Ripe Art Gallery’s Cherie Via

by Mick DuRussel

She is talented, pretty, spunky, intelligent and has one of the coolest art galleries around! Cherie Via is the owner of Ripe Art Gallery, located at 67A Broadway in Greenlawn, NY. Ripe is also the home to an expert frame shop, folk art gifts and handmade jewelry. Cherie’s superb taste flourishes throughout the gallery and wraps its unique essence on all who enter its doors. I had the great pleasure to speak with Cherie just days before her big annual Valentine’s Day Show “Through Rose Colored Glasses” opens…

MICK: How long has Ripe Art Gallery been open?

CHERIE: I have been in this location [Greenlawn] for almost five years now but I’ve been Ripe Art Gallery for seven years. The business started as a house painting business. I used to work with a full female crew and we would do whole apartment jobs. We would get hired for a week while somebody was on vacation and we would repaint an entire apartment or a whole floor of a house. When they returned from their vacation, the whole place was painted and put back together. I got a lot of jobs because we were all females and customers just assumed that women are cleaner as painters! Then I scaled down on my staff and started doing more high-end faux finishing and working with decorators. At that point, I needed a location because my paint was freezing in my garage. At that time I was also doing custom framing for my painting clients. So I got my first location in Northport which lasted about four months and I outgrew that location very quickly. Then I took a location in Huntington for one year and that’s where I started showing art. I did several gallery shows there and it was a real small space.
I literally had to move out all of my tools and stuff, do the gallery show, then move it all back in. I was only open Wednesday nights and Saturdays! I couldn’t afford Huntington so I found this place in Greenlawn and it was the perfect price and the perfect layout! I was still house painting when I moved in there. That lasted for about one year. In June of the first year at Greenlawn, the painting business came to a standstill. No work was coming in. That’s when I really started paying attention to the gallery, being there full time and taking on more framing jobs. And that all leads me up to where I am right now!

MICK: How did you come up with the name Ripe Art Gallery?

CHERIE: I was trying to come up with a name using my name in its title. My last name is Via and I couldn’t come up with anything that sounded good. So my boyfriend at the time suggested I use my first name, Cherie. But since it looks like Cherry, it sounded a little risqué to use. Then he suggested Ripe Cherry. I said wait….Ripe! I immediately envisioned a sticker on an avocado. That was it! Ripe Art! I went to a graphic designer to make my logo and told her to think avocado sticker. I started collecting avocado stickers from avocados in the grocery store. That’s how it came about!

MICK: Are you an artist also?

CHERIE: Yes I am! I am a “mother taught” artist! My mother was an artist and our dining room was her studio. My father would get mad at her a couple times a year and say “We want to eat in here!” She would have to clear off the dining room table, we would eat, and then she would put all of her things back. My mother was very talented but also very shy about it. I was actually a trained musician. The reason I came to Long Island is that I got a teaching job in Levittown teaching high school band for five years. After four years, I became unhappy and left after five years. I then went to work in a book store and that’s when I started painting! After I got another job at a frame shop, my boss encouraged me to start selling my paintings. It was all small, folk art style paintings and they started to sell!

MICK: You have a wide variety of shows at Ripe. What are some of your more memorable shows?

CHERIE: The Valentine’s Day show every year is memorable. This year is my fifth one. This show is always huge and brings in tons of artists. People really get excited about this one! Another great show was Mike Stanko. I felt really proud to have somebody of his caliber have a show at my gallery. A couple of years ago I showed Ray Lamantia. He’s a painter from Bay Shore who is very technically advanced. He does photo realist paintings. When he was interested in showing at my gallery, I was also very flattered. I constantly feel flattered because the caliber of artists who are willing to show in my space keeps getting better and better. I feel that the fingers of Ripe Art Gallery keep reaching out further to the west as well as the east. With the economy the way it is and galleries closing, I feel very fortunate not to have succumbed to the economic times.

MICK: Can we talk about the alcohol incident? [Cherie was fined for serving wine at a gallery opening show early last year. Serving wine at art show openings is common practice in the art world.]

CHERIE: Yes, I am ready to discuss the alcohol incident now that it’s all over. It’s completely over as of January 11th. It’s been totally dismissed out of the court. My attorney found that the verbiage of the law does not actually state what art galleries are or aren’t allow to do. There is nothing in the law about art galleries. There is very little in the law about serving alcohol as a refreshment and giving it away. Basically the law says a lot about selling it. Since I have never sold it, my attorney put together 30 objections to the case and was prepared to subpoena the first cops who came to last year’s Valentine’s Day Show. There were two uniformed policemen who didn’t know what to do. They wrote a police report and that was that. The undercover cops who showed up in April never showed up for the court date and gave very incorrect information as far as what I was facing. I actually walked into a courtroom of DWI’s and drug arrests and was very thankful brought an attorney with me. My attorney did not charge me for this and I had two court appearances. By the time I got to the second, the DA decided it just wasn’t worth taking to trial. The judge dismissed the case under the terms that I kept my nose clean for six months. So I decided it wasn’t worth it to have alcohol anymore as this whole fiasco could happen again. For over a year now, this has not affected my business at all. Now I’m serving soda which is sort of a treat to people these days as most don’t drink soda anymore. I have candy; get them hopped up on Twinkies, Funny Bones and stuff they don’t normally buy. It’s really working out for me. Still selling art without the booze! I also have a speakeasy gallery in the back room which is an “invite only” gallery. I’ve been showing tattoo artists who show their personal work. It’s exciting because most people are coming in getting pieces commissioned to put on their body. So to see what a tattoo artist wants to create is very interesting. Both shows I’ve had back there so far have been wildly successful. The last show I did we sold everything but one piece. People like coming to these shows because by invite only, this makes them feel special. I’m building a clientele who wants to be invited and know when they are being invited through the back door, they are coming to something very special. These events are not publicized. If you don’t have a card in your hand, you can’t come in. So I’m continuing to book that space more.

MICK: What are the future plans for Ripe?

CHERIE: Going forward, I want to continue doing what I am doing and potentially make a living at this. If I get to the point where I am paying myself…that would make me feel like a success. What I make now basically pays for my lifestyle which is not extravagant at all! I’m very happy I haven’t starved yet or my dog hasn’t starved yet! Right now, I’m redesigning the website. We are going towards E Commerce so that my artists whom I represent will now be available to a larger market through our website. I’m also in the process of promoting myself as the Rock Star Framer, which is a niche that I don’t know anyone has taken. Ultimately I’d like to get to the point if you want to get the Rock Star Framer, you must make an appointment. They would get a special service when they come to see me with special designs…the whole experience from the Rock Star Framer! And then I’m thinking about taking the Rock Star Framer on tour! Go to other cities, showing the artists I represent and building it into a musical theme as well. Maybe picking a bar and having a couple musical artists play as well as show art. That would be fun!! I’m a single girl and I have my whole life involved in this. The website will be up and running with several artist pages in about a month.

MICK: The Valentine’s Show opens this Monday evening (Feb. 14th). When is the deadline to submit pieces?

CHERIE: Ideally Saturday. I put it out as Friday the 11th as the deadline but I will still take last minute pieces on the 12th. There’s still plenty of room. I expect anywhere from 40 to 70 artists. Last year I had around 60 artists. The year before I had 70. It fills up quickly and of course it fills up at the last minute. Everybody shows up on Friday!

Ripe Art Gallery, 67A Broadway, Greenlawn, NY (631) 239-1805
Please come to “Through Rose Colored Glasses”, Ripe Art Gallery’s Annual Valentine’s Day Group Show! Opening reception is Monday, February 14th, 2011 from 6-9pm. Running through Saturday, February 26th, 2011.
Gallery hours:
Mon: closed
Tues-Thur: 11am-6pm
Fri: 2pm-8pm
Sat: 11am-5pm
Sun: closed

Ripeartgal.com Coming Soon!

Actor Burt Young the Artist

by Mick DuRussel

Burt Young is truly a man for all seasons. Academy Award nominated Actor, artist, writer, playwright, he does it all with style and dignity. Best known for his role as Sylvester Stallone’s brother-in-law Paulie in all of the “Rocky” films, Burt has appeared in over 70 films and shows no signs of slowing down. His artwork is in collections all over the world and enjoys painting practically every day. I spoke with Burt recently just after his art show at the Nassau County Museum of Fine Art opened on Oct. 1st…

MICK: How long have you been painting?

BURT: Forever! When I was 12, I won a New York City art department contest. I did a painting about playgrounds or bicycle safety. I’ve painted my whole life.

MICK: Does it take you long to complete a painting?

BURT: Usually not. I’m usually pretty crazed and I’m painting all night long.

MICK: I know you use acrylic paints. Do you use any other mediums?

BURT: Yes I do! I use oils and ink. Sometimes I combine acrylic and oil.

MICK: How long have you had your art studio in Port Washington?

BURT: I’ve been here about 3 years now.

MICK: Do you paint when you’re working on a film?

BURT: Yes, sometimes right in the hotel room. I was staying in the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia and I did a couple of splendid paintings in the bath tub!

MICK: You are an accomplished painter, actor and author. What do you like doing the best…acting, painting or writing?

BURT: It’s all communication whether you’re a musician or a poet, there’s thread through it all. Writing makes me feel bright sometimes when I make something that makes a little sense. Acting satisfies me sensually. I get lost. When I get used to doing the work, I’m riding high day and night. Painting does the same thing. I have more control over my own elements. I’m not worried about editors or director’s, it’s just all of me.

MICK: Do you have more shows coming up in the near future?

BURT: I have two coming up at a gallery in Manhattan. I keep a lot of my work here in Port Washington.

MICK: I was really impressed with your paintings at your art show in the Nassau County Museum of Art. It’s the first time I’ve seen your work in person!

BURT: Thank you Mick. Sometimes I even impress myself!

MICK: As an artist, which artists do you admire?

BURT: I like the impressionists, the fellows who invented from inside out! When you go back, you can’t help but admire Michelangelo, Rembrandt. People like Renoir and Monet saw with their eyes but they told you what their stomach was feeling. I sort of get that feeling very well.

MICK: Do you have any new films lined up?

BURT: Yes, I’m just finishing a movie called The Win Win. It’s a good movie with Paul Giamatti, a wonderful guy and a wonderful actor. A top group of actors. It’s for Fox.

MICK: Any more plans to work again with Sylvester Stallone?

BURT: I would love to! I was so pleased to hang out with him on “Rocky Balboa”. The guy is just a force! He carries everything from producing, directing, starring. He was just unstoppable. That was 17 years after the last Rocky movie! To me, in my opinion, “Rocky Balboa” was a flop. But 17 years to come back, that was so exciting! He wrote clear and clean and he performed that way too. It was a pleasure hanging out with him on the last one.

MICK: Do you keep in contact with him?
BURT: Oh yea. Actors are funny people. We either see each other by accident or when we have an assignment. I’m not really a Hollywood guy. I hang out in the old neighborhood and with my girlfriend. I’m not too “actor-ish”. I’ve never been that way.

MICK: You’ve worked with many directors. Do you have a favorite?
BURT: Yes, I have favorites for different reasons. Sam Peckinpah was a crazy friend of mine. I think I did four or five movies with him. Close to being a genius. Robert Aldrich is another stand up guy that carried a team with him for 20 years or so. Same editor, same cinematographer. Many many directors I appreciated. I never really had a problem. I usually just do it my way though I’m not like a bully, usually with thought and knowing. I always feel that an actor, if he does the right homework, should know more about that character than the author. I think that’s my responsibility to get the premise of what the author is feeling. Hopefully, my own research will take me deeper than where the writer was going. I have to make that person honest or even dishonest.

MICK: Do you still have your restaurant in the Bronx?
BURT: We closed three years ago. Not out of necessity, the two old guys that were really the heart of it were in the 70′s and they just had enough. They wanted to get out of the kitchen and years there. It was a good place and good friends there.

MICK: Are you a sports fan?
BURT: Yes! I like the Yankees. What a team! A great bunch of players from top to bottom. And you can see they’re having fun too. I love boxing too.

MICK: Do you have a favorite boxer?
BURT: I’ve got many! My good friend is Muhammad Ali. Once, I did an exhibition and did three rounds with him. I used to move around pretty good. That’s how we became friends! Mike Tyson is a friend. I feel that he just might have been the best fighter ever. He was something else. I think he was a stronger version of Jack Dempsey.

MICK: Are you a religious man?
BURT: I believe that something made us. I don’t know if I listen to man’s religion too much. It’s like politics, Republicans or Democrats, everybody that stands on a pedestal usually has self indulgence in mind. I do believe in an overall supreme being. Look, we all have pieces of Mussolini, pieces of everybody because nothing ever leaves the atmosphere. So it may be just a touch of one atom that’s in us…we are all regurgitated and recycled. I don’t think I have any memory of that, it would be nice if I did! When I get old I will start getting more religious.

MICK: What is your favorite time of the year?
BURT: I like Christmas! I like winter. I like the elements, I like rain. I like something that gives me a challenge to get out of the house. California was pretty tepid to me. I raised my kid there but I’d rather be in New York City.

MICK: How long have you lived on Long Island?

BURT: I’ve lived here about three and a half years. I chased my girlfriend out here!

MICK: What are your future plans?

BURT: I have a one character play that I wrote. It’s called “Artist Found in Port Washington Flats”. It’s a one man show and I’m trying to see if I’m full of baloney or if it has some merit for an audience. I’m just testing its wings now!

MICK: Is this something you will be doing locally?

BURT: I will do it all over the world if it works. It’s 90 minutes uninterrupted. I will keep me sharp, that’s for sure!

You can see Burt Young’s fantastic paintings: Friday October 1, 2010 – Saturday January 15, 2011 from 11:00am – 4:45pm

Nassau County Museum of Fine Art

One Museum Drive
Roslyn Harbor, New York 11576

516.484.9338

www.burtyoungartandfilm.com

 92.9 & 96.9 WEHM ‘PROGRESSIVE RADIO FOR LONG ISLAND’, PRESENTS THE ‘EHM ROCK ART SHOW’ AT DUCK WALK VINEYARDS NORTH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20^TH – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22^ND IN SOUTHOLD  

THE‘EHM ROCK ART SHOW’ FEATURES ARTWORK CREATED BY ROCK STARS, FAMOUS ROCK PHOTOGRAPHS, GOLD RECORDS, CONCERT POSTERS, BEATLES ANIMATION AND MORE.  ALL WORKS ARE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE.

WEHM rocks the art world with the ‘EHM Rock Art Show’ Friday, November 20^th – Sunday, November 22^nd, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Duck Walk Vineyards North, 44535 Main Rd in Southold.  Admission to the show is free and all works are available to purchase.  The ‘EHM Rock Art Show’ will also feature special guest photographer Mark Weiss.  Weiss is a New Jersey native whose work is a virtual scrapbook of the New Jersey/New York Rock scene including Bon Jovi , Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven, the Ramones and much more.

The ‘EHM Rock Art Show’ will showcase an amazing collection of works featuring classic artists such as Paul McCartney,  Jerry Garcia, John Entwistle of The Who , Jimi Hendrix, Ron Wood of Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, Robby Krieger (The Doors), Tony Bennett, Jon Anderson of Yes, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, U2, John Mellencamp,  Micky Dolenz and dozens more plus rock photographs from sessions including Bon Jovi, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and more. The ‘EHM Rock Art Show’ will also feature handwritten song lyrics, album cover artwork, gold records, concert tour posters, Beatles cartoon drawings and more.

One of the many highlights of the ‘EHM Rock Art Show’ is a special appearance by New Jersey Rock photographer Mark Weiss.  Weiss was a photographer for Circus Magazine beginning in the late 70’s where he began photographing Rock Music’s legends.  His photos caught the eye of a young Jon Bon Jovi who used Weiss to shoot the cover for his classic album, Slippery When Wet.  The original album cover featuring a wet t-shirt clad model created controversy with Bon Jovi’s label a tamer cover was substituted.  Gene Simmons of Kiss commented on Weiss’ photos, “Mark Weiss is a rock star.  If he didn’t have a camera hanging around his neck, it would be a Les Paul guitar.”   Weiss will be at the show sharing his stories of his classic shots including Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Little Steven, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zeppelin and more.

 In addition, the ‘EHM Rock Art Show’ will showcase a series of original animation paintings from Ron Campbell.  Ron was the Director of the Saturday Morning Beatles TV Cartoon series in the 60’s and one of the animators for the Beatles film, Yellow Submarine.  These original works of art are created specifically for this show.

 The ‘EHM Rock Art Show’ is the largest exhibit of its kind in the world and it’s only at Duck Walk Vineyards for a limited time.  Come see what you’ve been hearing  – ‘EHM Rock Art Show’, Friday, November 20^th through Sunday, November 22^nd at Duck Walk Vineyards North Fork (44535 Main Rd) in Southold, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  The shows are free and all rock art works are available to purchase.

The Colorful World of Stanko

by Mick DuRussel

Have you ever looked at a painting and get filled with so much joy that you can’t help but smile? Artist Mike Stanko creates works of art that does just that! His unique paintings quickly remind you of visual pop artist Andy Warhol and the warm Americana artwork of Norman Rockwell. Vibrant colors jump off the canvas but not shockingly as the simplicity of Stanko’s subjects are familiar to us all. I spoke to Mike recently about his artwork, his lovely wife Karen and they’re deep love for the Beatles!

MICK: Where did you grow up?
MIKE: I grew up in Valley Stream and that’s where we still live. I’m the youngest of three and Karen [Mike's wife] is the youngest of four. Our parents still lived here and for some reason we never moved. My sisters moved to other towns in Suffolk County and Karen’s sisters and brothers moved all over the area. We stayed here long enough and figured “why move now!” People say “how long have you lived there?” and I say 50 years! Valley Stream is great! Everything is 20 minutes away. We went to high school with Steve Buscemi.

MICK: Do you keep in contact with him?
MIKE: No, I keep in contact with his brothers Michael and Kenneth. Steven moved into the city many years ago. I was actually in his video, even though he cut me out of it, for his movie Trees Lounge which is about a local bar, an old man’s bar. Karen’s cousin actually owned the bar and Steven used to hang out there. When he was filming the video for the film, I went over and he asked me if I wanted to be in the video. I had a walk on part. Then he cut me out! But he’s cool.
His brothers come to my art shows occasionally. Michael is trying to be an actor. Kenneth comes when he’s in town. Jim Breuer from Saturday Night Live is from Valley Stream too.  So is Fred Armisen from Saturday Night Live now.

MICK: Do you work full time as an artist?
MIKE: No. When I got out of college, I wanted to find a wonderful job in this type of field or writing. I went to college for creative writing. I used to be in a band and I would write songs and poetry. My father had a Boar’s Head route and he said, “You need money so until you find your job, why don’t you work with me”. So thirty years later, here I am! I paint a lot but not full time.

MICK: It’s been written that your artwork is a cross between Andy Warhol and Norman Rockwell. How do you feel about this comparison and how did you develop your style?
MIKE: I developed my style by chance. When I first started painting seriously, I did this abstract painting and for some reason, it didn’t pop for whatever reason. This was like twenty years ago. I got black ink and I outlined all of the separate colors to the best of my ability. Then everything just popped! From that point on, I outlined everything I do. Every single painting! Some people say “Do you think you’ll never not outline?” and I say “I’m not sure”. This is my style now! Every once in a while, I say to myself should I not outline”. Then I quickly say “No!” I just do it and I like it! People come up to me and say “Please don’t take this as an insult, I really love your work, but is your work a little bit like a coloring book or a paint by numbers?” I tell them yes, it really is!! Sometimes I’ll just draw the image on the canvas and just paint that. As I’m painting, I add more detail which eventually will all get outlined. I could really make a coloring book of my paintings and somebody who paints could fill in the colors! But it wouldn’t be a Stanko because it wouldn’t be the colors I choose. My paintings are bright. I always liked bright paintings. I like being vibrant. I like alive! I’m not putting down any other artist’s dark works because there’s a time and place for me in that area too. In my house, every wall is a different color but it all works! When we first painted the rooms, we told our families and they said “Oh my God!” But when they came over, they said “Wow, it really works!” It’s done very tastefully! I have rock and roll memorabilia all over the place, a lot of art work. We have our Presidential room because Karen is very much into the Presidents.

MICK: How much time does it take for you to do a typical painting?
MIKE: It varies but it usually takes about a week or two. In the winter time I paint a lot more. I paint almost every day whether it’s half an hour or more. I really like the winter and I like the fall obviously for the colors. You just walk outside and you see yellow trees! We all grew up in a Yellow Submarine and walked through Pepperland! We are all influenced by everything that touched our life whether we are aware of it or not. Things that influence me are just things that I like. Whether consciously or subconsciously it comes out in my artwork…the colors, the happiness. I’m a happy type guy, very positive.

MICK: Do you work on more than one painting at a time?
MIKE: No I don’t. A lot of times I will take a color and paint it where it has to go on the painting. I can’t continue until the paint dries because I don’t want to smear it or getting it all over my hands. So I will stop, check my email, etc… I paint in acrylics only so it dries in minutes. I paint in a small room also but it works. If I had a bigger studio, I could have a couple paintings going at the same time. I don’t know if that would work because I like to be totally focused. Most of my paintings are things I have a passion for. Something as simple in life as a grilled cheese sandwich! When I’m painting my grilled cheese sandwich, I’m really into the sandwich! Then I will paint a fantasy like an autumn scene with a blue house type of thing. Even though it came out of my head, it’s a place I might want to be! I couldn’t paint something that I really didn’t feel for. I really like Rockwell stuff. I love the down home feeling. Edward Hopper has that every day American life in his paintings. I love that stuff. A picture can say a thousand words. Wayne Thiebaud is another influence of mine. Very simple paintings of things like a cake sitting in a bakery or a gumball machine. It’s beautiful! The colors he uses and the simplicity is fantastic. I’m also a fan of Tiffany glass. When you look at my work you can see the Tiffany stained glass influence. I’m not a religious person but I love going into churches to look at the glass. The colors and jewel tones are just beautiful!

MICK: I’ve also read that you actually met three of the four Beatles!
MIKE: Yes! In 1974, we were walking through Central Park with a bunch of friends. It was right around the time that John Lennon was being deported out of the United States. I’m a major, major Beatles fan as I said before. As we were walking, it was like “Oh my God, is that John Lennon walking towards us?” It was John and Harry Nilsson! Being a huge Beatles fan, I was in shock! I think it was March 12, 1974. John was going to speak at the March of Dimes Walkathon with Harry Nilsson. We stopped to talk to him. He was very personable. He wasn’t get out of here, get away from me. I told him I couldn’t believe they wanted to throw you out of the country! I asked him what could we do to help? He said get in touch with my lawyer Leon Wiles and discuss it with him. So I organized a committee to save John Lennon! It was a grass roots fan based committee to keep John in the country. I never knew it was this whole political thing whether it was Richard Nixon, John Mitchell or J. Edgar Hoover trying to get him out of the country. You can’t throw John out of the country! It was all politically motivated. John was anti war and he was very vocal with the young people so they wanted him out. So I started this committee and through that I met John four other times. One day I got a phone call from his secretary saying John would like to give you some tee shirts to hand out to you and your helpers. We got a petition up, we put out bumper stickers with my own money. We were asking for donations through Rolling Stone Magazine and we got around 60,000 signatures! We were telling people to mail the White House on June 12, 1975. Flood the White House with support for John Lennon. They actually admitted to getting 30,000 letters that day! So John’s secretary said, “It’s a really big box, can you come to the Dakota to pick it up?” So I go there figuring they’d be out on the curb and I go up to the little office there. The person there said “They’re expecting you”. Every step was another “what?” I couldn’t believe it! So we went into this elevator up to his apartment. The doors open up and you’re right inside John’s apartment. The first room you walk into is a huge living room or parlor. They had about 15 mannequins of Yoko Ono standing in a party atmosphere! It was so bizarre! Meanwhile, I’m like 19 years old and I’m trying to act very professional. It was unbelievable. Later on, John thanked me over at WNEW radio station when they won the court case.
Being a big Beatles fan, when Paul McCartney would be in New York City, we were like the local Apple Scruffs. We knew where he was staying and we’d wait outside for him.
I’ve lived a very pop life. I’ve always carried a camera so in my house, there’s pictures of Karen and I on the Howard Stern Show, Bill Clinton, John John Kennedy, Muhammad Ali, Joe Namath. I think I attribute that growing up a Beatles fan. We grew up just waiting for the next Beatles record to come out! And that didn’t suck!!
We met Ringo when he was playing at the Concord. That’s a very strange place. When we went up there, it was Jewish singles weekend so there was a couple dozen of us Beatles fans and the rest Jewish singles trying to hook up! It was general admission so I was able to get us a front table! Ringo came over to our table and I shook his hand. Karen actually jumped up on the stage and handed him flowers! It was great!
George Harrison, who was one of my favorite Beatles, passed away before I could meet him. We always gave George his privacy. When he’d slip into town, it was hard to find him.

MICK: On your website, while browsing your photographs, that you visit the graves of many famous people.
MIKE: Yes. As I told you, Karen is a big Presidential person so we’ve been to like 17 Presidential birth places. Obviously, we have a lot to catch up on! LBJ had one of the nicest ones. He’s buried under this big tree in Texas on his property. What really turned me on to this, and it’s just like Wayne’s World, we went to Mount Vernon which is George Washington’s home. He and Martha Washington are buried in crypts outside. It is gated and there’s bars around the crypts but you can actually stick your hand in and touch the actual cement coffin. So I was standing outside of this thing and it just hit me…”Oh my God, George Washington is right in that box!” Not like it’s my grandfather or grandmother, its freakin George Washington! I was like dumbfounded and Karen was getting such a kick out of this! So that probably started the whole thing. Then we went to London and they have this really famous, old cemetery which is very ornate and overgrown. If I was a rock band I would love to shoot my album cover there! Then we went to the one in Paris where Oscar Wilde is buried, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf…many many famous people. So I just get this fascination that “wow, they’re right here!” People I’ve read about, loved and respected whether they’re an author, a singer, whatever. I love it!!

To see more on Stanko: http://www.stankoart.com/

Stanko’s next show: November 7th, 2009
7-10PM Running Through December 1st, 2009

Ripe Art Gallery
67 Broadway
Greenlawn, New York
631.239.1805

BEATLES ANIMATOR RON CAMPBELL TO MAKE A RARE APPEARANCE AT UPCOMING BEATLES FINE ART SHOW & SALE

IN HONOR OF PAUL McCARTNEY’S HISTORIC CITI FIELD CONCERTS, 92.9 & 96.9 ‘EHM, PROGRESSIVE RADIO FOR LONG ISLAND PRESENTS “REVOLUTION” FEATURING THE ART OF THE BEATLES

AT DUCK WALK VINEYARDS IN SOUTHOLD,

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15^TH – SUNDAY, JULY 19^TH  

R20;REVOLUTIONR21; FEATURES ARTWORK CREATED BY JOHN LENNON, PAUL McCARTNEY, RINGO STARR, PLUS FAMOUS FAB FOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, BEATLES ANIMATION AND MORE.  ALL WORKS ARE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE

Paul McCartney will once again make history as he performs the first concert at the new Citi Field in New York City.  Paul’s performance kicks off a year that is jammed with exciting Beatles releases including the Beatles Rock Band video game and the entire Beatles Remastered CD catalog.  92.9 & 96.9 ‘EHM celebrates the legacy of the Fab Four by hosting R20;RevolutionR21; a fine art show featuring rare artwork created by John Lennon, Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr as well as famous Beatles photographs, album cover lithographs and one-of-a-kind Beatles animation,

Wednesday, July 15^th – Sunday, July 19^th, 11:00  – 6:00pm

Duck Walk Vineyards, 44535 Main Rd in Southold. 

Admission to the shows are free and all works are available to purchase. 

One of the many highlights of the show is a rare live appearance of famed Beatles animator Ron Campbell.  Ron Campbell is the director of the legendary Saturday morning Beatles Cartoon series that aired on ABC from September 25, 1965 through April 20, 1969 and animator on the Beatles film Yellow Submarine.  In his book, Up Periscope, Yellow Submarine Producer Al Brodax gives Ron Campbell a great deal of credit for saving the movie Yellow Submarine and tying it all together at the last minute.  Ron will have many of his original Beatles paintings on sale created specially for this show as well as give attendees a live demonstration of his painting.

In addition to his Beatles past, Ron has been involved with some of the most beloved cartoons including, Scooby Doo, George of the Jungle, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, the Smurfs, Rugrats, Winnie the Pooh and dozens more. 

Other R20;RevolutionR21; highlights include new hand-signed artwork from Ringo Starr, a very rare limited edition art piece from the fifth Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe signed by Pauline Sutcliffe (Stuart’s sister and Water Mill resident), hand-signed art from Paul McCartney, a gold etched record of John Lennon’s Imagine, a newly released posthumous Beatles drawing from artist Al Hirschfeld, photographs from Linda McCartney and much more.  It’s a visual history of the Fab Four.

R20;RevolutionR21; is the largest exhibit of its kind in the world and it’s only at Duck Walk Vineyards for a limited time.  

Come celebrate the music and art of the Fab Four  Wednesday, July 15^th through Sunday, July 19^th at Duck Walk Vineyards North Fork (44535 Main Rd) in Southold, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  

The shows are free and all rock art works are available to purchase.