March 2, 2021 —When I saw these two people heading towards each other while driving in Riverdale a week or so ago, I stopped at the stop sign for more than the usual instant to grab my phone and take several photos. The intensely different way each walker was protecting themselves from the wet snow speaks for itself, and what you can, and cannot, see of them does the same. (Photo by Jordan Moss)
8.3.20 — Asked as a kid what my favorite color was, I’d always say purple. But if you look at my art (IG: @jordanmossart), begun at age 48, there’s a ton more red. It’s me, but not a me I’ve gotten to understand too well. Why did it dominate my work so far? Dunno.
I took a bunch of shots at this one fire alarm on Godwin Terrace, a street, believe it or not, I’ve never walked or run on until today. I was headed in that direction from a run in Marble Hill, which despite my decade-and-a-half life in Kingsbridge Heights, I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve walked or run through it. Anyway, the reds, pinks, oranges in here blow me away. To me, this is a kind of art I could never, or should never, create. Yes, I will use/steal aspects of its textures and colors and take photos of it galore, choosing the parts I like and even editing its color (didn’t here). But it’s not any kind of message coming through me; it’s beauty and intensity I ran into. It is, I guess, an ongoing focus of my photography. (I took a ton more shots today but this is the one I like most.)
Speaking of my red artwork, here’s a recent piece of my mixed media abstract work that I began a good while ago at the Art Students League and completed over the summer.
As you may have noticed, I haven’t blogged in months, and not consistently in the last few years. I am no longer a journalist, but I reboot my blog here to focus on art, my art, Bronx art, local issues of all kinds and creativity in general. We’ll all see where I head with it. Your input, ideas and thoughts are welcome. The Bronx matters.
Here are some photos up for grabs through 12/18 at Bronx Documentary Center’s holiday sale, as I mentioned in my prior post.
Hey Bronx (and Beyond) Pals: My art and photo exhibit – at An Beal Bocht (cool, artsy Irish pub/cafe in Riverdale/Bronx) opens on July 6, next Wednesday, beginning at 6 p.m. It’s at 445 W. 238th St. in Riverdale, a short (if somewhat steep) walk from the 238th St. 1-train station. An Beal Bocht will provide some food. They’d just like you to shell out a little dough to buy some booze or whatever else (water, juice, soda, whatever) you’d like to take a swig of. Don’t worry if you come later – even a lot later – than that. I’m figuring it will go on until at least 10 p.m., or probably beyond that when the last one of us heads out the door. Here are a couple of photos of what I’ll be showing.
One of my abstract paintings, collage, whatever you wanna call it:
One of my photos … (Guess where and when? 😉
OK, hope you can make it, but if you can’t the exhibit will continue through the month of July. Thanks! If you have any questions, just email me at bronxmatters@gmail.com.
Ron Terner, long-time owner of Focal Point Gallery on City Island, at his first virtual outdoor exhibit of passed residents on a part of Ambrosini Field last year. Photo by Jordan Moss.
A little more than a year ago, photographer, artist and gallery owner Ron Terner on City Island, began creating an unusual, yet stunning and meaningful, memorial at Ambrosini Field, a city park. Using an acrylic mate medium paste he laid down photos he’s taken over the past 40 years on solid rock to honor City Islanders who have since passed away.
Terner’s pooch posed behind two of his photos on what is essentially an inaccessible section of the park by the water. Photo by Jordan Moss.
He had to sneak through literally locked gates at that park which keep you away from what is essentially a little beach, but he got his work done anyway. Unfortunately, it is still inaccessible. Here’s what Terner had to say at that time:
The area is still behind a locked gate, but that hasn’t changed Terner’s self-assigned mission to honor many former residents he took photos of for many years. Just over the bridge from Pelham Bay Park (the largest in the city by the way) onto the island, to your right, there is a wooden fence around a vacant lot. Last spring, with the OK from its owner, Terner created this more accessible outdoor gallery for the same purpose. City Island is already worth visiting, exploring and dining at, but this informal, outdoor exhibit should draw you there on its own. (And go see Focal Point Gallery). Here are just a few of those Ron Terner photos at their new location. (Photos of these photos by me, Jordan Moss)
Bronx Matters 