Happy Birthday Dad

My Mom and Dad going to the 'Ball' celebrating Musikfest's 20th Anniversary - 2003

The beautiful home of my Mother and Father

Their home at night

The barn my Father built - including cupola and weather vane

Our gazebo

My childhood bedroom

This is the beautiful home where I grew up. It was built for my Parents in 1953. My Father passed away on July 26th last year ... and my Mother on July 7th the year before.

Certainly it has been two years of hospitals and ambulances and sadness and funerals. But there have been wonderful times as well. Three weeks in Antibes, France last year ... and then three months in Antibes this year. It's been two years of great sadness and great happiness ... and hoping for the future that only great happiness will fill my days.

Today my Father would have been 89 years old. His five children, granddaughter and great granddaughter celebrated our love for him by having a picnic in the backyard serving his favorite food: hot dogs

Happy Birthday Dad - We all miss you very much ...

My gift to the City of Antibes

Antibes

This painting was one of the three gifts that I donated to the City of Antibes this year. It represents the beautiful view of Antibes as you round the bend from Cap d'Antibes. This acrylic painting measures 36" x 36" (91.4 centimeters by 91.4 centimeters).

Certainly art is very subjective. A painting that one person may find unimpressive, another person may adore. Also, framing, placement and lighting plays an important part in presentation.

I do hope that the city of Antibes finds beauty with this painting. With all of the paintings I created in the Villa Fontaine, it certainly is one of my favorites. I painted this picture with passion and love for this very beautiful place.

Your critiques are welcome ...

Paintings left behind

These are just some of the many, many paintings that I have created in Antibes, France. I completed over 20 large works. The paintings measure 36" x 36", 30" x 30", 18" x 18" and one that measures 31.5" x 51.2". The large painting will hang in the new Hall of Justice in which the Minister of Justice will be present for the ribbon cutting ceremony. That event, I believe, takes place in early October.

The painting on the lower left is a gift to the city of Antibes. My walks in the early morning to Juan-les-Pins, Cap d'Antibes then around the bend to see this beautiful view.

Here is a collection of some of the paintings. They are displayed in my beautiful bedroom complete with beamed ceilings, large window and view of clay rooftops, gardens, sailboats and blue sea.

I wish I could do Antibes over again. I wish I had another three months to enjoy Paradise. So many beautiful memories ... concerts, fireworks, dinners, long walks, sunbathing ... and painting. Some of the most incredible days that I have ever had.

I hope one day soon that I can see lovely Antibes again.


OLYMPUS AMERICA

Final Reception, departure and a new day

This is the last evening of my journey in Antibes, France. There is a 'cocktail' for me ... strange that they say that because no cocktails are served ... but it's held in the 'Salle de Mariage' - the 'Wedding Room' in Hotel d'Ville - City Hall. I have donated three 'official' paintings to the town of Antibes this year. The 'Trumpet' painting which hangs in the Conservatoire de Musique, 'Antibes' which is a gift to the city ... and 'Justice' which will hang in the new Hall of Justice in Antibes.

Madame Simone Torres Foret Dodelin, mayor of culture and Monsieur Audouin Rambaud, mayor of tourisme deliver their speeches ... and me too - in my very limited French ... yikes !Madame Simone Torres Foret Dodelin, the mayor of culture, presents to me a beautiful book on Antibes and a lovely silver clock.

Mayor of Safranier - Zézé Marconi - et moi

Afterwards, Paulette, Wolf, Audouin, Patricia and I have one last moment together

The artists of Marche Provencal invite me for dinner

Jean-Paul opens a bottle of Vin Rosé d'Provence

Above the clouds

Flying over charming Germany

Notice the change in the weather ... hot, muggy, foggy and depressing Newark, New Jersey

Jim, Diana and I stop at the Brass Rail for typical PA cuisine ... cheesesteaks, fries and a beer - why YES ... I DO enjoy hot peppers !!

However ... the next morning I wake up early ... and this is the view from my bedroom ... the weather is cool, the skies are clear ... and now I must begin to work very diligently again.

I had a wonderful time in Antibes for sure. It certainly fleeted by ... and, except for the creeps who stole from me, it was incredible. (if anyone in Antibes finds a silver 80g iPod, an HP dv7 computer, an Olympus e620 camera with lenses and two Razr cell phones PLEASE grab them and contact me). I'd be happy to reward you with a painting or two.

I recall with great fondness my walk and mass for 'Notre Dame de bon port', the artists of the artists' market, the Marche Provencal, the Voiles d'Antibes, the Bataille de Fleurs, the cous-cous party, my Jeep ride in l'Esterel mountains, the Pied Noir Paella, Jazz a Juan, Musiques au Coeur, my travels through many of the towns of the Cote d'Azur ... and of course the Villa Fontaine. It was a dream for me to be there ... the view of clay rooftops, sailboats and the sea from my bedroom, cooking in the petite turret of a kitchen, dinners on my Provencal tablecloth and on the terrace ... my petite friends - the cats and the doves who came every day to visit me ...

... and to the people who took the time to share moments with me, to lend a hand, to share a meal, to enjoy ... to become ... friends.

I will always think of you with a great outpouring of love.

OLYMPUS AMERICA