A Thin Green Line was a community gardener’s project in 2000. It was developed and written by an Artistas de Loisaida collaborative. Diana Signa Klein, James Jiler, Pam Pier, Carolyn Ratcliffe and Sylvia Syracuse. It was presented at the American Community Garden Coalition at Columbia University in 2001. This project was made possible from the Manhattan Community Arts fund, the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs and Citizens Committee of New York City.
This project is currently being revisited as a publication in the near future.
This show presents 10 mixed media pieces of the New York based multidisciplinary artist, Anna Pasztor. Her work is abstract and inspired by everyday life and current events.
Even if she has a predisposition towards abstract forms of expression – as she is a former choreographer, many of her pieces have a narrative structure.
Four of the larger works were created during the previous presidency and they are creative reflections of some of the topics discussed widely at the time, such as misogyny and the separation of children.
The smaller pieces were created after the COVID pandemic started.
In April of 2020 she joined the NowNetArts LAB group. This group consisted mainly of musicians and sound artists. She provided visual materials during the group’s weekly public, live
presentations on Zoom. During these presentations she performed live painting and projected her videos. After the presentations ended, she continued painting the pieces, prolonging and transforming the original rhythms and textures that had generated the initial versions. That’s how the “Music Improvisation” series was born.
Artist Statement
I am a multidisciplinary artist currently working on mixed-media and interactive multimedia projects. I was born and raised in Budapest behind the Iron Curtain. My involvement in the arts started through theatre. As a former performer, I am never completely detached from my imaginary audience. At first, I have an analytical approach to narrative structures, an attitude originated by my academic studies in literature. However, I tend to express myself in a more abstract way by rhythms and textures – an obvious reminiscence of my former life as a choreographer. Living in different cultures increased my predilection for mixed forms of expression. I am constantly searching for my own artistic language that I find meaningful in the context I live in.
Theater gave me the key to understanding how to dissect human relationships. Dance helped me to come within reach of the abstract meaning of creative work and the infinite ways to present the human body. I have always been eclectic, enjoying, and mixing together apparently mismatching peoples, meals, music, and films finding in them the occult possibility, and secret longing for unification. I am seduced by the infinite possibilities of digital work. At the same time, I need to return to work in real space with real materials as I miss that sensory experience. Hence, my process goes through several artforms sometimes in the same project.
Being an immigrant, the “Other” since I left Budapest in 1991, has certainly influenced my vision about the human condition.
Many thanks to Citizen’s Committee for New York City for funding our Food Safety Program in partnership with Campos Community Garden. This allows the gardeners to produce more organic vegetables for 33 households and share a bi-weekly donation of fresh produce to Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran’s Shelter and Food for the Homeless soup kitchen.
OCTOBER 1st. Jim Flynn on harp. OCTOBER 2nd Anna Pasztor jewelry workshop.
OCTOBER 5th. FALLing for Art & Poetry – Carolyn Ratcliffe and Lissa Moira co-creative directors presented works by six artists, performers, poets: Aziza, Izzy Church, Jonathon Fox Powers, Paige Cutrona, Bina Sharif, Kevin Martin.
Open Arts LES (Oct 1-10) an opportunity to explore world-renowned institutions, vibrant community hubs, and unique small arts organizations that together make up one of the most creative neighborhoods in New York City! http://www.fabnyc.org
LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival, 10th Anniversary (September 24 – October 3rd) Art Loisaida Events are part of LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival. http://www.lungsnyc.org
In the fall of 2021 LUNGS hosts the TENTH Annual LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival. This 10-day-long arts and cultural event is staged in more than 30 community gardens. The festival is FREE to the public and features dance, music, theater, spoken word, and much more.
ALF’s Garden Stories project 2021 worked with 3rd graders at Childrens Workshop School to plant a traditional Native American 3 Sisters Garden. They went on to explore Lenape bandolier designs by creating their own individual stoles based on exploring Campos Community Garden plantings for inspiration. Instructors Montana Leonard, Gladys Feliciano and Carolyn Ratcliffe introduced the children to the concepts that this area was inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans before the European settlers arrived. We explored planting practices as to how corn squash and beans planted together compliment one another. The art project explored how the Lenape designs for their clothing decoration was inspired by nature and replicated plants and animals that were part of their everyday life. Each child created their own bandolier stole which they took home with them. We also engaged the children to write and draw their experiences in the garden in notebooks provided by ALF for the project.
Oil Paint Charcoal String Canvas Wood, Price upon request
Acrylic on wood, 8 x 8, $320
Acrylic on cradled wood, 8 x 8, $320
Mixed media on canvas, 10 x 8, $400
Found metal objects 11 h x 11 x 1.5 inches, $700
Found metal objects, 12 h x 10 x 1.5 inches, $700
Welded metal objects, pigment, 9 h x 11 x 2 inches, $700
Color pencil, 14 x 9, 16 x 12 in frame
Price upon request
Photograph
Price upon request
Digital Photograph, 8.5″ x 11″, $125
Acrylic on canvas, 34″x52″, 2020
Acrylic on canvas, 22″x52″, 2021
Soft painted sculpture, acrylic on canvas, stitching, and fiberfill. 60″x34″, 2019
Digital Inkjet Photograph, 11″ x 17″, $300
Digital Inkjet Photograph, 11″ x 14″, $300
Digital Inkjet Photograph, 11″ x 17″, $300
Price upon request
Price upon request
Price upon request
Price Upon Request
Photograph, 10 x 13, $250
Photograph, 10 x 13, $250
Photograph, 10 x 13, $250
Photograph, 28 x 22, $300
“Birding walks and photography in Tompkins Square park have been sustaining for me through the worst of the covid 19 pandemic.”
Watercolor, 20 x 30, $500
Ink drawing, 20 x 30, $400
Watercolor, 9″x12″, $300
Watercolor, 9″x12″, $300
Watercolor, 9″x12″, $300
15″ screen – Slide show / video in desk frame
Price upon request
15″ screen – Slide show / video in desk frame
Price upon request
Watercolor, 11″x14″, $400
Watercolor, 11″x14″, $400
Watercolor, 11″x14″, $400
Collage on paper, 11 x 14, $300
Collage on paper, 11 x 14, $300
Collage on paper, 11 x 14, $300
Charcoal and graphite on paper, 9″x12″, $600
Charcoal and graphite on paper, 9″x12″, $600
Charcoal and graphite on paper, 9″x12″, $600
Digital Photograph, 8 x 10, $125
Digital Photograph, 8 x 10, $125
Digital Photograph, 8 x 10, $125
Acrylic paint on paper, 5 x 6.5, $250
Acrylic paint on paper, 6.75 x 8.75, $350
Acrylic paint on paper, 5.5 x 6.25, $300
Photo, 12 x 12, $350 with frame, $150 without
Collage watercolor, 8 x 10, Price upon request
Oil. 23 X 19 inch, Price upon request
New York 2019
Oil. 23 X 22 inch, Price upon request
New York 2019
Oil on canvas, 11 x 14, $1100
Oil on canvas, 13 x 18, $1200
Works are a combination of digital and analog
8 x 10, $150
Works are a combination of digital and analog
8 x 10, $150
Works are a combination of digital and analog
8 x 10, $150
Primed paper, 10 x 12, Price upon request
Primed paper, 10 x 12, Price upon request
Primed paper, 10 x 12, Price upon request
Ink, Charcoal, Pencil, 4 feet x 3 feet, Price upon request
Ink on Paper, 48″x12″, 2020-2021
Mixed media on paper, 12 x 9, $375
3-D Photo Collage Mural, 3″ x 29″
$2500 (to be donated to CityHarvest)
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 36, $250
Acrylic on Canvas, 18″x24″, $500
Pastel on black paper, 9″x12″, $350
Pastel on black paper, 9″x12″, $350
Collage, $2000
Collage, $2000
Collage, $2000
Collage, $1500
Collage, 11 x 14, $450
50X50, Acrylic on linen
Tempera on cardboard, Price upon request
Acrylic on styrofoam, 16”height x11”width x 2”1/4 depth, $250
Mixed media, 28 x 26, Price upon request
Mixed Media, 18″ Round, 5″ high, Price upon request
Acrylic on Canvas, 8” X 10”
Mixed Media on Canvas, 18” X 14”
Mixed media on Canvas, 12” X 15”
(Set of 7)
11” to 14” inches individually / approximately 7’ feet (long or high) combined
Mixed Media
2015-2016
$500 each ($3,000 for set)
11” H x 13” W x 2.5” D
Mixed Media
2020
$125
Acrylic on canvas, 14″x18″
Wire sculpture, Fencing wire
Steel Mobile
Archival Inkjet Print, 40″x40″, $1500
Paper Collage, 11.5 x 8.5, $500
Paper Collage, 11.5 x 8.5, $500
Paper Collage, 8.5 x 8.5, $500
Acrylic, canvas collage, and Paint Pen on Board 15″x 15″ (1-2-2021)
Acrylic, canvas collage and paint pens on board. 18″x18″ (1-29-21)
Acrylic, paint pens, canvas collage on board. 22″x22″ (4-17-21)
Oil, 68″x52″
Watercolor, WC Crayon, Ink on HP Arches 140lb., 22″x30″ (2021)
Acrylic and Pencil on watercolor paper, 9 1/4″ x 6 3/8″, $300
Oil Paint Charcoal String Canvas Wood, Price upon request
Acrylic on wood, 8 x 8, $320
Acrylic on cradled wood, 8 x 8, $320
Mixed media on canvas, 10 x 8, $400
Assemblage of found Metal Objects, 9 x 9 x 2 inches, Price upon request
Assemblage of found metal objects, 8 x 8 x 5 inches, Price upon request
Color pencil, 14 x 9, 16 x 12 in frame
Price upon request
Photograph
Price upon request
Digital Prints, 11 x 17, $300
Digital Print, 11 x 14, $300
Digital Print, 11 x 14, $300
Price upon request
Price upon request
Price upon request
Price upon request
Price upon request
Price upon request
Photograph, 10 x 13, $250
Photograph, 10 x 13, $250
Photograph, 10 x 13, $250
Photograph, 28 x 22, $300
“Birding walks and photography in Tompkins Square park have been sustaining for me through the worst of the covid 19 pandemic.”
Watercolor, 20 x 30, $500
Ink drawing, 20 x 30, $400
15″ screen – Slide show / video in desk frame
Price upon request
15″ screen – Slide show / video in desk frame
Price upon request
Watercolor on paper, 13 x 13, Price upon request
Watercolor on paper, 13 x 13, Price upon request
Collage on paper, 11 x 14, $300
Collage on paper, 11 x 14, $300
Collage on paper, 11 x 14, $300
Charcoal and graphite on paper, 9″x12″, $600
Charcoal and graphite on paper, 9″x12″, $600
Charcoal and graphite on paper, 9″x12″, $600
Digital Photograph, 8 x 10, $125
Digital Photograph, 8 x 10, $125
Digital Photograph, 8 x 10, $125
Acrylic paint on paper, 5 x 6.5, $250
Acrylic paint on paper, 6.75 x 8.75, $350
Acrylic paint on paper, 5.5 x 6.25, $300
Photo, 12 x 12, $350 with frame, $150 without
Collage watercolor, 8 x 10, Price upon request
Oil. 23 X 19 inch, Price upon request
New York 2019
Oil. 23 X 22 inch, Price upon request
New York 2019
Oil on canvas, 11 x 14, $1100
Oil on canvas, 13 x 18, $1200
Works are a combination of digital and analog
8 x 10, $150
Works are a combination of digital and analog
8 x 10, $150
Works are a combination of digital and analog
8 x 10, $150
Primed paper, 10 x 12, Price upon request
Primed paper, 10 x 12, Price upon request
Primed paper, 10 x 12, Price upon request
Ink, Charcoal, Pencil, 4 feet x 3 feet, Price upon request
Ink, Charcoal, Pencil, 4 feet x 3 feet, Price upon request
Mixed media on paper, 12 x 9, $375
3-D Photo Collage Mural, 3″ x 29″
$2500 (to be donated to CityHarvest)
Acrylic on Canvas, 10 x 10, $150
Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 36, $250
Acrylic on Canvas, 9 x 12, $350
Acrylic on canvas, 16”w x20”h, $1000
Acrylic and marker on paper, 6”w x 9”h, $100
Collage, 11 x 14, $450
Tempera on cardboard, Price upon request
Mixed media, 28 x 26, Price upon request
Mixed Media, 18″ Round, 5″ high, Price upon request
Wire sculpture, Fencing wire
Steel Mobile
Paper Collage, 11.5 x 8.5, $500
Paper Collage, 11.5 x 8.5, $500
Paper Collage, 8.5 x 8.5, $500
Acrylic and pencil on board. 12 x 12. 3:18:2020
Price upon request
Acrylic, canvas collage, pencil, paint markers on board. 17 x 17. 2:24:2021
Price upon request
Acrylic paint on board. 16 x 20. 5:2:2020
Price upon request
This remarkable collection of contemporary photographs, shot by photographers whose artistic roots in the East Village, shows unique and beautiful portraits of a now familiar neighborhood. This collection reminds people of our neighborhood’s beauty, wonder, and individuality and calls out for the preservation of its invaluable, irreplaceable legacy, for our own and future generations.
Ray’s Candy Store is a New York City deli that has existed in the Lower East Side since 1974. It serves an eclectic mix of foods, including egg creams, sot serve ice cream, Belgian fries, and Obama coffee. I walk past this place almost everyday and there is something about it that draws you in. It’s an East Village icon that I would hate to see go.
Tompkins Square Park has long been a sanctum for me. Its part of my everyday and it’s a place to escape and feel a tiny bit of nature within this metropolis we live in. My camera always comes along with me and these photographs are moments captured while documenting my daily rituals.
Living on Avenue B is never a dull moment. You can always find something going on and on this hot summer night, I found myself in the middle of a small parade of people taking over the streets. I walked with them, making photos, for a few blocks and then moved on to another attraction on Avenue B.
Tompkins Square Park has long been a sanctum for me. Its part of my everyday and it’s a place to escape and feel a tiny bit of nature within this metropolis we live in. My camera always comes along with me and these photographs are moments captured while documenting my daily rituals.
This coffee shop is on East 9th Street and First Avenue. It is a striking example of young entrepreneurs coming into the neighborhood, standing out, and then fitting right in.
This was photographed in Tompkins Square Park with 10th Street in the background, February 2004. When I saw the van, I was filled with joy. I immediately ran home to get my camera, feeling extremely nervous that it would be gone by the time I got back. It wasn’t.
A red pickup truck in front of the Polish butcher shop on Second Avenue. The guy who owns it wanted to drive up country with his girlfriend to cut down a Christmas tree to decorate their apartment for the holidays. I got the picture just before they left. Sweet!
The Drugs & Cosmetics neon sign is just beautiful.
The guy under the umbrella was selling snow cones for a buck. He became very agitated when I continued to shoot; he believed I was an undercover cop doing surveillance. He should not have been so paranoid; everyone has a camera these days.
There was a ground fog in the Park on Christmas Eve 2008, and it looked like the park was floating in space. It gives one that same feeling when it snows for the first time and the only way to make sense of it with a camera was to shoot out of focus.
This guy woke me at 3am one night in 2007. The volume on the TV was up full on some game show he was watching. There was no way of getting back to sleep so I took my camera and photographed him. Hilarious! You know this is the East Village.
It used to be on East 1st Street and Second Avenue, but alas, it was demolished. The locals have many fond memories of this hip dive bar. 2014.
I love “La Plaza Cultural” Park on Ave C and East 9th Street mostly for these marvelous “Winter Flowers,” a permanent installation by artist Rolando Politi that line the fence. Even under three feet of water and several other nightmarish storms they remain, a joyous celebration of life, twirling away.
Looking west from Ave B and 11th street, the “Jesus Saves” neon sign of the Father’s Heart Ministry Center is one of my favorite spots in the East Village. Even though the sign is not always working it remains a beacon for goodwill in the neighborhood.
Cherry Blossoms in Tompkins Square Park frame the magnificent Victorian Gothic, Queen-Anne style building that in 1886 was the Lodging House for Boys. I remember it as a location in the film “In America” (2002) before it was “cleaned up”.
All that remains of Yaffa Cafe today (“the East Village Oasis”) is a sign painted on a wall on St. Mark’s Place. I spent many hours there writing, laughing, meeting up with friends, and enjoying the delicious food. In 1988, many sought refuge there from the Tompkins Square Park Riot. It will remain close to my heart (and stomach), deeply missed.
This is a quintessential East Village Community Garden. I remember when it was a derelict empty lot and I am always amazed at how lush it has become. The garden has many events that extend late into the night and I have spent many happy hours there. This image is from my ongoing series, Magic Gardens: Nighttime Photographs of the East Village and Lower East Side Community Gardens. 2012
The East Village is full of life and all sorts of interesting and unique characters, which is one of the best things about it! Avenue A at St. Marks Place. 2008
Block Drugs at Second Avenue and East 6th Street first opened its doors in 1885. It is now a gem in the midst of all the chain drug stores. I have always loved their bright red neon sign, which seemed to turn the snow into large mounds of red sherbet. 2012
I am always attracted to the different colors that I see through my camera lens at night. Community Gardens are an essential part of life on the Lower East Side. This image is from my ongoing series, Magic Gardens: Nighttime Photographs of the East Village and Lower East Side Community Gardens. The garden is at 11th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A. 2012
Located right across from Tompkins Square Park at 9th street. This stretch of Avenue A has somehow retained some of the vibe of the old East Village. A great area to just hang out and photograph life as it goes by. 2008
The Lakeside Lounge at Avenue B at 10th Street was an unpretentious East Village Rock and Roll dive bar where I saw many local bands. Situated right next door to Life Cafe, he light above the entrance of the Lounge bathed everything around it in a surreal red glow. 2008
Laura fought the law for almost two decades. She could be found at East
4th Street and Avenue C, or further down the block selling delicious home cooking as part of the local economy. She was greatly missed when she finally retired, and when she passed soon after, she was mourned by us all. The original mural, Afro Latin Mural, was on the wall of the supermarket. The dancer was painted as a backdrop for a popular film. 1980
An improvised jam session on a raised platform in the empty lot of El Jardin del Paraiso. These sessions would bring out the talent that lived in the hood and drowned out the blaring car stereos and ice cream jingles. Young and old would come out to dance and sing along with the traditional songs. 1986
View of homesteads on East 4th Street. This rubble thrown lot is now a community park with one of the first gardens: El Jardin de Picolo Paraiso. The homesteads at 310 East 4th Street was
the first building to house it’s “Sweat Equity” members after two years of gutting and rehabbing the 16 apartments, in December1980. I still live there. The homesteads at 309 East 4th Street, a victim of the city bureaucracy; took close to eight years to gut and rehab.. 1976
Looking West on 6th Street and Avenue B, a corner that is now a community garden. Arson for profit was big business in Loisaida; the fires were then rekindled by kids. 1978
City Arts Workshop created murals all over the Lower East Side. It was my search for these murals that first led me to Loisaida, where I found so many. The stories for the murals were suggested to the artist by the community, and then executed by school kids working all summer on scaffolds, supervised by the artist. 1976
A man showing off his trained fighter on East 4th Street and Avenue C. The street elements of the Puerto Rican culture are by now almost all wiped out, declared illegal, like the keeping of flocks of chickens and even piglets. 1984
A Bomba Y Plena Performance, performed at the East River Amphitheater Sponsored by Charas/El Bohio. 1984
A lively spot on Loisaida Avenue at East 6th Street and Avenue C that was replaced by a Dominican Bakery run by ‘locals’ that was everyone’s favorite bakery. Ask around! It vanished practically over night.
This mural, created by John Pitman Weber, is still up next to the supermarket on Avenue C between 7th and 8th Street. During Its inauguration, Jorge Brandon, El Coco Que Habla, revered by many Puerto Rican poets and writers, recites his poetry. 1989
Showing off our banner to ward off gentrification. Looking from East 6th Street to East 5th Street and Avenue C. Adopt a Building, a grass roots organization, had its headquarters across the street from this “ready to rally and get arrested” crowd. The young rally participant in the foreground is my son Curtis. 1986
An anti-police rally on East 4th Street between First and Second Avenues, one block south of the 9th Precinct located on East 5th Street. Back then the police would arrest homeless people before arresting drug dealers. The first row of protesters is from my household except for Anthony Pagan, under the balloons, the City Council Member for our district. 1988
Anti-drug and pro-housing rally on 3rd Street crossing Avenue B location of the last commercial bank (which folded after many robberies) until the Lower East Side Credit Union was established in it’s place to serve the people of our community. This photo as well as others I have taken illustrates its history. 1980
East Village from my staircase window.
Family on East 2nd Street and First Avenue. The East Village has been a great place to raise a child. Pioneers like Marlis Momber helped pave the way.
Skateboarders in Tompkins Square Park.
Snow on what were two majestic elms. The bent elm was deemed structurally unsound by the city. Instead of trimming the tree, the city cut it down. I miss it every time I walk past.
In partnership with the New York City Council’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative (Many thanks NYC Councilmember Carlina Rivera) and Citizen’s Committee of New York City.
Art Loisiada Foundation & Campos Community Garden produce Garden Stories Workshops for Childrens Workshop School and A Dia De Los Muertos event in Campos Community Garden. There are four workshops in the garden in each fall and spring semester, culminating in a pizza class or harvest feast. Because of COVID-19 Pause, we had to videotape the spring module as schools and community gardens were closed.
The Fall workshops were taught by Adrian Van Der Nes, Gary Meyers, Carolyn Ratcliffe & Gladys Feliciano. The spring gardening workshops were taught by master gardener, Christopher Batenhorst and Gladys Feliciano. The first focusing on soil, compost and insects while the 2nd workshop focused on planting vegetable seeds and seedlings in the garden for this spring.
Then a traditional Native American 3 Sisters Garden with a focus on planting Lenape Corn, squash and beans which will be harvested in the fall by the incoming 3rd grade class.
The 3rd workshop was on harvesting which was turned into a community Food Safety program with the vegetables donated to Trinity LES Lutheran Soup Kitchen.
The first 2 gardening workshops were followed by an environmentally themed art class taught by Gladys Felciano where the children created an art work using plant materials harvested from the garden and in the spring video the children are shown how to create a mandala using plant based materials easily found in their kitchens at home.
Dia De Los Muertos is an annual Mexican holiday event where neighbors build an altar decorated with marigolds and Aztec symbols to commemorate loved ones by bringing images, writing poems/letters and leaving offerings.
A film classic, “Coco” which explores the underlying cultural significance behind the event was shown the next evening.It is a 3 day event and is culminated with a performance by Aztec Dancers who perform ritual Dance ceremonies to bless the land as harvest for the coming year. Traditional Mexican fare is served.
