indie coffee shops? Why?

Rochester, NY: Talking about Dreams...

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American Dreams Planned in an Indie Coffee Shop

You know how I am about independent coffee shops. This one is amazing.

Java Joe's in Rochester, NY feels like a party on a Saturday morning. Denizens of Rochester come for their Saturday cup of joe, and the place is abuzz with caffeinated energy. 

Are they talking about going home and working on making their dreams come true? Maybe the dream is to tidy the yard, mow the grass or straighten up the kitchen. 

Here's the owner, Joe Palozzi, operating his coffee roasting machine.

He pulls a sample of the beans out of the machine to see if they're roasted to perfection.

Here's the bar where you place your order. Isn't it neat, how different it is from a Starbucks?

The shop features coffees from around the world. Starbucks only offers blonde, medium and dark these days. 

More coffees to choose from. How about you? Do you seek out indie coffee shops?

Pigment Shop in NYC - What a Find!

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American Dream: To Create Great Art

I stumbled upon Kremer Pigments at 247 West 29th Street. I was just walking down the street and saw these flaming bright colors in the window and had to go in and take pictures. 

Doesn't every artist dream of being immortal, having the nuances of their art and craft studied by generations to come? This is a shop where those dreams start to come true.

In this display case, there are colors like Marienglas, Pyramid Yellow, Van Dyck Brown, 

Cobalt Blue Turquoise.  

Look at these deep, rich colors, floor to ceiling on every wall!

Don't these colors make you want to scream for a canvas and brushes?!!

All these colors really jazz me. How about you?

This was the scene in the window that stopped me in my tracks. They grind up those solid chunks of stuff in the foreground to put in the bottles, sell to artists, who create big, bold, dangerous art with all this color. Neat, huh?

Atlas & Other American Scenes in NYC

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Searching for the American Dream, a job in one's field

I recently met someone in the course of my job search under Atlas, on Fifth Avenue. Quiz: What famous classic movie starts with a scene under Atlas? Comment below.

He's got the world on his shoulders and is managing quite nicely. Remind you of anyone?

On the walls of the subway station between 51st and 53rd Streets.

It's incredible art, don't you think?

This bike was locked up outside the New York Public Library. Carrying books is maybe the whole point of the basket, right?

Taken in early spring, this is the north side of Washington Square Park.

Washington Square Park again.

The north side of WSP with taxi.

This fellow is juggling a clear sphere on his arm.

WSP again.

These sculptures are on the plaza outside the Winter Garden in the Financial District.

If I recall correctly, this subway station art is near the Museum of Natural History. Am I right?

Don't know which subway station this is in. I saw the scene, shot it, and forgot it! If you know, fill us in, okay?

Statue of Teddy Roosevelt outside the Museum of Natural History. Whew! I've taken you all over Manhattan in a few seconds! Dizzy?

Morristown, NJ: Scene of Many American Dreams

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American Dreams in Morristown, NJ

Morristown, New Jersey, has seen its share of American Dreams go boom and bust. That's where the county jail is--that's bust. It's also where lawyers are elevated to judges. 

One man's dream was to help blind people learn to use guide dogs (see below). 

When your American Dream is not going very well, you can pray, even in a church, especially in Morristown. There's churches across the street from each other, next door to each other, around the corner from each other...You can pray when it's going well, too. "Thanks" is a prayer.

George Washington truly slept in Morristown. His American Dream was the founding of a nation of free people, unleashed to put their genius to good use.

Here's a beautiful church -- I didn't make a note to self as to it's name. Anybody know it? Leave a comment below...

The Morristown Green has gone through many lives, including druggy hangout in the 60s and 70s. These folks are Founding Fathers. George Washington, right, famously spent two winters in headquarters in Ford Mansion in Morristown, once in the winter of 1777 and again in 1779-80. 

A pillar commemorating the Civil War.

This is a statue of Morris Frank with Buddy, the first seeing eye dog.

For more information, here's the plaque.

A church that's circular on the end to the right, whith flying buttresses like Notre Dame. Say, if you like my blog, would you sign up to follow it? Thanks!!

Downtown NYC Sculpture - American Dream Come True

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New York City is amazing. Cool sculpture everywhere, making artists' dreams come true. Here's what I saw recently in the Financial District:

Translucent yellow disks. How cool is that?

What is it? Who cares?

This is art deco trim on a skyscraper's entrance.

Glad I'm not sitting or kneeling on concrete for my job...

Notice the sculpture of lights in the lobby of Brown Brothers Harriman.

A flower sculpture...

Do tombstones count as sculpture? Would you sign up to follow my blog?