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| "PORTAL TO THE FUTURE" 1984 Series of 10 Sculptures commissioned by Wave Gallery Artist Sculptor; John Landino Audubon Circle, New Haven, CT USA Front of Creative Arts Workshop No Photo /credit |
"The biggest one with the orange pillars almost fell on us in Stamford! You were the best! love you! John Landino The ARCHIVE, 12-9-19
Written by: Bev Richey 12-10-2019
This photo of "Portal to the Future" brings back many memories It was part of so many who worked, played, attended classes and parked their cars in the Audubon Arts District. Probably the last time I saw this sculpture was looking out of Bitsie Clark's corner condo window during a visit in 2010.
All these years I never knew that this sculpture was a part of a series of ten outdoor works or that the works were somehow related to a WAVE GALLERY commission. (The Wave Gallery was a gallery that was very much a part of the active New Haven arts scene during those years. (Hopefully that will get fleshed in as we progress).
Now of course I want to know what the other nine look like and where they are today. It makes me realize that during those creative and dynamic times, we knew each other but in a more youthful way, concentrating on the very moment what was directly in front of us (of course as it needed to be).
Memories of John are evoked when I look at the sculpture. Memories of him coming down into the original Arts Council offices in the Foundry Building with it's entrance on Whitney Ave and then down a few steps, just across from the Foundry Book Store.
The office was a hub. Small and cave like with enough space to get the variety of work going on there, done. John's visits energized the place. His first stop would be Bitsie's office.
Only later did I come to learn more about their relationship. Bitsie was very fond of John. Her love of men was obvious to me as I had a mother who was partial to men. I recognized that in myself as well. It was the out in the world in a focused, business and muted way which she emulated and appreciated.
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| "one more sculpture, from 10 sculptures around NewHaven 1988" John Landino, ARCHIVE |
Bitsie 's small private office was on the entry hallway to the inner sanctum, just next to the original SMALL SPACE Gallery. When meeting with people its glass door wall was closed, but for all to see who Bitsie was meeting with, and meet she did. Through out everyday there were board members, organization members, committee members, artist members and staff members in and out of her office.
It was not necessary to have an appointment. If she was free, Bitsie was always ready to see who ever came in. In the five years that I worked as Communications Director I never remember Bitise ever refusing to take the time to see someone. If she had administrative work to do.. which she did.. She would often stay late or close her glass door with her gaze towards her work, we as staff understood what a closed door meant. Bitsie "got" the welcoming, the engaging and the connecting and all the Arts Community benefited from that.
So what does that have to do with "Portal to the Future"? It really has to do with how John and so many other artists, arts organizations, art businesses, and arts organizations, large and small became interconnected.
John's visits to the AC were generally related to seeing Bitsie. He might stick his head in my office, check in to say hi... but don't remember him being in my office much, for any kind of artist service, (which I did I provide for others}. John probably stopped into the communications department to drop off some information about one or another activity he was involved in that day, week or month.
Everyone loved John. He was himself, bigger than life and full of looseness, love and positive energy. As for John and me, well, we connected after hours in other spaces as photos and tales will continue to reveal.
Recently (as the crow flies) John told me he was driving down to New Haven from his current residence in Turner's Falls, Mass to pick up his sculpture "Portal to the Future" and bring it back to Massachusetts. It was to be placed in an outdoor Sculpture Space John has been involved with. He had his reasons and I respected his decision. Hopefully he will share those with us here. None the less I felt the loss of this iconic sculpture that held so many collected experiences of a time of connection, celebration and hope.
This work is gone now.. out to pasture.. but its true home for me, will always be in the circle on Audubon Street.
“Portal to the future" 1984 in front of ECA on Audubon | Facebook
