may 18 – 22: National Stationery Show

Today begins the National Stationery Show at the Jacob Javits Center.

Do you want to focus and promote your artwork, and try to make a living at it by committing to this trade show–when you know on Wednesday, the ships are coming in for Fleet Week and will pass right outside the building, a monkeyfist’s throw away!?

So, I’ve committed. Here is my bike with all the ship cards and stationery I am presenting. I called the convention center to say I could not find information on how to unload from a bicycle; it was all written for car and truck drop off. The fellow was amused I was biking everything, and asked: “but who will watch the bike when you are unloading?” which I found very charming. I locked it to a lamppost.

 

I was lucky and missed the rain, but my shelving unit, coming from the flame proofers’, got extra-super, monsoon-flame-proofed. Thank you Urban Mobility Project, Shelly and Joe! It cost 1/9th the quote I got from vans and trucks, and we did not have the interminable wait times for the long vehicular congo line to the elevator in the back. We walked everything in the front doors, exhibition hall level.

 

Ok: so I had to spend $300 to flame proof my shelves in this modern structure with sprinkler systems. That’s fine, I did it. However, to then allow the NO FREIGHT AISLE be clogged for two days with heavy, immoveable stuffs…this would NEVER be allowed on even the more lackadaisical passenger vessels I’ve worked on. I could not get my things in. But, I was more worried that in case of fire, no one would be able to get out.

 

I finally made it to my little booth. Here is it, before:

 

 

 

during…

 

and not quite done yet. I have ship schwag up the wazoo, and still so much to do…meanwhile, just west, past my lovely neighbor Park Soap, I know lies North River, right past that exit sign…and:

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Event: Fleet Week New York Parade of Ships

Location: New York Harbor

Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The Corwith Cramer is docked at pier 25, she looks so beautiful.

Elcano just left town:

And, in case of fire, I am running west, and advise my colleagues to do the same.