evasikons

Connect the Dots

2012-01-25T23:57:00.001-05:00

This web site I use to do the majority of genealogical research, ancestry.com , has a feature I cannot resist - which they call hints. I've got about 1,200 individuals on my tree and about 185 individuals with hints. When I go to the sight I go straight to the hints, where connections with other family trees, census records, school year books, draft registrations, naturalization records, marriage, divorce, and death records are all waiting to be tapped into. Most of the time it's just plod, plod, plod away. It can be boring to just start from the top of the alphabet and work down, especially when there's 185 people to sort through. So I mix it up, scanning down the list until I find a name I hope will help tap a vein with some juicy information. Most of the time this isn't the case. But tonight I happened upon some good stuff.

A fellow named Jacob Chaiken became a Naturalized Citizen in 1921. There's all sorts of information on these papers, which start with a declaration of intent (to become a citizen) and end (hopefully) with the actual certificate of naturalization. This took anywhere from six to twelve years, depending on all sorts of circumstances. Anyway, everybody has to have two witness/sponsor/people to stand up and say Yay, for the petitioner. On Jacob's (his original name was Jankel) one of the witnesses was Abraham Dortort. As you may know I've written about the Dortorts here before. I don't know about you but a name like Dortort seems unusual to me. It's stuck there in my brain as a name to watch out for. So I see this name and I go into my database there on the site to see if I've got an Abraham Dortort. I do, and I don't. I've got an Abraham Yankel ha Kahane Dortort, born about fifty years before the above Abraham is supposed to be born. So, it's not him. But maybe, hopefully, they're related.

So I start digging around and I find Freda Cherim, wife of Jacob Chaiken, is the sister of Yetta (also known as Ethel) Cherim, and the wife of Abraham Dortort, one of Jacob Chaiken's naturalization witnesses. It took me a couple hours to document these findings...it doesn't sound too complicated, but it felt like a bit of a game of hide and seek.

There are public member family trees on the site and private member trees, and there are private components of public trees. The standard private component are people who are still alive. But not always. If someone wants to keep parts of their public trees private they can do so - it's their family, after all. Anyway, I did a bit of detective work with the information I had on the site, and several family trees that included Dortorts, Chaikens, and Cherims. Insert here a good helping of suspension of disbelief. It's essential when coming across hints for people that do not appear, at first glance to be who you think you want them to be. For example, I searched for records for Yetta (Ethel) Cherim in a number of places but didn't find her until a hint turned up, after several connections with related (no pun intended) family trees, for a family listed as Charron, or something close to that. Just beneath the surface of this poor transliteration were salient details that matched up with bits of information I'd come across elsewhere in the search for documentation of this Yetta person. Once I had Yetta it was only a matter of time before I found Abraham and how he was related to the rest of the Dortorts. What was interesting about finding him, though, was that in several family trees his father, David Eliyu, was not included in the (long) list of siblings. But I was able to find one tree that did include David Eliyu, and that's how I was able to confirm Abraham's connection with the rest of the tree. And not because Abraham was listed as David Eliyu's son on the family tree I looked at directly. I had to look at the record kind of out of the corner of my eye, if you can imagine, so as to understand that I'd found what I was looking for.

Fun fact - Abraham Dortort was listed throughout his adult life as an egg candler (also known as an egg inspector).

I am going to have SUCH a party (when another cousin comes along and positively identifies the women in this photograph)

2012-01-05T09:07:00.005-05:00

L-R: One of four Foxman (Fuchs) daughters, Usher Anshil Foxman (Fuchs), unnamed second wife of Usher Anshil.

Thanks to Amy Neifeld, a new-found cousin, I am posting yet another version (I'm up to three now, I think) of this venerable photograph. In previous versions the photograph was cropped at about hip level. I am excited to get to see the older woman's hands and skirt, the man and younger woman's shoes, and the pattern on the floor.

Oh course, it creates more questions than answers. For instance - what is the young woman holding? What's the container on the man's lap? Where are they? At home? In a studio?

Most importantly, and only slightly more tantalizing now than in previous versions - who are they, really?

I can only make an educated guess on the identity of the man in the picture, re-enforced by information passed down to living relatives. The four sisters were Fanny Tsisi, Yetta, Esther Faige, and Ethel. One of my recently discovered cousins resembles this young woman closely, so she, the young woman in the photo, may be Yetta, as that's her (my counsin's) great-great grandmother. But that's a guess. A lot of genealogy is educated guesses, backed up by hunches, some of them accompanied by the hair standing up on the back of someone's neck.

And the older woman? My great Uncle Izzy wrote a short family history crediting Usher Anshil's second wife with bringing up all the Foxman (Fuchs) children, which also included three sons, but he neglected to name his step-grandmother. Usher Anshil's first wife and the mother of his seven children was Sussa Ruchel. Esther Faige was the youngest, born in 1883. According to Uncle Izzy's story Sussa Ruchel died at an early age - if it was not long after Esther was born then probably Sussa Ruchel was only 35 or so when she died. Another guess - this photograph is probably later than 1885, which supports the idea that the older woman is the second wife.

Positive identification of these women would be a pretty awesome party starter. Just sayin.

Fecundity and Muscles

2011-12-21T23:32:00.000-05:00

Late this summer I saw a friend from college I hadn't seen in over 25 years. We lived next door to each other one or two semesters and then drifted apart, but those few months of proximity produced a good half dozen finished portraits, in crayon, pencil and acrylic paint, and many more quick sketches. I dug them up and was struck by how fresh they still are - immediate - reflecting my fecund muscularily of purpose.

Earlier today I stretched a few poetic muscles and someone noticed, a stranger on a social networking site. It made me realize how little I use these well developed muscles of mine, how my purpose languishes while I find just the right point of view to express myself with. Enough already. I think I'm just gonna write and draw and post other sorts of amazingness and eventually I'll figure out what I'm trying to say. The big picture comes now and then, but the little pictures are frequent and profuse. I've been self editing plenty long enough.

Heidi, Spring 1985 caran d'asche crayons on paper

Homage

2011-11-19T21:41:00.001-05:00

This is a painting sketch I did from a photo-booth photograph of my late Aunt Rose, my late Mom's sister. The photograph was taken when she was about nine years old, approximately 1945. I didn't know my Aunt very well. She died in March of 2006, about six months after my Mom passed away. I remember her telling me at least once that she was leaving something for me and my older brother in her will, but it seemed more like a threat than a promise. It turns out it was both. But the point of this introduction is to start to pay homage to my Aunt, who did her best in circumstances not designed for excelling.

The stories, oy, the stories.

2011-10-14T22:58:00.001-04:00

Listen, there's a lot to tell. I've got stories coming out of my ears now, understand? There's the Great Aunt whose grandfather married her grandmother in 1894 and then divorced her in 1896, and then later, much later, provided said Great Aunt with her wedding dress. You don't believe me? Ask the grandfather's great niece, with whom I've been corresponding via the wondrous genealogy web site I've been using. She, the great niece, has been looking for documentation for her Great Aunts and Uncles, of whom said grandfather above is one, by marriage. And so we've met (virtually), corresponded and exchanged tasty tidbits of information. She's even helping me find some long lost Chicago relatives, about whom I know almost nothing, except first names, maiden names, and other not necessarily helpful information.

But really! I've got so many second cousins now I don't what to do with them now! It puts me in mind of very crowded working conditions where people are forced to share beds - when one is working the other is sleeping, and vice-versa. That's what my family tree is beginning to look like. Crowded, but accomodating the newbies as they display their bona-fides (or not, but more about that later), and colorful plumage.

It's pretty heady stuff and now I've got a second cousin one time removed of my Great Aunt (see above), who strictly speaking is related to me by marriage, not by blood. But if I only counted blood relations that would make for rather dull reading. Umm, well maybe not, but trust me this is much better.

So this second cousin I've just mentioned lives nearby. And I didn't know she existed until a couple days ago. I am trying to screw up the nerve to call her. What do I say? 'Erm, hello, my name is Eva. Guess what? We're cousins by marriage! Isn't life grand?!?' Yeah, probably not quite that. But now that I know she's here I can't ignore her proximity. I mean, if the stars are lining up to reveal proximate second cousins, I feel I should show some gratitude and respect, no?

I'll let you all know if anything comes of it.

More (relatively) recent family photographs

2011-09-30T18:52:00.001-04:00


Grandmom Gerri circa 1940s. More after the fold.

Grandmom Gerri, my dad, unknown girl, circa 1945

Dad, Aunt Elaine and Great Aunt Sylvia, circa 1947

Grandmom Gerri, my brother John (probably his hand peaking out near Grandmom) and my Mom, Jackie circa 1964

Grandpop Andy and possibly one of his cousins, circa 1918

Grandpop Andy 1930s-40s, Manager of the Midway Theater, Philadelphia, PA.

Fox Family Album

2011-09-25T17:44:00.005-04:00

Israel and Rose Fox circa 1914

This is Uncle Izzy, my Grandmom Gerri's cousin and brother-in-law, and his sister Rose, probably when Izzy was about four years old.


Benjamin Fox, Harry Fox, Bella Stuhlman Fox, Louis and Rose Fox circa 1909 This is Uncle Izzy's family before he was born, probably.


Benjamin, Louis, Rose and Israel Fox circa 1916 The handsome Fox family siblings.

Joseph, Sadie, Esther (Faige) Fox Niefeld, Sam Niefeld, David circa 1915

Uncle Izzy's cousins, Aunt and Uncle.

Fanny (Tsisi) Fox Rosenzwieg, Harry Rosenzweig, Anna Rosenzwieg circa 1905

According to Uncle Izzy, Anna was a Fox, one of Fanny's sisters. According to Record of Birth in Philadelphia (for Anna's son Andy, my grandpop) Anna is a Rosenzweig. So, perhaps she is Harry's sister, Fanny's sister-in-law. There's no one around anymore to explain away the confusion.

Fanny (Tsisi) Fox Rosenzwieg and Harry Rosenzwieg, circa 1925

A later photograph of Fanny and Harry. Fanny was the oldest of her seven siblings. She and Harry brought all but one of the Fox siblings over to the New World.

Top Row, L-R: Lou Fox, Izzy Fox, Naomi Weiner, Arthur Weiner, William Weiner, Ben Fox, Gloria Fox (Ben's daughter), Alan Fox (Izzy's son). Second Row, L-R: Anna Gaber Fox (Lou's wife), Selma Savar Fox (Izzy's wife), Harry Fox, Bella Stuhlman Fox, Rose Fox Weiner, Dorothy Macks Fox (Ben's wife). Bottom Row, L-R: Alvin, Philip (both Lou's sons), Suzi (Izzy's daughter) and Alfred Fox (Ben's son) circa 1950

Uncle Izzy's extended family. Possibly Harry and Bella's wedding anniversary.

unknown Fox relatives #1

unknown Fox relatives #2

unknown Fox relatives #3

unknown Fox relatives #4

Back row, L-R: Sydney Gordon, Lou Fox, David Schectman, Joe Fox
Front row: Esther Fox Neifeld, Sam Neifeld, Marian Gordon, circa 1950. Edited 27 Dec 2011 adding little girl's name - thanks to Amy Neifeld for the attribution. Also - this is probably a photograph from the wedding party of David Neifeld and Rae Cler, not pictured here.

L-R: Joe Fox, Marilyn Cohen Fox, Renee Fox Jarefsky, Bern (sp?) Jarefsky, circa 1953.

Top Row, L-R: Sydney Gordon (Sadie Neifeld's husband), Joseph Neifeld, Ester Brosman Neifeld (Joseph's wife), David Neifeld, Herman "Hy" Beilan (Evelyn Neifeld's husband). Second Row, L-R, Sondra Gordon, Sadie Neifeld Gordon, Esther (Faige) Fox Neifeld, Hal Beilan (baby on Esther's lap), Sam Neifeld, Evelyn Neifeld Beilan, Alan Neifeld. 3rd Row, L-R: Marian Gordon, Leslie Neifeld, Judy Beilan, circa 1953.

Edited 29 Oct 2011: Today I was able to add, with the aid of Marriage Records research, the maiden names and in a few cases the first and last names, of previously unknown (but pictured in this post) Fox wives and husbands. Connecting the dots is FUN! Another Edit 27 Dec 2011 to add the names of the baby, the pre-teen boy, and the three girls in the 3rd row. Thanks again Amy! Edit 4 Jan 2012 - Confirmed Sondra Gordon, corrected misspelled names, thanks Marian!

Conceptual Art and Claes Oldenburg

2011-09-10T20:53:00.004-04:00

Clothespin

Cor-Ten and stainless steel sculpture, 1976

Claes Oldenburg’s 45-foot-high, 10-ton sculpture stands above the SEPTA subway station staircase, just across the street from Independence Hall, shown above, at 15th and Market Streets, in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About six years ago, while visiting my grandparents, who have since passed away, I was in Center City Philadelphia and although I walked underneath the Clothespin on my way out of the subway station I didn't actually see it until I came back later for the return trip. It's slightly behind the staircase...so unless one looks up and back in the direction of the station, it's possible to miss it. When I did finally see it on my way back I was gobsmacked. Where did this thing come from? I still haven't found out who commissioned it, but I love the thing like an old friend. If one looks closely one sees the 'spring' up high on the 'pin'. I consider this curving spring a tongue in cheek homage to the Rococo building that is Independence Hall, capturing Mr. Oldenburg's sense of humor not only in the sculpture itself but in its juxtaposition to Independence Hall. Good job, Claes! I asked my Grandmom what people thought of it when it went up in 1976. She shrugged and said, "Not much." This confirmed my sense of it as a somewhat controversial installation. I mean, a 45 foot tall clothespin? For real? Yeah, for real. And I love it.

P.S. 9/15/11
Encouraged by a story I heard from a co-worker who lived in Center City Philadelphia, I've done a little research regarding the commission of Clothespin.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say:
The complex, Center Square, is best known for Claes Oldenburg's sculpture, Clothespin, located in the plaza in front of the building. A fan of contemporary art, developer Jack Wolgin commissioned three art pieces for Philadelphia's percent for art program. The pieces, Oldenburg's Clothespin, Jean Dubuffet's Milord la Chamarre, and a series of banners by Alexander Calder, were noted for helping Philadelphia gain a reputation for the promotion of public art.

Meanwhile, while poking around at Wikipedia regarding over sized clothespins I also came across this claim:
There is a 5-foot clothespin grave marker in the Middlesex, Vermont, cemetery.

Coincidentally I live quite close to Middlesex, Vermont. I will post again here if I am able to confirm this claim!

Cousin Lillian Kanofsky Press and her husband Jules Press on their wedding day.

2011-08-20T21:53:00.006-04:00

Sometime in the last few days I posted the wedding photograph (above) on my facebook page and titled it Mystery Photograph. My cousins Judy and Wilma both saw it today and gave me some hints that helped me leap frog over several heretofore impossible to leap hurdles. One that I'd struggled with for a long time (a couple years maybe) was the connection between my great-grandfather Jake and his brother Isaac. It stated very clearly on Jake's immigration papers that he and his widowed mother Eide were going to stay at his brother Isaac's. There was even an address.

The trouble was with the multiple and diffusely different spellings of Kanofsky. Kohonovsky, which is where we started, I had expected, and Konefsky, sure. Konopky, not so much, but Gonovesky? Apparently, yes, because that's where I found Lillian and her brother Max, and her father 'Ike' and her mother, Anna, in the 1910 census. All from Ekaterinaslov, Russia, Ike an operator in a clothing factory. Hiding in plain site. I even found Eide, who gained fourteen years between 1913 (56 years old) and 1930 (87 years old), but was very much herself in every other important detail, living with her eldest son Isaac and the rest of the correctly spelled (!) Kanofsky family. a miracle, surely.

Identifying the people in this photograph, one I've looked at many times in the past 6 years, since I inherited my mother's family photo-albums, is the best part of that miracle.

Lillian Kanofsky Press

Top to Bottom: Jules Press, Lillian Kanofsky Press, Max Kanofsky and the future Dr. Abram Kanofsky, (Lillian's brothers), and Hanna Kanofsky.

Edited 11/3/11 to include the complete photograph of the wedding party.

Eva's Ikons

2011-08-18T22:34:00.001-04:00

Eva's Ikons - A title more true than ever with the current blog title picture - of my Kanofsky relatives from a century ago. I am worshiping at the altar of ancestor research and the uncovering/rediscovering of family stories. My great-grandfather on my mother's side, my mother's mother's father, who had not one, not two, not even three, but four first names. Srulick (my personal favorite), changed to be more modern perhaps, or only used when he was a child, if at all? Somewhere in there was also Noah, no idea what associations to attach to that, but there it is. Then Jacob, which was changed to Israel for obscure superstitious reasons having to do with his fiance's father's name also being Jacob, and then, when he became a naturalized citizen, away, far away, from his father-in-law, he officially had it changed to Jake! And his last name? Upon arrival in the New World it appeared to be Konolovsky. Then morphed to Kanofsky, which was quickly shortened to Kannof by at least one son. A whole constellation of icons I have to worship, them and all their stories. It makes me giddy, and when I've spent one too many hours in front of the computer it makes me eyes sore and my mind and body tired. But it's worth it. It's all worth it. Every last little bit of story.

Dortorts and Dots

2011-08-07T08:38:00.001-04:00

L-R, Louise Dortort Watnik, with three of her siblings: Isadore, Oscar & Frieda Dortort in Basel, Switzerland, circa 1912.

Louise (1903 -1987) is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Her grandmother by marriage and my great-grandmother were sisters, that's the 1st cousin part. And she was born two generations before me, that's the 2x removed part. Yesterday I met for the first time and visited with her daughter, Cirel Watnik, in busy downtown Brattleboro, VT. Over the sound of trucks, buses and motorcycles we sat at sidewalk cafes and parks talking genealogy and connecting the dots.

More connecting

2011-08-04T23:19:00.001-04:00

I'm going to meet some third cousins tomorrow for the first time ever, down in Brattleboro at the Latchis Hotel. Pictures to follow.

Connecting

2011-07-13T23:02:00.000-04:00

A while back I posted a picture of three people, a young woman, a 40ish year old man, and a woman of about the same age. I wasn't sure exactly who they were. Or, I wasn't sure who the women were, but I thought I knew who the man was. This picture, which was posted on a web site I frequent, ancestry.com, connected me with some second and third cousins I didn't know existed, firstly because it was listed under a name I had listed in my own family tree, and secondly because it was a picture I remembered from my grandfather's family photo album. At first it was just the second cousin, Phyllis, her daughter Heather and Phyllis's second husband Pat who I corresponded with and talked with over the phone. It's Phyllis's photograph. Her mother Anna, Phyllis said, told her it was a picture of her (Anna's) father, Benjamin, but Anna didn't know who the women were in the photo. This was very exciting, as no one in my immediate family knew who they were. We exchanged more photographs via e-mail. At some point Phyllis connected me with some of her closer cousins, so now there's all these second and third cousins sending e-mails back and forth, with stories and photographs, including people who also have this photograph that I've been describing, in their own family photo album. One of these other cousins got on board and sent out some photographs and one of them was of these same three people. Same photo, different story. Not drastically different, but different enough.

The first story, via Phyllis, claimed that the man in the picture was her grandfather, which would make him my great grand-uncle by marriage. That is, married to my great-grand aunt Yetta, sister to my great grandmother Anna. So, the picture appears and the man who sends it via e-mail says his mother, Phyllis's aunt Elena, one of Yetta's daughters, says this is a picture of Yetta's grandparents. It's not right, though. The people in the photograph, none of them are old enough to be the grandparents of someone born in the 1860s. So I ask, is it possible that they are Elena's grandparents, Yetta's parents? The picture is taken some time in the 1880s. Which is about right. We'd (Pat and I, independently, on ancestry.com) already decided Yetta's parents were born sometime in the 1840s or 1850s. So, the e-mails flew around for a day or so and we (us heretofore unknown cousins) that the people in the picture were, left to right, one of the Foxman girls; Yetta, Ethel, Anna, Fanny or Esther, and Usher Anshil Foxman, and Sussa Ruchel. I'll let you know when I find out which of the Foxman girls it is.

In the meantime, have a look at this picture, which is a family photo of Benjamin Watnik, his wife Yetta Foxman Watnik, and their three sons, Irwin (Erving), Louis, and David Nathan. The girls, Elena and Anna, are not pictured here. But it is the two of them, through their grandchildren, that brought us all together. May their memories be for a blessing.

Here's a picture of Elena, circa 1923, on a pony. Such a stylish little girl, yes?

Arts Buildings at Goddard College Preservation and Use

2011-07-09T15:33:00.004-04:00

The Design Center, Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont. One of three Student/Faculty built buildings in the 1970s created and used for the visual and performing arts.
Photo courtesy Goddard College Photo Archives.

We're having some fun dreaming up preserving and using again these three buildings at Goddard College. Check out the fuller scoop at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arts-Buildings-at-Goddard-College-Preservation-and-Use/252303184783830 and if you're on face book please 'like' the page. Thanks.

Catching Up

2011-06-11T20:31:00.001-04:00

For a week there I lost internet and phone access at home. The least of the flood trouble, but damn inconvenient nevertheless. That was a result of the May 26 2011 storm. It took down most of a tree in the front yard (hard to say if it was lightening or the sheer force of 4 inches of rain pouring down in one hour) of my next door neighbor's house, which took the cable and phone lines with it. The cable went back up the next day but I had to keep on calling to remind them I didn't have phone or internet for 6 days before they got that back up. Like I said, it was inconvenient, but the least of the troubles. Some businesses in Montpelier and Barre (10 miles from here) lost all their inventory in basement storage and had to rebuild/are in the process of rebuilding as I write this some weeks later. Some roads are still washed out in parts of Central Vermont and the river is still running brown with silt. It rained all day today which isn't surprising but rather daunting given how much rain has already accumulated in this half year.

Cultural institutions are going and hopefully coming. The Langdon Street Cafe closed May 28, as did Black Sheep Books. Rhapsody Cafe closed in March and a burrito/bagel cafe has opened to replace it. Hope springs eternal at Goddard with the beginning of plans to create an arts center at the campus where the 1970's era student built buildings are (the Design Center, Sculpture Building, and Painting Building) that will also include active participation with the town of Plainfield.
(photo credit: me - Second floor painting studio, Painting Building, Goddard College, August 2009)

Meanwhile some institutions remain and grow, as does the Montpelier Fashion Show, which had it's seventh annual last Saturday, June 4th, and where I took my current blog title image, above.

Rachael Rice and Dan Haley, the sweetest, most fecund musical/artistic couple in these parts are moving to Portland, Oregon in a month or so. Last night there was a farewell concert for/with Dan Haley, who normally plays guitar, mandolin and banjo, among other instruments, but last night he (only?) sang and played harmonica (major back trouble that may delay their travel plans, with surgery, a bit) but with accompaniment with something like ten different artists, telling the story as they came up to play how he met them and how they started playing together in the past ten years. Wonderful, and I could only stay an hour, as the church pews (the concert was in Bethany Church's sanctuary) were too hard for me to sit on longer than that.

I feel a little like the punch line of that joke about the kid who starts talking when she's 4 years old - her parents ask why she didn't speak before then and she says, 'I didn't have anything to say'. I promise I will pop back in when I have more to say, I just don't when that's going to be. Until then, have fun and take lots of pictures.

Geneaology Excitement

2011-04-11T23:52:00.012-04:00

Above: Unnamed young woman (possibly Anna Watnik or Elena Watnik), Benjamen Watnik, unnamed middle aged woman (possibly Yetta Fox(man) Watnik, circa 1900. Yetta Fox(man) Watnik was my Great Grand-Aunt, my Great Grandmother Anna Fox(man) Schectman's sister.

Below: Paster Family Reunion, 1950. The man with the sunglasses, third from the back, is my Grandpop Andy (Schectman). In front of him (and partly obscuring his face) is my Grandmom Gerri (Savar Schectman). Behind Grandpop Andy is Great Aunt Selma (Savar Fox), Grandmom Gerri's sister. Their mother is the Paster connection: Kathryne Paster Savar, and she is the standing woman behind Great Aunt Selma. Kathryne's husband, Louis Savar, is standing next to Kathryne and behind Selma. My Great Uncle Izzy Fox, Great Aunt Selma's husband, is just behind Kathryne. On the other side of the table, standing, is Rose Paster Colbs, standing next to her is her daughter, Ruth Colbs. I can't identify anyone else in the photograph, but can see the family resemblance and think there are at least two other Paster siblings in the photograph, especially the women closest to the camera on either side of the table.

So, that's Fox(man), Watnik, Schectman, Paster, Savar, Colbs. And lots of unknowns. I am having a heady time filling in the blanks. The above photograph of three figures was uncovered on ancestry.com through a connection with a until recently unknown branch of my family tree. Phyllis Oxfeld, who maintains this uncovered branch, is a cousin of my father's generation, a granddaughter of Benjamen Watnik and Yetta Fox(man) Watnik. I didn't imagine I'd ever see that photograph again. It was part of an album my Great Uncle Dave put together of Fox(man) relatives. He wrote a little story about the family and made copies of the photographs and gave a copy of the album to his brother, my Grandpop Andy, to his sister-in-law Selma and her husband Izzy, and he kept one for himself. I don't know how many copies got distributed, but had no idea there'd be people I didn't know who had any of those old photos. But here we are. A small miracle in the genealogical search for meaning in the universe.

The reunion photograph was given to my brother and sister-in-law by my Dad, along with maybe 100 other photographs, to scan and copy. I received a copy of the collection a couple months ago. It is an ongoing revelation.

1975 and 2010

2010-09-17T19:48:00.000-04:00

2010 back view of the Parthenon, with random stangers

1975 back view of Parthenon, with me, sitting, in the middle distance

1975 front view of Parthenon, with man

2010 front view of Parthenon, with me and my brother

I hadn't looked at the pictures we'd taken in Greece in 1975 before going on the second trip this summer, but I could remember some of them in my mind's eye and so could my brother John. Above are the two closest matches. A lot of the apparent rubble one can see in the 1975 photos have since been organized into carefully carved parts of columns, buttresses and walls. Categorized, mapped out, ready to be hoisted back onto the Parthenon, and the other temples on the Acropolis, sometime soon...

...as this 2010 photograph illustrates.

It was great to see how much care has been put into the renovations in the past 25 years (a sign we saw said the current renovations began in 1983). Although I did miss being able to get really close to the temples...

as we clearly did in this 1975 photo...

but it wasn't a bad trade off, all in all.

Greece 2010

2010-09-06T07:57:00.001-04:00

Photos, from the top:
The Parthenon (second/replacement Temple of Athena), Temple steps in front of Temple of Nike, scaffolding/ongoing restoration project on the Acropolis since 1983, view from villa at Pendamodi, Crete, interior view at Knossos, my sister-in-law Kirsten, nephew Sam and niece Robin at the Acropolis, my brother John at the Old Market/currently a open air museum, in the Agora (down the hill from the Acropolis).

These are highlights from my recent trip to Greece with my brother and his family. My mom passed away about five years ago. For sometime before that she told my brother and I she wanted to do two things: get cremated and have her ashes spread in the Aegean Sea. Life everlasting in that beautiful blue sea. And so we carried out her wishes. More posts on this trip and the trip we took (my Mom, brother and I - see the passport photo below) in 1975.

Sky Whales Poster

2010-07-31T00:13:00.001-04:00

Sky Whales Illustration Exhibit at Rhapsody August 2 - 28, 2010

2010-07-13T10:56:00.003-04:00

An exhibit of illustrations by Eva Schectman with text by W.F. Gem from the children's book Sky Whales. Sales of illustrations and the book at the exhibit.

Rhapsody Natural Foods
28 Main St. Montpelier

Mondays - Saturdays 11:30am - 8pm, Aug 2-28

Information
August 2 - 18 (802) 229-2766 or evaschec@myfairpoint.net
August 19 - 28 (802) 522-4147 or skywhales@live.com

Undetermined as of yet

2010-06-23T20:15:00.000-04:00

Today the chiropractor said my thyroid is strong. Two weeks ago the naturopathic doctor said my thyroid was weak, AKA hypothyroidism. Day after tomorrow I talk with the naturopath about strategy regarding thyroid treatment, and what if any tests I want to have him run for me. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist late in July...I don't know if I can wait that long for more information.

The chiropractor used kinesiology (muscle testing) to determine my thyroid condition. Muscles are pretty reliable, in my experience, for determining organ strength...so I'm not sure what's going on...but I am determined to find out.

If you're curious this might be worth while to look at, if nothing else for the elegant illustration:
http://www.righthealth.com/Health/Thyroid%20Photos-s?lid=goog-ads-sb-8536643334

I also received the lab bill from the hospital for all the blood tests the naturopath wanted for me. About a third to half again what I expected in costs, so the fun begins tomorrow when I find out why they want so much money from me, and whether its all legit or not. Sigh.

But wait, there's more!

Also today I received my annual mammogram, and got to see the images from last year's test. The x-ray of my breasts is strangely beautiful (not unlike this sky scape I snapped a few weeks ago) and reassuringly devoid of concentrated matter (no lumps in the gravy of my mammary glands, thank you God).

The Baptistry Door, Florence

2010-05-15T14:04:00.003-04:00

there's more after the break

Hello again, long time no see

2010-05-14T17:26:00.002-04:00

I found four rolls of undeveloped film in a drawer recently and just picked them up from Bob's camera this afternoon. One black and white roll was very old, according to Bob, (yep, named the shop after himself at least 25 years ago and is the only camera shop I know of still running in central Vermont). I also had three rolls of color. The b&w produced one grainy out of focus photo from my late mom's sandtray work (a therapeutic device used in Jungian psychotherapy), a portrait of two children with their sandtray creation. Two of the color rolls also had some exposures of this nature. But the third color roll was one of mine, from either 1999 or 2000, when my mom and I stayed in Florence, Italy for a week or so. Mom had already been blind for a couple years but was still in pretty good shape otherwise and asked me if I would accompany her to the annual conference of Jungian analysts. I agreed, taking photographs on my minolta point and shooter, a good five years before I had a digital camera. I must have tucked that roll of film away until I could afford to get it developed, forgetting it for years all together and then remembering the pictures I had taken and wondering if I would ever see them again, save in my mind's eye. Here are three of the exposures. Looking up into the sky from a courtyard somewhere in Florence. My mom on one of our first days in the city. And a view of the Duomo from up the street.

quick update

2010-04-13T22:38:00.001-04:00

Howdy.

Well, I'll be going to Greece with my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew in August. Here's a detailed map of central Crete. We'll be staying there and also in Athens.

I was going to go by myself in early in May, but as of last Tuesday that's all changed. Here's a
satelite image of Santorini an island I was going to visit. It's beautiful, but it turns out to be the 'honeymoon island' so I'm not so upset to be missing it!

I think I'll be going to NYC in May, though, too, so it looks like I'll be hopping around quite a bit this year.

Stay tuned!

Sky Whales, how to order and update

2010-02-27T21:41:00.003-05:00

Sky Whales, written by W.F.Gem and illustrated by Eva Schectman. Soft cover, hand-bound book.

Mint condition copies $40 each.
Display copies $32 each.
Mint condition wholesale copies $32 each.

To order a copy of Sky Whales, long distance & local versions.

1. Choose a display copy at $32 (limited availability), or a mint copy at $40.
2. Add $5 for shipping and handling.
3. Decide whether you want autographs from either the writer or illustrator, or both.
4. Send checks or money orders to:

Eva Schectman
P O Box 1504
Montpelier, VT 05601

Local to Montpelier buyers please contact me here or at evaschec@myfairpoint.net to arrange a meet-up delivery.

Thanks!

We have a fan page up at facebook for Sky Whales and have almost 50 fans to date. It's a boost for both of us, the illustrator (me), and W.F. Gem, the writer, who also has a profile on facebook. He chose the end papers as his profile picture, show here.

It's a hoot to have fans for a book, but it's also fun to chat a bit about our process and get response from our supporters. Way to go facebook for making social networking more fun!

I've sold five copies of the book to date. We got the books from the printer about two weeks ago, so I'd say we're right on track. We have to sell a not unreasonable number more to pay off the printers and start paying ourselves for writing, illustrating and publishing the book, so I'm feeling good about it!

We are starting to think about the next printing, as this first printing was small and soft cover. We'd like to figure out how to make it more affordable and sturdier/hardcover for libraries and such. Anyone have any thoughts on that, please let me know!

In the meantime we will continue to sell the books privately, probably bypassing bookstores, so we can retain as much of the profits as possible, and keep the prices as low as is feasible given our expenses. At a point when we can find a way to produce the book less expensively we may revisit selling Sky Whales through bookstores.

So, if anyone is interested in seeing a copy of the book, whether to purchase it or just to see what's up with this Sky Whales thing, please contact me directly here or send me an e-mail at evaschec@myfairpoint.net, as copies of the book are not currently available through retail outlets.Thanks!

Sky Whales - an illustrated children's book

2010-02-13T22:47:00.002-05:00

I am proud to announce the publication of Sky Whales.

Back in September 2009 I was asked by a friend if I'd be interested in illustrating a children's story he'd written. I'd never done it before, but it seemed like a project I'd enjoy, so I said yes. Six months later, here we are.

Self published, printed on glossy paper at the local copy shop. Hand bound with linen thread by me and the author just today! Retail price: $40. A limited number of display copies are also available for sale at $32 each. Want to see a copy before purchasing? Let me know! I'd be happy to arrange it! Leave a message here or send me an e-mail at evaschec at myfairpoint dot net. Thank you!

January Sun

2010-01-22T16:18:00.004-05:00

Gorgeous sun today. Snapped a bunch of pics. Here's a sampling.

One last glance at 2009. Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T21:45:00.001-05:00

meadow view

2009-12-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

I visited the Hawthorn Meadow and saw the Earthwalk Vermont people had cut down a couple of trees. The bark on this one was all curly.

I'm sure they cut the trees down for a good reason, but the sight of the stacks of wood gave me a sad sinking feeling that I still am having a hard time shaking. They, the Earthwalk people, invited me to join them for lunch but I just wasn't feeling like hanging out. Nice people and all...I just wasn't feeling it. And a beautiful day, too. Highly unusual for it to be in the 50's, the ground pretty much dry and the sun shining. No snow anywhere in sight. So what's bugging me? They were nice old trees. I have pics of the stumps, too, but they aren't that interesting. I miss the trees where they were. I guess I'm a sappy (pardon the pun) old sentimentalist at heart.

snap shots

2009-11-28T15:56:00.003-05:00

Facing the empty lot where the bus station trailer used to be parked.

I took a walk along the bike path. The first place I stopped was the old Greyhound Bus Station. Details started getting my attention, like the leaves hanging onto the branches of these saplings. Then the old beautifully bent tree trunk at the Peace Park, here the red fuzzy plants masquerading as birds and then, when I got back home, watching the sun come out over this stand of trees just behind my house.

shades of gray: sky & river

2009-11-20T15:17:00.001-05:00

stuck

2009-11-17T23:13:00.000-05:00

I need to feel the sun beating down on hard packed ice and see the water running through it like this.

Teaser

2009-11-12T09:49:00.003-05:00

Working on an illustration job for a children's book.

The above image is a version of one of the illustrations, which wasn't included in the final selection of drawings, but that I like and think is a good "illustration" of what I've been up to without giving away too much about the book the illustrations are made for. It's been a lot of fun and hard work in a great way to have this project. I'd be posting a lot more about it but I want the story and the illustrations to have an impact when it comes out in hard copy book-form, so until then I am adhering as close to the spirit of mum's the word as I can!

When the book comes out I'll have a lot more to say about it. In the meantime, I will say it's being self-published by the author (it's not me) and we're hoping to have it out for sales for the holidays. Stay tuned!

life drawing

2009-10-29T10:02:00.000-04:00

From early September when I attended Billy Bauer's life drawing/painting group in Montpelier.

You looking at me?

2009-10-24T17:32:00.003-04:00

I love photographing people.
I've been doing it a lot in the last couple of years, photographing people, that is.

I made friends with someone I didn't know (not pictured here...the portrait above is of Brian Ziegler, an artist friend of mine) by going up to them and saying I could take their picture, if they wanted, and maybe it would help them get a date. It took a couple of months (not the picture taking, the date-getting), but it worked! Really well. (Yeah, well, they also worked very very hard to make themselves attractive to the person they didn't know and wanted to meet...so my photography helped, but was not the only factor in the date getting).

Anyway, I'm beginning to think this portrait photography thing might be more than a casual point and shoot for me. Or maybe, the fact that it's a casual point and shoot IS the thing and just to keep going with it, enjoy it, and if/when the opportunity arises, and it feels right, do it up big.

Halloween 2007 & 2006

2009-10-23T19:19:00.004-04:00

More photos after the fold...

Visuals

2009-10-22T23:44:00.004-04:00

Richard Serra installation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, photographed May 2007.
Loved this installation to bits. Walked around and around it, took video footage of it, gave it my all. If I can figure it out I'll add one or two of the videos here. We'll see how it goes.