Thursday, December 24, 2020 – A YEAR TO PULL OUT YOUR SCRAPBOOKS AND REMEMBER HOLIDAYS PAST
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020
The
244th Edition
From Our Archives
HOLIDAY
IMAGES FROM THE
SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN
ART MUSEUM
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
Edward Penfield, Harper’s Christmas, ca.1898, color lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1974.
Carl Newman, Spirit of Christmas, ca. 1915-1920, oil and tempera on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Anna McCleery Newton, 1971.88
Grandma Moses, Christmas, 1958, oil and tempera on pressed wood, Smithsonian American
Grandma Moses painted many winter scenes of farm life in which adults and children happily do their chores and play in the snow. She painted only cheerful images that were based on her memories of growing up on a farm and of being a farmwife herself. In this painting the people talking and laughing together evoke a nostalgic ideal of community life, which the artist emphasized through small stylized buildings and bright colors. The buildings and looping fences create a two-dimensional pattern on the pure white snow that underscores the picturesque, storybook scene.
Harry Cimino, Christmas Card, n.d., woodcut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Charlotte Manzari, 1969.31.32
Mildred McMillen, Christmas Greetings 1918, 1918, woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Helen Baltz, 1979.28.4
Irving Guyer, Christmas Trees on Second Street, ca. 1935-1943, etching and aquatint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jean Nichols, 1974.38.21
Winslow Homer, Christmas Belles, from Harper’s Weekly, January 2, 1869, 1869, wood engraving on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Ray Austrian Collection, gift of Beatrice L. Austrian, Caryl A. Austrian and James A. Austrian, 1996.63.70
Leonard Brooks, Christmas Posada, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, ca. 1953, watercolor and gouache on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Ford Motor Company, 1966.36.3
J. Alden Weir, Christmas Greens, 1887-1893, etching and drypoint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Brigham Young University, 1972.84.2
Helen Hyde, In Their Holiday Clothes, 1914, color woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Hyde Gillette in memory of Mabel Hyde Gillette and Edwin Fraser Gillette, 1992.13.94
Many people mistake days mentioned in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” for the days preceding December 25. In actuality, however, the song refers to the twelve days after Christmas. In the United States, our traditions tend to focus on family gatherings, large meals, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and reindeer. In places across the world, particularly in Spanish speaking countries, January 6 is the main gift-giving holiday. The Day of the Kings, known as the Epiphany in the United States, shares many elements of the Christmas traditions. Children put out treats for the camels, often grass, along with some type of libation for Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar on the night of January 5. The kings bring presents only to good boys and girls. Apart from this, each country that celebrates the Day of the Kings has its own unique traditions, like parades, family gatherings or my favorite, eating rosca de reyes (king cake) with figurines hidden inside.
THURSDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
What year is this photo from?
SEND YOUR SUBMISSION
TO ROOSEVELTISLANDHISTORY@GMAIL.COM
WEDNESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
ALTER AT CHAPEL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
BRENDA VAUGHAN, JOAN BROKKS, VICKI FEINMEL, NINA LUBLIN
AND ALEXIS VILLEFANE WERE THE FIRST ONES.
A HOLIDAY MIRACLE…RIOC STYLE
After weeks of seeing this abandoned bicycle obstructing the bus stop at the Chapel, it was time for action……..emails to Shelton. After two days the annoying bike was removed within minutes of another reminder e-mail to him.
Now, can we move the trash can and the STOP sign so the bus stop is not obstructed.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
All image are copyrighted (c)
Smithsonian American Art Museum
FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD
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rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com
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