I also took a sabbatical about showing my landscape art in galleries.  That is also a thing of the past – POOF!

So without further adieu, you are all invited to the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC) for this weekend’s gallery opening titled, “Tales of Breukelen”!  I am showing for the first time in a year and yes I had to be very obvious in selecting Brooklyn Bridge shots for this show.

Come check them out!  There are many festivities planed for the Saturday, September 17 opening – food, wine, live music, pizzazz!  I will not be in attendance until Sunday, September 18 around 2PM.  Let me know if you can make it; especially when I plan to be at the gallery!

Here is more info – click on the image to go to BWAC’s website:

BWAC - Tales of Breukelen Fall 2011

TopStar is an online gallery aimed at exposing artists and photographers. We offering numerous ways to do this through our markting and social media outlets. Artists can sell their works, art prints, revolutionary products such as images infused directly on metal, actual licensing to use an image of their works, etc. While we exist primarily online, we love the "Pop-Up" strategy. We will appear in NYC locations such as Bryant Park, Madison Square Park, down in Red Hook, Brooklyn, etc. In 2011, we will be expanding into additional cities. Stay tuned...

 Announcing our annual holiday shoppe at Bryant Park!  When planning out your gifts for the holidays, one affordable hot spot with great selections is Bryant Park smack dab in the middle of NYC on 42nd Street & 6th Avenue!

Even better, you and your family can make a whole day out of the adventure!  Bryant Park has already opened their seasonal ice skating ring called The Pond.  It is very interesting to watch people on the ice outside in 65 degree weather!

Other amenities include Celsius; a temporary restaurant and lounge overlooking the ice skating rink, Le Carousel and close by activities such as Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building etc.

During the week, take your lunch break by strolling through to check out all of the vendors and food stands.  And don’t forget to come visit us at TopStar – Store #F06 right at  the 42nd St and 6th Ave entrance (actually we are directly across from The Grace Building).

TopStar is showcasing numerous artists andphotographers; each with something unique to offer.  I created this company a few years back andhave found this shop to be a wonderful marketing strategy, as well as a tremendous exposure opportunity for the artists that sign up.

Before you come visit (ask me specifically when I will be there so we can catch up), be sure to check out our website, http://topstargallery.com to see all of the artists who have joined the family.  Showcasing in our store for the 2010 season are as follows:

• 360 Citi
  360 Degree Photography views of major cities and popular destinations
• Tom Hagen
  Oil Paintings & Drawings that you have to see up close
• Daniel Marino
  Yours truly! – Unique photography perspectives and architectural details on NYC and other locations
• Bill Storoniak
  Amazing, colorful and bright photography paired with mixed media handmade frames
• Kevin York
  Photojournalistic and emotional photography that is pristine
• Terry Urban
  Acryllic and Oil on Canvas – her Koi will make you looking for new little friends
• Gail Gitcho
  Amazing travel photography and scenic landscapes from all over the country
• Rek Santiago
  Famous Graffitti and Abstract – come see Rek’s model trains tagged up – must haves and truly special – from the subway to the gallery!
• Bernette Rudolph
  Bernette has brought true treasures to the store.  Her abstract art prints have an 80′s flair that is back in style and wonderful.  Every apartment or home should have one of these pieces in a very noticeable location!

 

I hope to see you all there.  If I am not in store, when you come by please email or call me and let me know what how you liked the experience we created for you.  We cannot take credit for this but the jewelry, chocolate truffle and candy apple vendors we neighbor with will excitingly enhance you experience!

MY “WONDER WHEEL & CONEY ISLAND” PHOTOGRAPHY ON METAL PIECES ARE NOW ON DISPLAY AT BWAC UNTIL OCTOBER 31 – WEEKENDS ONLY

I HAVE PRICED THEM VERY AFFORDABLE THIS GO AROUND SO THAT THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!  LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING AND I WILL TRY TO BE THERE IN PERSON AS WELL!  MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE SHOW ARE BELOW:

On September 25th, the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition opened its 19th century iron gates to LINEAGE, its 2010 Fall Group Art Show. 300 artists are exhibiting 1200 works in all media, including those of Featured Artist, Anujan Ezhikode. 

LINEAGE is a narrative show. Says Paula Jeanine Bennett, who, along with Anna Hagen and Zane Treimanis, is one on the show’s co-chairs, “It is an opportunity for artists to explore the source and metamorphosis of their creative journey and/or discipline; to honor their personal artistic inheritance and its change and its continuity.” Most artists have a written narrative as well as their art work as part of their presentation. Click here to learn more about the show, or take a look at the Lineage performance calendar.

As some of you know, on 9-11 I was in the basement when the 1st plane hit, got pushed outside in front of the Millenium Hotel and Century 21, and watched the 2nd plane go into the building.

Today, 9 years later, I am thankful for life, enjoy as much time as possible with my 2 1/2 year old daughter, and make it a priority to chase my passions.  This is a rebirth for many of us near and far, who worked in the towers, had loved ones who didn’t make it out, and those who connect with what transpired and what has become.

Remembering Giovanna Gambale this morning, a wonderful woman who never made it out but is still very much alive today.

I have attached my story again this year.  This ended up published and was something I felt privileged to share with anyone who needed it.

- Dan

_______________

Outside Directly Across The Street

Well it was very sad, tragic, and mysterious, but I was directly across the street standing in front of the Millennium Hotel; something I am still trying to get over and it is going to take a while.

I was running late this day because I had to drop off my car for service in midtown Manhattan. My normal route to work from Brooklyn involves taking the X28 express bus to the World Trade Center (in front of Century 21). I then walk across the street. go into the 4WTC, and proceed down to the mall area. I make my way to Cornucopia (usually around 8:45 AM) to grab a protein shake, and I then walk into the lobby of 2WTC to go back outside, walk across the street, and up the escalator inside the West Side Highway overpass bridge, taking me into the lobby of 1 World Financial Center.

On this day, I was taking the E train into the 5WTC. We arrived at approximately 8:45AM. I was trying to get inside the Trade Center mall area to grab breakfast and get to work, but we were being told we could not enter, and were immediately pushed as a group up the Church Street and Rector Street stairwell exit (someone people mentioned that they heard someone say a man got shot). As I was halfway up the stairs, a police officer was screaming, “Excuse me, clear the way,” as he was escorting another officer who had a jacket covering his right shoulder (looked like he got shot). Getting closer to street level, I saw people pointing and looking up, screaming and crying. As I got all the way upstairs, I saw 1WTC on fire, with a huge hole on the right side of the building, and it was truly shocking. I didn’t know what to do, so I found a spot directly on the corner of the Millennium Hotel (approx 25 feet from the front of 4WTC, 5 WTC and the WTC atrium area), and all I could do was stare at the building.

Trying to listen to what had happened, I overhead someone say that a small jet hit the building. I could not comprehend this, nor would I believe it. After a few minutes, I witnessed people taking their lives from upper floors (75+) of 1 WTC. These people chose to leap out of windows and plummet to their death, rather than being trapped and burning to death and I can’t say that I blame them. I had to see at least 25-30 people jump. It seemed like this was going on for an hour in length; however, the reality was more like 5-10 minutes. It was a truly grueling and traumatizing experience for me and will take some time to get over. One lasting image in my mind was 4 people holding hands all the way down (From where I was, I never saw these people hit the ground – I thank god for that!)

A while later the 2nd plane hits the 2WTC, another awful experience. I don’t know if the other people around me saw this the way I did (and I am extremely curious to find out exactly how they saw everything and how they are dealing with it), but the 2nd plane was not seen until it hit the 2 WTC. Basically, there was so much black smoke, smog and fire filling the air, and there was so much noise and commotion, than this 2nd plane could not be seen and was barely heard. All I truly remember is taking focus off of 1 WTC to glance over at 2WTC. The plane just seemed to appear, just become visible a few inches away from the building. I watch it on TV and say to myself, this is not how it happened and it definitely did not look this way. The plane was tremendous! (767 I think), and I saw it from the bottom, tilting to the left. Again, it just appeared from the smoky air, and within a second, it hit the 2WTC and caused a ferocious explosion.

This impact sent everyone around me in frenzy. I did not move. I was too shocked and I do not know why, but I did not want to run away; I wanted to stay and watch it. That lasted for all of 5 seconds (which felt more like 5 minutes) because pieces of the building and debris started falling and I had to get out of the way, so I ran down the Millennium Hotel block (Jay street?). People were running so hard and so fast that they literally were running out of their shoes. I eventually ended up, thankfully and surprisingly unharmed, down near J&R Music World and Pace University.

This was only a few blocks, but I had to turn around and look at these buildings and experience the fear I had run away from. The site of these 2 buildings, landmarks, on fire and in shambles was really painful to see. I was terrified at this point. After about 15 minutes, I finally ran into someone I knew from my company and we spoke about what we had experienced. He left to go home, I stayed and watched. A few minutes later, I walked towards the courthouse and sat down in amazement in the park area. While I started talking to people, I heard, then turned around and saw the 2WTC falling and ran away again from

falling debris. Standing in front of the park, I was blocked from immediately being hit by traveling debris, but had I not run, it would only be a matter of time until it made its way in my direction. As I turned around, all I could see was the antenna of one of the trade centers, and finally, I looked away and walked for a while. I had seen enough.

I ended up in a bar on Broadway and Houston Street. I wanted to get as far away as possible, but I also wanted to get in front of a TV to see what the hell just took place. It was about 10:30AM at this point, because as I went into the bar and sat down, they were showing the 2WTC beginning to fall. I sat down, watched the TV, and drank about 8 shots of Southern Comfort with others people I met. Finally, I got my first cell phone connection dialed out to my mother to let her know I was safe.

While most people tried leaving the city ASAP, it didn’t mater to me. I ended up traveling to different bars and locations to stay updated, and remain drunk. It wasn’t until 8:00PM, that I finally needed to go home, back to Brooklyn. Thankfully, the F train was running again, so I went down into the W4th Street station, jumped on the train, and went home.

Throughout that day, and for the next few days, one thing was on my mind – Why? Was I supposed to be in this building at the time, and why was I supposed to witness this. There may very well be no answer to this. Thinking long hard about this, whether I was on time going to work taking my normal route, or whether I was late from dropping off my car, I still would not have been in the building where I would be harmed. Had I been on time, I would have been in the 2WTC lobby, just about to walk out and cross the street. I would have probably seen and/or heard the 1st plane hit and ran back down Liberty Street rather than running up the escalator into 1 World Financial Center. Had this happened, I believe I would have ended up in close to the same exact spot I was because I would have wanted to watch what was taking place.

So basically, the question is, why was I supposed to be 25 feet away from the buildings, watching this major catastrophe? If I was truly not supposed to be there on this day, then why wasn’t I left in midtown, so I could not witness this tragedy in a front row seat? Again, one will never know why they were where they were on this day. I can just be thankful that I was unharmed.

Dan Marino
Brooklyn, NY

On my way to CIBC World Markets, 1 World Financial Center

Each piece on display has a sub-theme "The Ocean". Come and see some new work and some different perspectives in locations such as New York City, Boston, Montauk and Aruba.

I have some staples on display from my beloved Coney Island; as well as a couple of items on the auction wall that relate well.

I hope to see you there - my panel numbers are 148 and 182. The show opens Saturday, July 11 an will run for 5 weeks until Sunday, August 16 - weekends only 1PM - 6PM. Visit BWAC's website for more details and directions.

The gallery is right off the Red Hook waterfront (across from Fairways and 2 blocks from IKEA) so you NYC dwellers can take the free IKEA water taxi while taking in some amazing scenic vistas of the Brookyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Statue of Liberty,NYC skyline, etc. There are even a couple of trolley cars off the waterfront that will catch your eye and bring you back to historic NYC - wouldn't it be great to see those on the streets again (see Brooklyn City Sreetcar Company for more details on that)?

Perhaps you can couple you visit with a stop to IKEA, the famous dessert spot baked, the famous Steve's Key Lime Pie, and/or to just take in some breathtaking scenic waterfront views (and bring your cameras!)

I hope to see you there one of these next 5 weekends - if our paths do not cross, then please reach and and tell me what you thought of my new works and the gallery in general - this is Brooklyn's largest art gallery.

Something new I will be doing - a few weeks into the show, I will post my items on display online for sale - think virtual gallery!

- Dan

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NYC Water Tower

Manhattan Bridge Reflection

Chrysler Building Close-up

Happy 4th of July! I thought I would share some scenic and architectual detail NYC images with you. I am working on these for a client who wanted an “old world” feel with landmark images as well as many of the details NYC has to offer in their building designs.

Enjoy and let me know what you think! The direct link is: http://danmarinophoto.com/__cl/nycimages09

Brooklyn Bridge Scenic

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Hello friends,

Unfortunately, another NYC, Brooklyn and Coney Island Icon have suffered a great tragedy. As Coney Island itself continues to go through numerous unresolved issues, Totonno’s Napolitano Pizzeria, the oldest running family run pizzeria in Brooklyn, went on fire Saturday morning. From what the news stories say, it looks like the coal oven sparked a fire that reached the ceiling and made its way to the roof.

This small pizzeria that is still very much designed as when it first opened in 1924 is very near and dear to my heart. I have been going there for all 33 of my year s and still manage to get there every 2nd or 3rd Fridays to bring home a pie or two.

I will save a photo essay I was planning to put out here very soon for when the proposed re-opening occurs. I just convinced Cookie the owner to allow my to do a photo shoot at Totonno’s which I did complete on February 19. I think that a masterful story with supporting pictures is very necessary for this almost landmark of a place and a grand re-opening which hopefully does occur is most fitting.

** SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE SHOOT **

CHECK THESE PHOTOS ON http://danmarinophoto.com/

I will share some fond memories from past and present here and use some of the photos from the shoot to support it. I will also link you to my gallery so you can see all of these images now. My goal with the shoot was simple. I went into it with no pre-conceived desires; just the passion and feeling that I needed to shoot it for my own pleasure and archives. What I intended to capture were hidden treasures that uncovered themselves as I snapped the camera and focused the lens. The only design goal was to try and create a nostalgic feeling; making sure to mix in images that had an antiqued and rustic feel, really crisp BxW’s and vibrant color images the visually show Totonno’s in its current state today.

** MY OWN MEMORIES **

1) Nothing beats the pizza eating competitions I got into with Uncle Dennis as a young boy. Who can eat as many of these coal fired delicious thin crusted slices was the sole rule! Uncle D definitely cheated and I always let him know because he wouldn’t eat the crusts!

2) I will never forget the apartment shared by my wife (then girlfriend) Vanessa and I on Bay 50th Street and Cropsey. This location pretty much made Totonno’s our resident pizza haven for a few years! Can you say extra pounds!!! There many nights we would walk over the Cropsey Bridge and pop in for a white and a red.

3) To this day, I go in and ask for a medium red and a medium white only for Cookie to tell me, “We don’t have medium; just small and large!” I mean seriously why I can