Descending the Balcony with Edward Painting by RC DeWinter

Descending the Balcony with Edward

by RC DeWinter

Canvas Print

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Weekender Tote Bag

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Zip Pouch

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Portable Battery Charger

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Yoga Mat

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Greeting Card

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Spiral Notebook

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Sticker

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iPhone Case

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Round Beach Towel

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Coffee Mug

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Men's Clothing

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Title

Descending the Balcony with Edward

Artist

RC DeWinter

Medium

Painting - Digital Oils-paintography-photopainting

Description

Copyright 2014 RC deWinter ~ All Rights Reserved

It had been an age since I'd seen Edward, In fact, the last time had been when we'd taken that boat trip around Manhattan. I was more than surprised to answer the phone and hear his voice after so long a silence. In his usual diffident way he asked if I'd like to meet him downtown in Pershing Square to see a play. Josephine was busy and since we'd been so long out of touch he thought he'd ask me. It would be nice, he said to catch up.
Of course I agreed instantly without even knowing which play, but also laughed to myself at the thought of "catching up" with Edward. He was so naturally reserved catching up would be me chattering and him nodding, making the occasional observation or comment.
He gave me the particulars and on the appointed night - Edward being somewhat of a stickler for punctuality - I hied myself down to the theater early. Amazingly, he was not yet waiting so I milled around with the other theatergoers outside, enjoying the sights and sounds of Hell's Kitchen, for the most part no longer hellish at all but renovated and spruced up with new and restored buildings, small parks, restaurants and everything else that makes the city so interesting and exciting.
Fifteen minutes before the curtain along came Edward, dressed in his usual sober fashion with the corner of a sketchbook peeking out of his capacious overcoat pocket. We exchanged greetings briefly before he said, "We'd better get in, don't want to have to push through the latecomers."
We found our seats, which were in what might be called the balcony of the modern playhouse, and in the few minutes before the curtain Edward asked what I'd been up to. As expected I did all the talking, his attention focused but as always mostly wordless. He did volunteer that he and Josephine would be spending more time on the Cape and that he found the sea air and quiet conducive to his work.
The lights dimmed and the theater grew quiet. Everyone sat up a little straighter in anticipation of the performance. The play was actually more of a revue, a melange of mime, physical comedy and song, not what I would have expected of Edward. I enjoyed it, laughing, groaning and clapping along with the rest of the audience, while Edward cracked the occasional smile and clapped languidly and only if something particularly entertained him.
After the final curtain call, as we headed to the stairway leading down to the area of the theater level with the stage, I asked Edward how he'd come to choose this particular show, He explained that a friend had given him the tickets. This didn't surprise me
Suddenly Edward pulled out his sketchbook and a pencil. I wondered silently what had caught his artist's attention. Soon enough it was evident. The angled stairway, panelled in wood yet stark and modern, must have interested him with its color and geometry, for as we descended he stopped on a landing, flattened back against the wall so as not to impede traffic, and began with his usual briskness to sketch.
Having no choice but to wait, I stood back to the wall with him as people squeezed past us, some of them clearly unhappy at our obstacular presence. We stood there, him sketching, oblivious to the scuffling feet and voices, and I folded into myself so as not to trip up a careless patron, until the last of the balcony dwellers were gone.
It didn't take him long to finish, and soon we were on the street saying our goodbyes. I thanked him for a lovely time and he gave me his tucked-in, almost-shy smile, saying he would be in touch again soon.
Two weeks later I heard from Edward, calling to ask if he could stop by for a few minutes. Of course I said yes, expecting that he was coming to show me the result of his brief sketching at the theater. I was not disappointed.
An hour later he showed up with a smallish rectangular package, carefully wrapped, under his arm. After a brief greeting he unwrapped the parcel and showed me the finished painting of the landing at the turn at the staircase at the Signature Theater in Pershing Square in Hell's Kitchen, NY, which I now share with you.
~ copyright 2014 RC deWinter

My second hommage to Edward Hopper, the great modern realist painter and printmaker.

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architecture, staircase, stairs, theater, interior, landing, new york, new york city, edward hopper, hell's kitchen, hopper, modern, pershing square, rc dewinter, dewinter