The Salmagundi Club originated in 1871 as a sketch class in Johnathan Scott Hartley's studio and purchased this mid-nineteenth century brownstone house in 1917 as its second home. It was cited in 1957 for its architectural distinction by the Society of Architectural Historians and the Municipal Art Society. The Club adopted its present name a hundred years ago after Washington Irving published his potpourri of wit and wisdom called "The Salmagundi Papers". The name also serves as the club dining room's famous "Salmagundi Stew".

Following a tradition of 137 years, the Salmagundi Club continues to serve as a center for fine artists from New York and around the country-providing exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and photography, conducting art classes and painting demonstrations and art auctions throughout the year. Through the years the Club has been the singular gathering place for such great artists as Childe Hassam, William Merrit Chase, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Ogden Pleisner and many others. Honorary members have included such luminaries as Sir Winston Churchill, Buckminister Fuller, Paul Cadmus, Al Hirschfeld, Thomas Hoving and Schuyler Chapin.

Black Canyon of Gunnison, oil on canvas, 30x24

This portrait was created for the Self Portrait Project at Brooklyn Art Library in Brooklyn, New York. Opening Reception will be April 23, 2010. A video was filmed during painting this portrait to become part of a worship message entitled "Identity: How we become unique individuals" presented by Pastor Thomas Cross at Broomfield United Methodist Church in Colorado on February 21st, 2010. An exhibit of several of my original oil portrait paintings was on display during the service. This portrait will be published in an Art House Book along with all self portraits submitted for the Brooklyn, New York exhibition at 201 Richards St. #16, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Over 800 artists from 80 countries around the world will be exhibiting 2500 artworks with many of the artists attending the event. Each artist will have nine feet of wall space in which to display three paintings or corresponding floor space for sculpture or three-dimensional work. My three paintings from my Santa Fe architecture series are shown above. The Festival kicks off with a fanfare extravaganza including trumpeters in medieval costume and a renaissance parade into the fortress. During the days of the fair, guided visits in museums and excursions outside of Florence are available for the artists. Panel discussions and networking opportunities are a highlight of the event. A dinner concert and awards presentation will close the Festival. My plan is to keep a small sketchbook for pen and ink and watercolor sketches along with photographs from which to create studio paintings after my return.  

The exhibition takes place in the prestigious galleries of Fortezza de Basso, located in the heart of the city of Florence. Fortezza de Basso was designed by Antonio da Sangallo il Giovane with the help of Pier Francesco da Viterbo and is built on the idea of a medieval city. The monumental structure, with a pentagonal layout, is a splendid example of Renaissance architecture characterized by imposing towers, narrow tunnels and hidden passages. It was built in just one year, between 1533 and 1534 on behalf of the Medici family.    

 Florence, Italy became famous as the birthplace of the Renaissance. Florence was once the capital city of Italy and is now the capital of the province of Florence and the region of Tuscany. During the years 1300 to 1600, some of the greatest painters, sculptors and writers in history lived and worked in Florence. Leonardo da Vinci, Fra Angelico Giotto, and Michelangelo produced magnificent paintings and sculptures in Florence. Dante was one of the great writers who lived in Florence. The architect Filippo Brunelleschi and the political analyst Niccolo Machiavelli were born in Florence, and the astronomer Galileo worked there. Florence was the center of one of the greatest periods of cultural achievement in history for a period of 300 years. The wealthy Medici family controlled Florence from the early 1400’s until the 1700’s. Lorenzo the Magnificent ruled from 1469 to 1492 and led Florence to achieve its greatest splendor. During this time literature, opera, and theater thrived in Florence and were imitated throughout Europe. 

Outstanding art museums and galleries are on the right bank or north side of the Arno River which divides Florence. The famous Uffizi Palace houses one of the world’s finest collections of paintings and statues. The Galleria dell’ Accademia displays Michelangelo’s David along with medieval and Renaissance sculpture. Ponte Vecchio, one of the six bridges over the Arno, was built in 1345 and is lined with goldsmith and jewelry shops. Fine handicrafts made by Florentines include leather goods, mosaics, and pottery. The left bank or south side or the Arno is home to Pitti Palace and the surrounding Boboli Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy.