Serendipity in the Big Apple

I once heard an artist recommend his favorite way to find fresh inspiration....travel and SEE new things!  I think I would add, and meet a few new people, too!

This past week I had the pleasure of doing just that, tagging along on a trip to NYC with my husband, Doug. He kindly deferred to me for most of our leisure time itinerary, and I found SO much inspiration.

Highlights included, the Highline, a wonderful park made on an elevated train track in Chelsea. The artistry was striking. I love how plants allow a certain palette, texture, volume...so many things to feast the eyes.

The hardscape was well designed, too, leading you to look in just the right little corner, or over the railing, or out to the city beyond.

West 28th street was a delightful surprise, where wholesale florists spread out their wares.
 
Tall palms and various evergreens line the sidewalks, and show how plants in that hard city scape bring a humanizing element to the surroundings.

I loved thinking about where those plants would go, and why people need them...what is it that they do for our souls?

 These prickly gems made me think of Christmas!

The lovely ladies at I.A.M. 

The International Arts Movement office on West 39th street were great fun to meet. We were shocked at how many connecting dots we found, and we went away full of encouragment. They gave us a literal and figurative "cup of cold water".

Thankful for their work!

Visiting Saipua, which means soap in Finnish, was our next goal. I got up eager for this adventure, though Doug was a bit more skeptical. We headed off to Red Hook, in Brooklyn. 

First hint...the taxi driver wanted to know if we had ever been there before? HMM.

When he dropped us off on a cold, slightly snowy, nearly abandoned, rather industrial street with the words, "I'm done with you people now", we were a tad bit concerned!

After asking a local worker if he thought anyone was in, we sheepishly knocked on the metal door, where nothing but the number indicated we were in the right place.

Ashley cheerily visits with two lost strangers.

That courageous knock opened the door to a wonderful studio, where we met the very kind Ashley, who, though the location is really a workshop that wasn't even open to the public that day, she cheerily welcomed us in, and we had a stimulating chat about floral design and the work she and the rest of the team do there. The owner focuses most of her time on a farm near Albany, growing plants for the thriving business. We even got a few kisses from her brindled dog, and learned that Ashley is now engaged to be married! Best wishes to Ashley and her fiance!

Seeing this space was very inspiring...perhaps a future garage    somewhere will turn into my design studio!

A Time to Mourn

We could not leave New York without one last stop at the incredible 911 memorial, where architect Michael Arad created "Reflecting Absence".

Along with landscape architect Peter Walker, the two artists captured so eloquently the sense of loss. 

Even twelve years later, I could not help but weep. What affirmation that beauty heals, and we must take time to create more of it while we may.