Thousands of People and Thousands of Artworks In New York City Part 3
On Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, it was more than two years since we came to New York City. NYC was an epic place for the deadly virus and took many lives. Now we came to enjoy the place and people once again. The COVID-19 virus is scaled down a great deal, and many more people have been vaccinated to prevent the virus. However, some people who took the vaccine still get sick from the virus, but the sickness is not severe or deadly. Some people were still wearing masks but many more did not.
We still see the mixture of people that makes us feel comfortable to be in NYC. It is a melting pot, and in many ways a center for the diverse population of the world.
We walked toward to the Chinatown area where are the rows of Chinese restaurants on every street. Our stomachs were growling in anticipation of the taste of fried dumplings and sour soup.
Our destination was not a big restaurant. We headed to the small lane, called Mosco Street. In the middle of the lane is a very small takeout restaurant that specializes in fried dumplings and soup. We bought fried dumpling and soup to go.
🙂THE DUMPLING LADY OF CHINATOWN 🙂
At the bottom of the lane, just a few minutes’ walk from the dumpling restaurant, is a small park, called Columbus Park Playground. There is a basketball court next to the children’s playground. There are some benches for parents or anyone to sit and rest, enjoying watching the little children play on the swings and slide. We found a bench to sit, watching little ones having a good time playing while we consumed our delicious fried dumplings and soup.
We went to buy a pack of Melon cakes for John. I chose a pack black bean cakes and we also bought some other items to take home.
We walked back down to Mosco Street heading home, taking Path train to Newark, New Jersey. As we looked up, we saw the New World Trade Center standing tall in the sky.
We wanted to celebrate our trip to NYC, but we could not stop thinking about September 11, for the anniversary for twentieth year was coming soon. We still remember the event that caused heart ache for so many people. But following that dreadful day, an important thing happened in USA and around the world. It became a unifying factor for solidarity among most of humanity. Today however, it seems the opposite is taking place. Especially in US politics, such as January 6 event in 2021 with the mobs ordered by Mr. Trump to attack the US Capital.
Please make every effort to encourage unity, compassion and understanding between people the world over. With this we can find peace and happiness together as one human family.
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Monday, September 19, 2022
Thousands of People and Thousands of Artworks In New York City Part 2
On Tuesday, August 30, 2022
John and I had not visited New York City for a couple years because of COVID-19. We were eager to see once again the places we enjoyed walking about, seeing all kinds of people, mural artwork on the walls of buildings, and sculpture in parks and other places. On Tuesday, August 30 this year (2022), we had to go to midtown in New York City to conduct some business. We left our house about 8:00 AM, and walked to Newark Penn station to take the Path train to the World Trade Center. We took subway north to midtown and finished our business about noon. It was time for us to have our favorite lunch in China Town. For this we took a downtown subway to Canal and Lafayette Street. Here we were very glad to see murals on the sidewalks, tall buildings, and colorful graffiti on the walls of a parking lot. One interesting artwork was a large sun flower crochet on the fence of a parking lot. On Canal Street, we enjoyed viewing all kinds of merchandises being sold on sidewalks and in the shops. From there we turned into a small lane heading to our favorite source for food and a place to rest.
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Saturday, September 17, 2022
Thousands of People and Thousands of Artworks In New York City Part 1
On Tuesday, August 30, 2022
China Town, Canal Street and Lafayette Street
John and I had not visited New York City for a couple years because of COVID-19. We were eager to see once again the places we enjoyed walking about, seeing all kinds of people, mural artwork on the walls of buildings, and sculpture in parks and other places. On Tuesday, August 30 this year (2022), we had to go to midtown in New York City to conduct some business. We left our house about 8:00 AM, and walked to Newark Penn station to take the Path train to the World Trade Center. We took subway north to midtown and finished our business about noon. It was time for us to have our favorite lunch in China Town. For this we took a downtown subway to Canal and Lafayette Street. Here we were very glad to see murals on the sidewalks, tall buildings, and colorful graffiti on the walls of a parking lot. One interesting artwork was a large sun flower crochet on the fence of a parking lot. On Canal Street, we enjoyed viewing all kinds of merchandises being sold on sidewalks and in the shops. From there we turned into a small lane heading to our favorite source for food and a place to rest.
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Tuesday, September 13, 2022
John Watts, my husband was helping me to assemble the stretchers for my large canvas artwork “Ceremonial Elephants”
Only Bodhi stayed with Grandma Ing and Grandpa John today. Kai was in school. I had to put Bodhi in the carriage to watch Grandpa John measuring our shop gate to hang Grandma Ing’s artwork while I was taking the photos of John activities.
As an art teacher all his life, John knows how to prepare artwork for exhibition. John also taught the Art Exhibition class at Rutgers University in Newark campus. I appreciate John hard work helping me to achieve my Street Art Show.
Bodhi was very good. He did not cry or try to run away but seemed to enjoy watching Grandpa put up Grandma Ing’s artwork.
This person told me that he is a musician, and seemed to be interested in our artwork. He asked John some questions. He said He like John’s artwork “Homage to the Dragon”.
I displayed some of my artworks, The Thai Dancer and some of the posters from our art exhibitions in the entrance way to the building.
I did the above poster for my art exhibition in New York City. In 2007 I produced Hanuman and The Thai Dancer videos. The links on YouTube are as follows:
Hanuman and the Thai dancer Part 1 (10:33 minutes)
Syrian people please stop fighting. If both sides do not stop fighting no one can help you. The others only give both of you weapons to kill each other and some of them will be happy to take your money. Both of you are tired. Please rest and think carefully. No use to kill even one more person. Please stop! I produced Hanuman and the Thai dancer video in 2007 because of the wars taking place everywhere. Humans never learn from the destruction of wars. War continues to cause both mental agony and financial ruin. I still think that my Hanuman and the Thai dancer video needs to be seen, especially because of the Syrian civil war. I beg the Syrian people on both sides to stop fighting, at least have a ceasefire. Please give yourselves a little time to think and rest. Please give and take, for no matter what, we are the same. We are all human and no one is perfect, and we are all trying our best. So please give yourselves a rest and help one and other. I am sure you will all feel better. The past is a nightmare for us all. Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Friday, August 30, 2013, 12:50 am www.ingpeaceproject.com
May peace be with everybody on earth and especially with the Syrians I believe that all Syrian adults will want their children to go to school and have time to play with family and friends. You want your children to be happy, not to be afraid and cry. You can do it. “Make Peace, Not War”. Please do it for your children and future generations. You can show the world that Syrians are civilized people. Be an example for the world, especially the countries in your region. Show them that it is never too late to make peace. Your children and future generations will thank all of you who conquer hatred and select peace and harmony. This will be your legacy of teaching your children to learn to make peace not war. Please prove to the world that both sides of the Syrian conflict are wise enough to see that war brings only destruction and that Syrian people are able to solve their problems in peaceful ways. Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Sunday, September 01, 2013, 3:00 am www.ingpeaceproject.com
Hanuman and the Thai Dancer Part 3 (11:11 minutes) Link to YouTube:
Syrian Crisis If I see two children having a fist fight, trying to hurt each other I will go in between and try to stop both sides. Then I will question both children as to why they are fighting and who is right, and who is wrong. Then punishment should be given according to the circumstance. If the UN has unity among nations who sincerely want to stop killing from both sides of the Syrian civil war, then the UN should have troops on the ground to stop the killing. Soldiers from a UN International force are from multiple countries, not only one or a few. Once the killing has stopped the International Court of Justice will determine who is right and who is wrong. The UN at present has no unity among the member nations. They are divided into two or three groups. One group wants to help the opposition and the other wants to sell weapons to the Syrian government or wants to join them to create a stronger power to fight the other side. What I see is that most nations are looking for an opportunity to join in the killing of the force they are opposed to if they have a chance. It will be impossible to stop the killing in Syria because the UN cannot organize nations to be a buffer between both sides in Syria. Both sides in Syria are afraid that if they do not kill the other, they will be killed. So, they go on until no one is left alive. It is very sad for humans in the twenty first century still kill each other as if we are cavemen. Now we use far more sophisticated weapons to gain power over others. How long does it take for humans to become civilized? We have educated ourselves in very advanced technology, such as going into space and mapping the human genome but we never improve human behavior. Long ago humans killed each other with stones but now we kill each other with the poison gas, germ warfare and nuclear weapons. How can we stop humans from killing each other? Please educators and all wise men and women please help. Tell me how I can inform others that if we do not have peace, we will never be able to live with each other in civilized society. Without peace there are only wars and blood shed on earth. I do not want to believe that we humans cannot improve ourselves. Some parts of our brains do not function as fast as machines or technology therefore our behavior can lag behind the effects of the technology we create. We have to learn more from our mistakes and be more patient. Hatred is the disease that creates war. I hope some good will come out of the Syrian and Middle East conflicts. The sadness from losing loved ones from wars will hopefully make more people realize that no good can come from killing each other. As I end my, Hanuman and the Thai Dancer, video, I hope that before someone makes decisions to do anything please keep in mind the two universal human conditions described in my videos, “Life is Short.” and, “All Life is Precious.”. Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Wednesday, September 04, 2013, 3:32 am www.ingpeaceproject.com
This person seemed to enjoyed posing in front of my artwork. I was glad to be entertained by him.
These people stopped next to the last pot of flowers. The man pinched out a small pink petal of the Rose Queen flowers to show to the little one. They wanted to leave, but it seemed the young one was resistant to move.
Two love birds enjoyed being in front the flowers.
I feel very happy, when I hear people pass by our shop with compliments about how beautiful the flowers are. That was my intention in creating an arrangement of beautiful potted flowers in front of our shop. It gives people a good feeling for the day or at least for the moment. The freshness of the colorful flowers that contrast each other in a variety of shapes and shades of green leaves, makes people who see them smile. They are happy to see beautiful nature on the cement sidewalk of the city. I wish to tell people it would be nice if we all can all do something for those we do not know, making people smile and feel good.This friendly gesture to others will hopefully start conversations that may move us to trust and understand each other more.
After hard work, John was relaxed among the beautiful plants, smiling to the pedestrians who walk by.
This is one of my artworks, The Thai classical dancer, and a poster from our art exhibition at Rutgers University.
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts’ Artwork “Reflection of A Thai Dancer”
Produced in 2002
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts’ Artwork “I Dance for Peace” Produced in 1996
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts’ Artwork “By the Water Lily Pond” Produced in 1998
John produced above poster for our art exhibition on the 4th floor of Dana Gallery, John Cotton Dana Library, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
We are two sides of the same coin, quite different yet bound together by common values and continuous exchange of ideas. We are both immigrants, from opposite sides of the world, Thailand (Ing-On) and Wales (John). We both tend toward storytelling in our work, which also reflects the influences of Eastern and Western culture.
Homage to the Dragon artwork by John Watts, Pencil drawing, 1994
Hanuman Watches Over the Children artwork by Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts Watercolor, 1998
I produced this video in 2008 after our art exhibition at Dana Gallery, John Cotton Dana Library, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey.
The Link to the interview about our exhibition is as follows: