A First Class Fool March 23, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Grolier Club, Mark Twain, NYC, photography, Samuel Clemens
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Mark Twain remains a national treasure. This wonderful exhibit at the Grolier Club of the private collection of Susan Jaffe reminds us of Mark Twain‘s brilliance and charm. A First-Class Fool: Mark Twain and Humor examines the humorist Samuel Clemens, who crafted the great “Mark Twain” persona. Twain identified as a “first-class fool,” capturing his dual literary role as a simple, folksy author and speaker on the one hand, and an intelligent, cultured, and nuanced literary craftsman on the other. Twain worked carefully to construct his public persona, and his legacy continues to influence humorists to the present day. With more than 120 works drawn from the private collection of Susan Jaffe Tane, A First-Class Fool presents first and rare editions of Twain’s published works, including presentation copies, first periodical appearances, and uncommon variants; books from Twain’s library and other personal effects; autograph letters and manuscripts; photographs; and a wide variety of ephemera. This free exhibit is on through April 5th.
Irish Breeds March 16, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, art, Art exhibit, Benny the dog, dogs, Irish Breeds, Madison the cat, Mr. Pepe, Museum of the Dog, NYC, photography
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Top o’ the morning to all. There are nine Native Dogs of Ireland. Two Hounds – Irish Wolfhound and Kerry Beagle, three Gun dogs – Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Red Setter and Irish Red & White Setter, four Terriers – Irish Terrier, Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier, Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and Kerry Blue Terrier. The Museum of the Dog featured these nine breeds in their latest exhibit. It is on through March 30th. There are also cats with Irish roots. Namely the Manx cat as well as the Cymric cat. Both of these cat types have very short to entirely absent tails as a mutation to the usual cat body structure. The Cymric cat is the long haired variety of the Manx. Today’s photo montage features all of these splendid breeds. You might notice that I took the liberty of including some of my own cherished pets in all their Irish splendor. The bottom photo is a feature of the Museum of the Dog. There’s a booth where you snap your photo and the Museum pairs you up with your dog match. This visit I was matched with a Maltese who is part of the ’toy group’ and is gentle, playful and charming. Perfect!
The New Yorker at 100 March 9, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: 100 years, art, Art exhibit, L'Alliance Gallery, New Yorker Magazine, NYC, NYPL, photography
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We are so very lucky to have two, count ‘em, two exhibits showcasing the 100th year of the New Yorker magazine. The New York Public Library’s main branch exhibit which we saw last week is on thru April of 2026 so there is no rush to check it out but today’s photo montage features the free exhibit at the L’Alliance Gallery and is only on thru March 30, 2025. This exhibit features their cover art only. There are controversial covers, political covers, funny covers and a wall of rejected covers. I found the original art next to the actual cover to be the most fascinating part of the exhibit. On a few of todays photos you can see the original art and the cover inserted into the photo. Full disclosure, I have been a New Yorker subscriber for many years. Sometimes two months of issues piles up on my coffee table. I made a New Year’s resolution to finish each issue the week it arrives. So far I have failed each week. The beauty of the New Yorker is that their brilliant writing has a shelf life and you can pick up a magazine months later and still enjoy reading it. 
The Gates – Part Two March 2, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Bloomberg Connects, Central Park, Christo, Jeanne Claude, NYC, photography, The Gates Project, The Shed, Virtual reality
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We decided to visit the two venues that are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Jeanne-Claude and Christo’s The Gates in Central Park. The Shed (in Hudson Yards) features photos, videos and scale models of The Gates. Some of the videos of old town hall meetings are hysterical. People both pro and con were very funny. This exhibit is on through March 23. The other venue is in Central Park itself. By downloading the free Bloomberg Connects app you are able to experience The Gates yourself. We started at Fifth Avenue and 72nd street. The path runs through the park, Bethesda Fountain, around the lake and up to Cherry Hill. It was lots of fun and if you did not experience The Gates 20 years ago, I encourage you to experience them now. The top half of today’s photo montage features photos from The Shed and the bottom half are photos of our walk as we virtually experienced The Gates.
Making Waves February 23, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Lanscapes, Making Waves, photography, Seascapes
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I take a lot of photos. I take photos as I wander the streets, museums and galleries of NYC. What do I do with all of my photos? I create blue photo folders that remain on my desktop until I decide to create a photo montage and share it with all of you. The longest running folder that hung around my on my desktop was,12 years. You can check that out here – I noticed a folder this week on my cluttered desktop titled, ‘Making Waves‘ and opened it. Apparently I had collected quite a few photos of paintings and prints I had seen in art venues as I traversed NYC. I was inspired to create today’s photo montage and I get to remove that photo folder from my desktop. Check out these fabulous works of art. Be inspired and go out there and make some waves. 
You Can’t Keep a Good Dog Down February 16, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: AKC, animals, best in show, dogs, Monty the giant schnauzer, Mr. Pepe, NYC, photography, show dogs, Westminster Dog Show
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We attended the Westminster Dog Show once again. We like the Benching area the best. You can schmooze with the handlers, the owners, the judges and of course the adorable pooches. I did not get a photo of Monty the Giant Schnauzer who won Best in Show but all of the contenders were winners to me. I especially am fond of the dog at the bottom of today’s photo montage. That’s my boy, Mr Pepe, who is always a good boy and Best in Show to me. Woof!
The Gates Project – 20 Years Later February 9, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: 2005, Art exhibit, Art instalation, Central Park, Christo, Jeanne Claude, Mayor Bloomberg, NYC, photography, The Gates Project
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Twenty years ago, I was lucky to work at The Gates Project when Jeanne-Claude and Christo created their fabulous site-specific work of art in 2005. The artists installed 7,503 vinyl “gates” along 23 miles of pathways in Central Park. From each gate hung a panel of deep saffron-colored nylon fabric. The exhibit ran from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005. Even though the exhibit officially ran for two weeks the installation and deinstallation of the project stretched out this work for almost two months. I believe this community work of art, was the beginning of the recovery for our wounded City from the devastation of 9/11 (thanks to Mayor Bloomberg for his decision to go ahead with this project). As a Gate Watcher, I held a long pole with a tennis ball on the end of it so that I could unfurl the saffron curtains if the wind wrapped them around their stanchions. I had the good fortune of speaking to thousands of visitors from all around the world about the project, about New York City, about life, art and politics for two weeks. It was an experience I will never forget. Many of you who are reading this blog came to visit me at my Gates post to share the experience. Every morning that we worked we would meet Jeanne-Claude and Christo at the Boat House for free breakfast where they would talk to us, both individually and as a group.They also were generous enough to take the time to sign our souvenir posters, books or whatever – every Friday afternoon – with their signature orange crayons. I have my signed prints proudly hanging in my living room. May they rest in peace and may their memory be a blessing, dear Jeanne -Claude and Christo. I created all of the photo montages seen here 20 years ago as a way to remember that singular experience.
Groundhog Day February 2, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Audrey and Roberta, baby animals, giraffe, Groundhog Day, nature, NYC, photography, Sea Ducks, shadows, Snow Leopard cubs, wildlife, Zoos
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Yes, it is Groundhog Day (again). If Puxatawny Phil or Staten Island Chuck see their shadows we will have six more weeks of winter. I share some of my classic zoo shadow photos today where all of these amazing animals (including one of my own house cats) see their shadows.
Year of the Snake January 26, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Chinese New Year, Chinese Zodiac, Hiss, photography, Year of the Snake
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2025 is the Year of the Snake based on the Chinese Zodiac. The snake symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and transformation (since the snake sheds its skin), while offering opportunities for personal growth and change. If you were born in 1941,1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 it just night be a transformative year for you. Hisssssss!
Edges of Ailey January 19, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Alma Thomas, Alvin Ailey, art, Art exhibit, Basquiat, Dance, Faith Ringgold, Jacob Lawrence, Kara Walker, Kevin Beasley, photography, Rashid Johnson, Romare Bearden, Whitney Museum
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We had wanted to see this exhibition since it opened back in September but life sometimes interferes with art. We finally went last Sunday and we were wowed. Edges of Ailey is the first large-scale museum exhibition to celebrate the life, dances, influences, and enduring legacy of visionary artist and choreographer Alvin Ailey. It consists of an immersive exhibition in the Museum’s 18,000 square-foot fifth-floor galleries—featuring works by more than eighty artists and revelatory archival material—and performances in the Museum’s third-floor theater, including AILEY in residence for one week each month during the exhibition. Included are performance footage, recorded interviews, notebooks, letters, poems, short stories, choreographic notes, drawings, and performance programs and posters gathered from Ailey’s archives and others forge a vital through-line in the gallery. The artworks are arranged by themes that shaped Ailey’s life and dances. Sections span an expanded Black southern imaginary that enfolds histories of the American South with those of the Caribbean, Brazil, and West Africa; the enduring practices of Black spirituality; the profound conditions and effects of Black migration; the resilience for and necessity of an intersectional Black liberation; the prominence of Black women in Ailey’s life; and the robust histories and experiments of Black music; along with the myriad representations of Blackness in dance and meditations on dance after Ailey. Artists exhibited among Ailey include Basquiat, Romare Bearden (a personal favorite of mine,) Faith Ringgold, Alma Thomas, Jacob Lawrence, Rashid Johnson, Kevin Beasley, Kara Walker and many more. This wonderful exhibit is on through February 9th.
While at the Zoo 