Saturday – Jan. 7 –
A.M. Visit to Jameson’s in Brooklyn. Mrs. J calls for me at hotel at 9:15 (Mrs. Jameson driving) driving around lower New York, thru Wall St. district, around aquarium [New York Acquarium originally existed in Castle Garden in Battery Park. In 1957 it moved to 602 Surf Ave. in Brooklyn] etc. + over on Brooklyn Bridge. The view of Lower New York from the Brooklyn side. Visit to U.S. Navy yard (battleship North Carolina being built) old warehouses which had attracted Jameson’s to their home on Montague St. One of the old homes wedged in between two newer buildings. Their home filled with many interesting charming things – grandfather clocks, chairs, mirrors, etc. My four lonely water-colors in the entrance hall, framed in hand-carved frames right up to the picture, and looking very well. Doors between rooms with frosted glass, spotted with stars and daisies of clear glass, very quaint –
They have an excellent collection of Luk’s watercolors, and their being a number of them in Dr. Jameson’s office, I am presented to him. He was a kindly old man of the “old school” – white hair + pointed white beard.
I am shown Mrs. Jameson’s room, where, among other things, I was attracted to a very quaint Swiss hand-carved and decorated wooden cabinet, - inside were numerous odd sized drawers, likewise carved+ painted.
From here we went to ? Hotel for lunch, which was delightful, and we had a pleasant chat about things to eat. I drew their interest by describing poke greens and wild strawberries.
After lunch they drove me back to the gallery.
Charles Burchfield, Journals, January 7 1939
[From a longer entry about a trip to New York between Jan 3 – 12 (written Jan 19)
In some ways, my trip to New York was highly satisfactory. I had the long talk with Frank R. [Frank Rehn, Burchfield’s gallerist], about problems that troubled me; I met + talked with artists and other interesting people, a thing I starved for; I was entertained at several dinners, that were enjoyable in the extreme; I saw my pictures as I never see them at home and felt a happy sense of achievement, which while it will be short-lived, is on of the compensations of a show; friends + most of the critics seemed to think I had reached a higher point than before.
In other ways, I felt there was something of New York that I missed. I saw no shows, heard no concerts, and as usual did not do any of the exploring I would like to do, and keeping telling myself I will do.
Following are some brief notes I made from day to day.]