Dorothea Rosenthal Gordon Remembered

This is a photograph of my grandmother that I found doing research online.  It is from her high school yearbook.  Her name was Dorothea Rosenthal Gordon and with my grandfather, Albert Gordon, acquired Penwood in 1953.  She was an artist and a creative talent ahead of her time.  She attended Northwestern University and became a journalist when there were few women in journalism.  She was a fine painter, as a hobby, but her work was quite exceptional.  Today, she could have sold it at auction, in a gallery, or on Etsy or ebay at least.  It is strange to continue to learn about her 16 years after her death, and to be learning about her using technology she could never have imagined possible. More importantly, I think, is the fact that the more I learn about her the more extraordinary I think she was. She possessed a tremendous creative impulse -- to paint, write, read, do needlepoint.  She created magnificent dollhouses, had an exceptional antique doll collection, and seemed happiest when she was engrossed in a creative pursuit.  She also loved gardening.   I wish I could talk to her now about what she planted at Penwood, and why, and where and what she would say about what we have done to the landscape.  We used to have special lunches out on the town and would talk about how Penwood looked when she first moved in.  She had a very particular and wise eye regarding its history and its preservation.  I would like to go back to the 1950's and visit with her for a long day on the dock.  She had much to say that I could not really have understood when we had our talks, when I was in my early 20's.  

Public Art: The Gates, Central Park

Marie-Elena's Holiday Shoes

My sister-in-law, Marie-Elena, has been hard at work creating holiday cards featuring drawings of shoes.  This is one of the first cards, but she has also added Hannukah shoe cards to her collection.  More to come!

Art in the Water

A granite sculpture placed at the beach, just submerged in water.  As the waves roll in, the water pools in and around the sculpted segments.  This is another piece by our friend Tash Taskale.

Art and the Adirondack Home

Once you get beyond all the initial crises that come with building a new home (especially one that must stand up to the bitter cold, rain and wind of the Adirondack Park), it is a real pleasure to begin to think about art.  We recently found a wonderful artist, Rachel Harms, whose paintings we purchased for our Adirondack house.  Here is a sampling of her amazing work.  For more information about the artist, visit her website.

The Writing Chair

For me, one of the great pleasures of the Adirondacks is quiet time to be creative. On different days, I find myself inspired to photograph, design, draw or write. When I find myself inclined to write, I always head for the Writing Chair, secluded in a clearing within a particularly dense patch of White Pines and Hemlocks. By mid-Summer, the ferns there grow to waist-height, and the Writing Chair seems to float among them. It is there, perched at lakeside, that I can write for hours on end, inspired by the surroundings and views of the lake.

To shop is human, to collect divine

We admit that we're antiques junkies. Whenever we find ourselves in a new place, the first thing we look for are interesting antique shops. When others go hunting, we go antiquing. A well-collected interior brings interest and a story to a home, such as is the case with these Japanese paper dolls. Visitors to our house always ask us about them. Although they're small, they never escape notice. All in all, I've never regretted buying an antique that I love. I have, however, regretted walking away from one for one reason or another. Sometimes, the antiques I didn't buy stay with me more than those I did.

The Importance of Art in the Adirondack Home

Art is important - in our lives, in our homes. The Adirondack home is no different. Surrounding ourselves with beautiful paintings, antique prints (like the one above, given to us by a friend of ours and frequent Penwood visitor), fine photographs or sculpture is important. These things uplift us, they change the mood of a home and reveal your taste, style and interests to your guests. Our house is eclectic in its art collection: we have modern prints, antique engravings, black and white photographs of native americans, along with the artwork of my grandmother, Dorothea Gordon, whose china painting was extraordinary. One of her pieces is posted below - Lady with Poodle. Every home can be an art gallery; walls should not just be covered -- they should be adorned.