About FLASHBACK-1985 (last post)

Title:Mrs.Rubenowitz-Art School teacher-1986

Title:Roland-Art School student-Feb. 25, 1986

WOW!!! The last post - Titled:The Lady-My Epiphany-date Unknown-1985

This one particular piece of art means everything to me.

In 1985, I had just moved to NYC and still dealing with leaving all my childhood friends behind in Miami, Florida and relocating to the "BIG SCARY CITY"...was a tough transition.

The adjusting took a few months switching to a new high school, making new friends etc. etc. This is the time in my life when outside forces guided me on the path, I most desired. My guidance counselor name, Mrs. Smith (no relation to the other incredible woman from the "when I was a little boy" story). Mrs. Smith saw my talent as an illustrator and signed me up for this program where gifted-talented-artistic students would all converse at one location and learn skills from professionals-it was an extremely humbling honor.

Title:Reynoldo-1986-Art School student-May 19, 1986

I attended the "Shared Gifted Program" for about 3 years from 1985-1987.Don't remember the three days out-of-the-week I would leave my regularly scheduled assignments at Theodore Roosevelt high school on Fordham Road in the Bronx, Take the local bus to John F. Kennedy high school near Van Cortlandt Park and stay until the school bell rang.

Well, this one day in class the art teacher name Mrs.Rubenowitz had placed this small statute in front of the classroom and the assignment was to re-create it only with different variations of lines. Everyone else seem to struggle, Once the time limit ran out and the teacher had critiqued everyones piece (verbally), Only one stood out as the "A+" project.

Besides feeling some personal validation in a classroom full of over-inflated egos. I knew once again I was on the right path to becoming the kind of artist, I wanted to present. Thinking back now, I still remember the vicious jealously, I received from this one dude name Roland...He had spiked hair "in a cool video rocker style", wore all black-tryin' to be goth and from a far was kinda cool but up close a real fucktard (sketches included).

Oh, Thank Goodness I'm a child product of the 1980's.

TONYBOY in High School