Silvia

 

Sat 9/17

I miss Silvia. She was my neighbor for 25 years - the most beautiful 90 year old woman I’ve ever seen with a beautiful voice, too.  She was mowed down by a skateboarder in Union Square and never was the same and eventually went to live with her daughter in Brooklyn. She painted and when I told her I really liked the painter Joan Mitchell but didn’t know why she said “I do.” Even though most people think Mitchells stark gestural style was influenced by 19th century post-impressionists, particularly Matisse - Silvia told me "in her early life she was an ice skater."