ROBERT BUSHWAY PHOTOGRAPHY

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REVISITING JOSEPH SOLMAN


JOSEPH SOLMAN IN HIS EAST VILLAGE APARTMENT, NYC  2008.

 

IN 2008, I LIVED IN EAST VILLAGE, NYC, ON 2ND AVE. AND 10TH TO BE PRECISE. I WAS THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THEN 98 YEAR OLD JOSEPH SOLMAN, EXPRESSIONIST PAINTER, FOUNDER OF "THE TEN" WITH MARK ROTHKO, JACKSON POLLACK AND OTHERS. HE NICKNAMED ME "BONAPARTE" OR ON OCCASION, A "SAGACIOUS CHIEF".  IN LATE SUMMER, AFTER A DAY AT HERALD SQUARE, ICE CREAM AT LUNCH, A GALLERY SHOW UP TOWN, STEAK AND SCOTCH FOR DINNER, JOSEPH RETURNED TO HIS LIVING ROOM CHAIR, AND WITH MOZART PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND, SLEPT INTO DEATH.  THIS IS A PHOTO I TOOK WITH MY HASSELBLAD CAMERA ON A ROLL OF EXPIRED KODAK 400 WHILE HE SAT DRINKING COFFEE IN THE KITCHEN.  ALSO IS A VIDEO HIS SON PAUL SOLMAN, PBS ECONOMIC CORRESPONDENT MADE IN TRIBUTE TO HIS DAD FOR FATHER'S DAY. 

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/video/module.html?mod=0&pkg=13062008&seg=5