An Abundant Life - Creating Art Space

Almost twenty years ago I had the opportunity to meet the Artist Duda Penteado who was introduced to me through someone I knew. We had a number of conversations and meetings and adventures together, discussing our various visions and projects and talking about possible ways we could collaborate, and then as time went on we both continued on our own paths that were very busy and filled with things that kept our paths from crossing. On occasion we'd see each other, and we always stayed in touch through emails and newsletters and invitations, but at one point he moved to Florida and began spending most of his time there and traveling to other places, so it had been quite a while since I had seen him.

A few weeks ago I received an invitation to a celebration for the opening of a new art space all the way over on the other side of Jersey City in a neighborhood I love to visit but that is so far away to walk to that I don't often go. I had a very early morning the next day, and at first I thought that maybe I wouldn't go after all because I wouldn't be able to stay for very long, but I had a deep feeling that it was important for me to make the journey over, even if it was just for a very short time to say hello.

I hadn't expected to see Duda there although the invitation came through one of his emails to me, because now that he lives in Florida it seemed that the travel to this location wouldn't be something that he would be able to take the time to do. But sure enough, when I arrived there he was, and it was wonderful to reconnect in this celebration of time and space.

The building where the celebration was being held was where 902 Brewing is, a place where I've long wanted to go and been invited to several times for other art events, but because of where it is and the lateness of the hours of some of the invitation, it had never been something I'd been able to do. This event started a bit earlier than some, and even though I knew it would go on longer into the evening, because of my own early next morning I needed to leave when it was still light out which made it very easy for me to plan and feel like I had some flexibility.

It was a wonderful time, and I saw so many other people who I knew there. The space is one I want to revisit again, and the rooftop that was open has a view that is really beautiful. I'm so blessed to know Artists like Duda who are involved with such special projects that bring me to such beautiful and inspiring spaces. Thank you to him and to you all for creating such beautiful art and places to enjoy it and for the invitation to join you there!

On The Rooftop

At 902 Brewing

For The Opening Celebration

Of Liberty Arts District

https://libertyartsdistrict.com

https://www.902brewing.com

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Scents And Time

A little over two weeks ago I was walking down Park Avenue after I'd been at a meeting for Pastors and Ministry Leaders much further uptown. It was such a beautiful day that I'd decided to walk a bit, and the meeting had been such an enjoyable one that I was just enjoying taking in the sights and sounds all around me and reflecting on my own time in New York City, and how over the years and through so many experiences, even when I didn't know where the path was leading me, God had been guiding my steps all along.

I had seen someone at the meeting who I've known almost since my earliest days in Ministry, and who I had begun to work with on some of the greatest projects that have continued to inform and inspire my work up to today, because of a conversation we had early on about my heart felt desire to bring the art and Artists I loved and knew to the youth on the lower east side of Manhattan. I will write more on that in another post, but I share that so you understand, dear reader, just how happy I was to be walking downtown and thinking about the past that had led me up to this present moment.

As I reached the corner of Park Avenue where the Waldorf Astoria Hotel is, I smelled the perfume Shalimar that is and has been one of my favorites for almost as long as I can remember. I don't know when I first experienced the scent, but it became such a personally well loved one that there was a time when I had it in lotions and powder puffs and a daily splash. In those days many of the finer perfumes would be found without sprays in all forms, and even with the eau de toilette I could just dab a little on and feel like a princess. I still have that old well loved bottle and also have a new bottle of it with a spray now, a gift from a Christmas a few years ago when they brought back the original bottle withe the blue stopper.

When I smelled Shalimar on Park Avenue, at first I couldn't understand where it could be coming from. It was strong but not overwhelming, just absolutely lovely. As I looked around I saw that there were large decorative bottles of it in the corner windows of the Waldorf, and that the name was all around in that area. I opened the doors and was greeted by the most charming and welcoming, kind people who explained that it was the 100th Anniversary and that Guerlain was celebrating by having a special experience for people who made an appointment. The schedule was completely booked and they were just finishing up for the day, but they told me that if I was able to come by on a week day they would be able to find a time to fit me in.

Last week was a busy one, and at times unexpectedly so, and though I had wanted to go on Tuesday, I had some very important things with time constraints that came up that I needed to do. Thursday was the next day that was possible, and even that day was very full, but I found some time to be able to go. It was later in the day and I didn't know if they would be able to accommodate me, but I decided to try and hope it was possible.

I arrived around 3:20pm, and they told me they could fit me in at 4:00pm with the next group, so I took a little walk and came back at around 3:45pm as they had asked, just in time to be registered. As I checked in, someone came in the door who I thought I recognized, but he was working there and seemed very busy so I didn't want to bother him. I mentioned it to one of the lovely women who was helping me and she said he was very nice and wouldn't mind if I spoke to him, so I walked over and he recognized me too! I hadn't seen him in several years, but he had been the Manager of one of the places where I always had such a beautiful experience, and it was delightful to see him again. He told me that after the experience I could come up with the group who would be visiting the Guerlain Wellness Spa upstairs for a tour.

The Guerlain Shalimar Experience was so beautiful and inspiring, and I learned so much about the history of Guerlain and this wonderful scent that I love that made me enjoy it even more. Seeing this wonderful person and being invited up to the spa afterward was a double blessing. I'll be writing more about the spa in a future post, but for now I'll just say once again how wonderful it is to have my every step planned to bring me to places and to meet people who make life so beautiful. Finding myself on a path in such a sweet place with such beautiful people and things all around me brought such a sense of calm and love and joy. The name of the Shalimar Experience is 100 Years Of Love, and I think there will be even more years ahead that will be filled with its joy.

At The Guerlain Shalimar Experience

At The Waldorf Astoria Hotel

New York City

https://www.guerlain.com/waldorf-astoria-shalimar-exhibit.html

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Experiments Of Sound And Music

A little over a week ago I went to see an Artist friend's opening show at a gallery, and while I was there I saw another Artist, Eric, who I had reconnected with a few weeks before that at another Art event in another area of the City. We had been talking at the other event only briefly, and when we saw each other again the conversation continued for much longer. He was with a Writer, Emily, and at one point they mentioned that they needed to find a friend of theirs who was available for some event they were going to the next night because they had an extra ticket, and when I asked what event it was they said it was for John Cale at Lincoln Center.

Lincoln Center is one of those places I love to go to for just about anything, and when I heard it was John Cale I said something along the lines of, "Wow, if you can't find anyone I'll go!" I absolutely love John Cale, and I didn't know he was still performing. If nothing else it would be an adventure and a historical event to experience, and I knew it would be much more than that because John Cale is one of those Artists who is always awesome.

Interestingly he had been on my mind because I had just posted a photograph a few weeks before that on Instagram, and when I was looking for a song to add to it, the song "The Dream" from the album "Songs For Drella" he created with Lou Reed had appeared, and I had used a clip from it for the post. Thinking about seeing him live at this point in time seemed like something that I wouldn't want to miss, but I also knew that although I had met Eric a while ago and have known him for a few years, there might be other friends they had already asked who would want to say yes.

Somehow or other, after reaching out to some of their friends and sending some messages, Eric came back  and asked if I wanted to go. I said of course and absolutely! But also said that if they still wanted to take some time to ask someone else I'd understand. But somehow the ticket ended up being mine, and on Sunday evening I met them at Lincoln Center for what turned out to be one of the highlights of my concert and performance going experiences.

The performance, titled John Cale's Steam on Glass, was in the Wu Tsai Theater in David Geffen Hall, and was part of the Krakow based Unsound Festival. The evening opened with Heinali and vocalist Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko, whose 2025 album Гільдеґарда (Hildergard) was described on the Lincoln Center website as "a striking decontextualization of the music of the pioneering 12th century composer Hildegard von Bingen." It was one of the most lovely and deeply meaningful sound and music experiences I've heard, and their presence and performance was breathtaking and mesmerizing. I performed in a play in college about the life and music of Hildegard von Bingen, and hearing their performance of her music also had that added echo from my own past.

The Lincoln Center website went on to say that "Unsound is co-organized and co-presented by Fundacja Tone – Muzyka i Nowe Formy Sztuki and the Polish Cultural Institute New York. This project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from the Culture Promotion Fund in partnership with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. The main partner of Unsound Web KRK – NYC is the Polish National Foundation."

When John Cale came out on stage I already was so filled with the wonder of the evening from the opening experience. Though I knew that I'd enjoy whatever he decided to do that night, I was not prepared for just how incredible the experience was from the first chords that rang out on his guitar and the wall of sound from his band. He had projections of films and art visions throughout, gorgeous, fun, joyful and so full of his creative energy that every moment was full of something to look at, hear, and take in, and smile, laugh, cheer, dance along to and celebrate. Everything was so memorable that I am still seeing the projections and the experiences of that evening in sound and vision.

Afterward, Eric and Emily and I were able to share some time together in the after hours of the hall at the reception. When we headed home it was very late, or rather very early in the morning, but I didn't even notice the time or question it until I arrived home and saw my clocks. Even then, I was so elated that though I couldn't believe the time, I didn't mind it, and I woke up the next morning feeling so jubilant and happy and full of a wonderful peace and joy.

With so much gratitude Eric and Emily for inviting me, to John Cale for all the years of amazingness, his band and other performers with him, to the opening performers, and to everyone who contributed their beautiful and inspiring gifts to make this evening of experimental sound and music such as wonderful experience!

At Lincoln Center

For John Cale's Steam On Glass

Wu Tsai Theater, Davd Geffen Hall

New York City

https://www.lincolncenter.org/john-calesteam-on-glass

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Living History

I was in Massachusetts a little over a week ago and when I heard from Bonny Smith, the Chairwoman of the Wilmington Historical Commission that she was attending a ceremony to commemorate the agreement of the town lines between Wilmington and Andover, I asked if I could be there to see it. I grew up in Wilmington, and was born and raised there, and though I've made New York and now New Jersey my home for many years, there is something in me that loves Massachusetts and Wilmington and the area all around my childhood home that has been growing stronger and stronger each time I return to this place.

The ceremony she was attending is called Perambulation, and though I'd never heard of it, it's been part of State Law since the 1600's when New England towns were first founded and given their new names and boundaries by English settlers. Every five years the Selectmen, and now Selectwomen too, were to gather together at the adjoining town lines to agree on where the town lines were. Over time, it seems, farmers might move a rock or a tree would come down that was adjacent to a hewn granite marker or its adjacent field stones and boulders, and so it was necessary to meet to make sure that everyone was in agreement about where the town lines actually were. By law, if the Selectmen did not meet to do this every five years, there would be a fine of $20. The more I heard about this event before it, during and after, the more I fell in love with the history of these wonderful towns.

On the day of the event, we met just before 9am, driving up to a place where I, for one, hadn't really noticed before that had a town line sign on a sign post and a historic granite marker in the wooded area across the street from it. As the beautiful morning progressed, we learned from the Chairman of the Selectmen of the Town of Andover about the details included in the law, including that after the Selectmen agreed on the town lines they'd share a toast of Champagne. For our purposes that day and because of the early hour we had sparkling cider, which seemed perfect on a beautiful fall morning.

After the Select Board members who were in attendance from both towns agreed on the town line, the two Chairmen, one from Wilmington and one from Andover, painted their respective town initials on the granite marker with black paint, a W for Wilmington and an A for Andover, along with the last two digits representing the year the agreement was being made. The last year visible on the marker looked to be 1970, so it seems there may be some $20 fees that could be collected if either town wanted to follow up on that part of the law.

We had a toast at the first marker and then "perambulated" or walked around to the next one a short way away through the woods. Once again, agreement was reached, the marker was painted, and a toast was enjoyed to celebrate.

In all of my time living anywhere I don't know if I've ever had such fun doing something so rooted in history and so much a part of my life today. Joining together with old friends who I've known for all or most of my life and new ones I've been meeting was a joy on this lovely October day with the leaves glowing and the beautiful light of autumn all around us. The people in attendance were Mike Linstrom, Andover Town Manager; Alexander Vispoli, Chair of the Andover Select Board and Ellen Townson and Kevin Coffey Andover Select Board Members; Frank West, Chair of the Wilmington Select Board and Captain of the Wilmington Minutemen and Gary DePalma, Wilmington Select Board Member; Bonny Smith, Chairwoman of the Wilmington Historical Commission; Mary Kelley and Karen West, Members of the Wilmington Minutemen; Frank West Jr., on call as needed by the Wilmington Minutemen; Kim Smith Hall, Owner of the John Howard Eames House in Wilmington's Buck's Corner Historic District; Andover Police Officer Brian Mackenzie; Wilmington Police Officer; Winslow Townson, Andover Photographer. With so much gratitude to you all for including me in such a very beautiful and very special experience!

Perambulation

A Historic Ceremony

Rooted In A Living History

Agreeing On The Town Line

Between Andover and Wilmington

Massachusetts

Frank West, Chair, Wilmington Select Board

And Captain Of The Wilmington Minutemen

And Alexander Vispoli, Chair, Andover Select Board

Agreeing On The Town Lines

Photograph By Winslow Townson

Courtesy Of Alexander Vispoli, Chair, Andover Select Board

Perambulating

Photograph By Winslow Townson

Courtesy Of Alexander Vispoli, Chair, Andover Select Board

Photograph By Winslow Townson

Courtesy Of Alexander Vispoli, Chair, Andover Select Board

Frank West, Chair, Wilmington Select Board

And Captain Of The Wilmington Minutemen

Painting The '25 To Commemorate The Date

Photograph By Winslow Townson

Courtesy Of Alexander Vispoli, Chair, Andover Select Board

Photograph By Winslow Townson

Courtesy Of Alexander Vispoli, Chair, Andover Select Board

Photograph Courtesy of Bonny Smith, Chair

Wilmington Historical Commission

Blessings,

Jannie Susan