- JEK New York
- Apr 26
- 1 min read
When I first read the article in the NY Times in November 2024 about Tong Yang Tze's upcoming calligraphy installation in the Great Hall of The Met, I was eager to see it and saved the article.
I'm a huge fan of calligraphy and the preservation of craft.
The artist's message: freedom.
There's no more fitting time to study, examine, and hope for the preservation of freedom, something I never thought I'd have to consider in my lifetime.
From November onward, I kept telling myself I would go. Weekend after weekend, however, the work on relaunching and redesigning JEK New York, along with the change in administration affecting my daily job, kept interfering.
Knowing the exhibit would close on April 8, 2025, I finally went the weekend before it ended. It wasn't what I expected—I anticipated more.
There were two artworks in the Great Hall, which is just the entrance and nothing more. There were signs with information about the work, but I would have appreciated a full scale exhibit.
Still, I'm glad I went.
It's going to take time to get into the cadence of blog postings, and right now, it's about getting the hang of it!
![Black — The LAST chapter in “The Secret Lives of Color,” by Kassia St. Clair.
Black — the absence of light.
Kohl — in a section of the Louvre, Bes, a statuette depicting the fierce fighter + protector of women, children and homes, lives. In his hollow head, is a small container for kohl eyeliner. The belief is in the magical properties of kohl, a mineral.
Payne’s gray — absolutely adored by artists for its ‘atmospheric perspective’ quality.
Obsidian — aka volcanic glass. It forms from molten lava erupting from the Earth, coming into contact with ice or snow and cooling very quickly. Dr. John Dee, an Elizabethan, English mathematician, astrologer, and natural philosopher used obsidian to call his spirits. The Aztec patroness of witches, Itzpapalotl, means obsidian butterfly. I love that.
Ink — the tendency for ink to be black is due to fluidity and ease. The ancient Chinese were known for perfuming inks with clove, honey and musk! Islam has a devotional relationship with black ink too — the Arabic word for ink, midād, is related to the divine substance or matter.
Charcoal — ‘a carbon-rich by product of organic matter — usually wood — and fire’. Purest and less ashy when oxygen exposure is limited.
Jet — aka lignite. A type of coal formed over periods, and periods of time from wood that is highly pressurized. At its peak formation, it can be carved and polished to a glassy sheen. Whitby, England is where the top notch jet is found.
Melanin — a true black that resides in the animal kingdom, though not in plants. Two types of melanin — eumelanin and pheomelanin. A raven, is an absolute, black animal excellence. Ravens are known to be visually striking, and very intelligent.
Pitch black — the absolute fearsome form of darkness! ‘What manner [of land] is this into which I have come? It hath not water, it hath not air, it is deep, unfathomable, it is black as the blackest night.’ — Book of Dead.
Read the entire book, documenting and posting each chapter. Learned so much, and the book traveled to many countries. Built a habit.
Next up, the live launch, March 25, 2025. 🩷#trustthetiming #jeknewyork2025](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/486213051_17949397940954827_6487494542895079921_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=wiZAoRaBHyYQ7kNvwGejOam&_nc_oc=AdlWR4F62zljieWVHz5l6UKsvg8PhF8HeA4PQTkg-1TrtW7EIxFNWouYzZBuefOMN4U&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=yGm2zjAsgX3OlmPsH30WGA&oh=00_AfLDlG3JKqGp6PvQl_wrqZuVzqTVOznjp5dp1J-4dwYAcQ&oe=6833FC57)
