ART: THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s retrospective, The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism, is a stunning exhibit of African American paintings from the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. These years in New York and elsewhere brought forth a revival of interest in African American art, literature, and music. This exhibit is a celebration of Blacks portrayed on canvas.
The colors are often bright and bold, human figures are occasionally flat, and some paintings are individual portraits. There are also groups enjoying cocktails, dancing, or just hanging out. Many artists are represented, but Archibald Motley Jr., and William H. Johnson figure prominently. I liked the dressiness and the larger than life appearance of the couple in Johnson’s Street Life above. Here are a few other favorites, such as this jitterbugging couple.
African American women were often depicted as the New Negro Woman. Very dark, almost defiant, always feminine, and beautiful. I like Alston’s strong female below. Also Motley’s stylish women socializing over drinks.
The exhibit also includes portraits of famous people like the poet Langston Hughes and this one of a statuesque Marian Anderson.
Variations in Black skin tones were also evident in some works. Laura Wheeler Waring makes starkly clear the difference in a racially mixed family in the following piece.
There is much to see and appreciate in this exhibit, and it runs through July 28th. Highly recommended!
MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
Sea Salt (Upper East Side)
With pink blooms surrounding its entrance, it’s hard to miss Sea Salt on 1st Avenue. This Turkish/Greek bar and grill has been open for about three years, but this was our first visit. The space is light and attractive, and the staff gave us a warm welcome.
For dinner, we began with fried calamari rings dusted with oregano with an aioli sauce on the side for dipping. Nicely crisp. For mains, the Chief Penguin tried the lamb kebab with rice and greens, while I ordered the whole branzino with lemon and capers. The lamb was lightly spiced while the branzino was delicately delicious. Specialty cocktails and wines by the glass are also on offer.
On a second visit, we sampled the Greek salad (lovely and fresh), manti (mini dumplings with beef in a yogurt-based sauce), and adana kebab (spiced ground lamb patties) with rice. Sea Salt is well on its way to being a personal favorite!
Note: Header photo is Mom and Dad, 1944 by William H. Johnson. All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)
