Distant Summer

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Lifestyle

The current issue of The New Yorker arrived at our home the other morning. As is our practice, we allow our mail to “sit” for a day or so before handling it. The cover - see the picture - just stared at us from its perch on the floor.
A picture we felt compelled to share.
And when we picked up the magazine, we learned that the
painting on the cover is titled “Distant Summer” by the artist Gadir Nelson.
As we anticipate this month of July - with its heat, displaced plans, and multilayered discomfort - we gaze upon the painting and contemplate its title.
As we all go though this together, I do what I rarely do and ask you to share as we all stand before this painting.
Thanks.

Comments

Fred Klein

A lot different than the days of old "Endless Summer"!
Carly Bentley

A tethered feeling. General feeling of sadness, underneath the disguise of summer. Uninvited limits.
Paul Napolitano

Ahh! The Bomb Pop! Nothing was better at cooling you off, after a day of running around in the streets and woods of my youth! The smell of honeysuckle and tiger lilies. This painting brings all that rushing back!
Flo Feinberg

Maybe the young black boy is searching for an idyllic summer which is still beyond reach...
This cover is stunning!

Submitted by MarilynGenoa on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 00:21

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Marilyn Genoa

It is indeed a powerful painting, we also receive the magazine and have let our thoughts wander as we continue to take it in.
Shelley Simpson

This is a reminder for me ... let's not forget to pay attention to and enjoy the Bomb Pops when we get them. They are going to melt one way or the other, just like the summer, so we might as well enjoy them despite the uncertainty and all the turmoil.
Victoria Drogin

Love this country so much. We are sooooooo much more good than bad. I am wistful for a time when we weren’t so furious, so filled with anger and blame. Lump in my throat. (This picture looks very much like the little brother of one of my students who would come to class with him occasionally. The older brother graduated and is working for Citi in their finance department. Very proud of him. America is still a place of dreams. Hope to get the younger brother into our program as well - although he said he’s more interested in medicine than business. He wanted to be a physical therapist . Haven’t spoken to either of them since last Fall.) Thank you for sharing Ben.

Submitted by NeilHollander on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 05:38

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Neil Hollander

I’d love to get into Kadir Nelson’s head and find out what he was thinking . He enamored me with another work titled “Steerack- Strike “ of a black slugger swinging at strike three in front of a huge crowd at in my own mind a sold out Polo Grounds. Can you imagine being in a position to actually pick the artist’s brain one on one ? The phrase “ In the moment “ comes to mind . The girl with the bomb pop was in the moment for sure . Was she present ? If not where was she ? Did it matter ? Looks like maybe not . Nothing matters if you stay inside the moment . Except the moment .

Hollander Sends
Daniel Schwartz

The best works of art make you think or at the very least drift away to another place. My parents were founding subscribers when the New Yorker was first published. That ended when my mom passed away in 2010. I have not been a subscriber, so thanks for sharing.

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