I just got back from a whirlwind trip to New York city with my friend, Emily. She and I have talked about doing this trip for 15 years….and finally, when another dear friend of mine from College, Suzanne, was cast in a Broadway show for two weeks…we new we had to just DO IT! and NOW!
Emily had ONE objective IN NYC.. TO CONQUER SOHO!!! She has been to New York on Multiple occasions, but had never made it to SOHO…
I had 3 objectives:
1. TO see MY DEAR SUZANNE ON BROADWAY IN BEAUTIFUL
2. TO get new glasses at Warby Parker (IN SOHO)
3. AND TO Visit The Wild Horses of Sable Island Gallery at 64 Grand St.
….and we had about 24 hours….
Shopping was a BLAST…GAWD I love New York! EMILY blasted her way through SOHO and did herself quite proud!!!
I got the CUTEST NEW Glasses!!!!! WARBY PARKER has and will continue to radically TRANSFORM the eyewear BIZ! I am going to a WHOLE POST on them next week!
IT WAS THE END OF THE DAY and we needed to get back to the hotel to change for the show. I had told Emily about the WILD HORSES OF SABLE ISLAND but not in detail and knew that she really had to SEE the photos to get the whole PICTURE…We walked in and immediately she was mesmerized.
You enter into one large room which leads into another even larger room, filled wall to wall with photographs of the “WILD HORSES OF SABLE ISLAND”. Immediately you are filled with awe…you are looking at more than just photographs..it is difficult to explain the impact….As I stepped toward the back room, I saw another customer sitting in a sofa looking at his phone. Only, it was not a customer..it was the photographer himself…ROBERTO DUTESCO!!!!!
I walked toward him, feeling like I was in a dream and said,
“It’s you! You are HIM! You took these photographs… Emily ..”
GIDDY, I continued…”EMILY….this is the photographer himself …this is Roberto Dutesco, he took these photos!!!!…”
He grinned the whole time .
…we wALked toward him and I said
“It’s you! I can’t believe you are here!”
Roberto then took my hand into his and introduced himself…he was so gracious. He motioned for us to sit down…and pushed the ottoman forward to us to prop up our tired feet. Immediately I was at ease…just hanging with a friend …my friend “Roberto”! We dropped all of our shopping bags and let out an exhausted sigh. We then spoke for about 30 minutes…about everything…who we were…he asked me how I came to know about the horses…and, having never told Emily the full story…I told them BOTH my journey to the Gallery. I kept checking back in with Roberto to make sure I got it all right…He kept nodding and smiling and he only interjected one part ..
“NO PREDATORS”
“OH Yes! I forgot, Sable Island is the only place on Earth where there are no predators, and so these horses, for generations have no fear..they live with no threat except the weather…it boggles my mind…”
We spoke more…IT WAS MAGICAL…we talked about ART and my paintings, and he showed me photos on his phone of some new paintings he is working on and he Invited us to his show the next day at a Gallery in Brooklyn. I bought his book and he signed it…with artwork!
FOLKS, THIS WAS BEYOND A BUCKET LIST MOMENT!
Everything seemed to lead to this MOMENT, in that day…in MY LIFE!, when he and I met and shared stories and talked like contemporaries….not just a brilliant photographer and his fan…but TWO ARTISTS TALKING and it fell..”Other-Worldly” !!!
I was floating for some time…in fact even just writing about it, I feel myself lifting out of my chair!!!!
WOW!!!!!
The only possible way to top THAT moment, or even TO match it was to see my college friend Suzanne in a Broad way show!!!! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!SHE WAS BRILLIANT!
CHAMPAGNE PARTY IN HER DRESSING ROOM AFTERWARDS…WHAT A PERFECT DAY!!
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…ANYWAY….
….total 180 degree turn …..Tomorrow my baby graduates from Middle School !!!!!And the slow descent to an empty nest begins…I feel somehow at peace….it is all good and I so very grateful for my life!
Oh my gosh! How wonderful for you!
Thank you Kathy!
What a beautiful story! So happy for you and the experience you had – your enthusiasm shines through!
It was awesome!!!
Thank you so much for sharing, what a beautiful post. You just opened my eyes about the horses that I did not know. I will definately check it out. So Happy for you! Awesome
The horses are so incredible and the story … His journey a source of such inspiration !!!
NYC my favorite city. My sister and I visited NYC every other year. Sadly my sister died in 2004, haven’t been back to the city. Our last trip, turned out to be the best. We went in November, city was dressed up for Christmas, saw the Christmas show at radio city and ate at traven on the green. Maybe some day I will return, but it won’t be the same.
Aw Cori, I am so sorry that you lost your sister and your travel partner. I you go back someday . It is such an incredible place! Xo
In which hotel did you stay?
We stayed at the New York Palace – formerly the Helmsley palace
Lesli – all I can say is WOW! As a lifelong lover of horses I was thrilled to go to the Outer Banks a few years ago on vacation. We stayed in Corolla and I was determined to see the wild horses. We didn’t see them during our drive on the beach, so we turned around and planned to go another day. As we were getting ready to leave the beach – there they were! They were all at the entrance nibbling on the grass and minding their own business. The best picture I have is of my brother photographing the horses with a horse coming up right behind him! The love affair continues….I am definitely getting this book!
Hope to be in NY at some point to see the show – how wonderful you met the artist yourself!!
Loved hearing your story!!!
Lesli – I just looked up where the island is – we are going to PEI in August
but I know we won’t be able to get there – one can dream!
YOU are in very good company – NO ONE is allowed to visit Sable island. Roberto Dutesco gained a very special access permit for his Photography and the ultimate conservation message they convey through the Canadian Government. It took him years to get permission and he is only allowed to return every 7 years to continue his photographic study. It is a precious place and a place we will have to love from afar. I think it is beautiful that there is someplace left on Earth that is left alone.
wild horses on assateague island in maryland, close to ocean city, md —and yes NY is the best…but then again i live in weschester , ny suburb of NYC…so many great places to go, see and experience!
I would love to check out the Maryland Horses!
So lucky to be witness to this moment , all the moments we shared. I must say you summed the slow motion whirlwind so eloquently!!
It was Wonderful made more prefect by sharing it with you!
http://decoholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Living-Room-Idea-For-Men-19.jpg
let me know if one of his!!
Yes this is Roberto Dutesco! I fist saw him years ago, 2008 I think in HOUSE BEAUTIFUL or ELLE DECOR….and was transfixed…I went to the gallery the first time in 2010…I love his work. he was originally a fashion photographer.
What a captivating story! Something you might guess could/would happen only in NYC – something you will remember and cherish for a lifetime. And the stars aligned, right?! Thanks for introducing me/us to these lovely horses – cannot wait to read more.
The story is amazing…there is a documentary you can access on the site, and on youtube which is a MUST see!!!
Love you enthusiasm! I think I knew of this photographer and his work, but I’m not real sure that I have paid that much close attention before. Thanks to you, now Roberto Detesco has my attention.
Thank you Michelle – just wait until you see his work!!! xo