There's a fall right of passage in New York that is not to be missed: the galleries of Chelsea all have openings on the same night, everyone gets dolled up, and droves of art lovers or at least art-scene-makers swarm through the streets with numbers like 20-something and the avenues from Seventh and west. I've had the chance to do this once before; last night I had a few minutes to stop by ACA Gallery, where my friend Danny Hauben was featured in the show, "Visions of New York."
If anyone deserves to be in such a show, it's Danny. His subject principally has been the city, especially his native neighborhoods in The Bronx.
Having known Danny since he was a teenager, a very talented one whom I once commissioned to do a pastel of our house that hangs in our dining room, it was especially pleasurable to snap this shot of him in front of one of his pieces.
Take a look at his site to see his portraits, including this one of his mother, Beatie; and his provocative pieces reflecting today's anniversary.
And it's wonderful to report this dream come true for an artist, which is keeping him very busy (from Wikipedia):
In 2008 Hauben was selected to create all the artwork for the new North Instructional Building and Library of Bronx Community College. Ground was broken for the 98,000 square foot building in October 2008, with a completion date set for 2011. It was designed by Robert A. M. SternArchitects, and complements the original Stanford White plan for the campus. The artwork for the building will include 46 paintings depicting scenes of the Bronx.