NY Coffee Cup Planter with Pink Cyclamen Fauvist Painting

This 6x8 painting is part of a series of four I painted exploring a sweet fuchsia pink cyclamen plant that bloomed rather suddenly. The bright magenta petals and patterned green leaves stand out, luminous, against a dark blue and black background. In this little jewel-toned painting, the cyclamen plant rests in a planter designed in the manner of the classic New York Coffee Cup. New York was where I first arrived in America as a new immigrant and I am at least a little bit obsessed with these cups as they layer the immigrant stories that seem to so characterize New York City itself. While looking up the stories behind them, I found the following fascinating story on "The Anthora was the first of its kind, introducing the to-go coffee cup as we know it, the first handleless paper to-go coffee cup, innovating a basic design that nearly all coffee shops have come to use since. New Yorkers needed coffee, and the Greek diner or deli was where they were getting it. As the first disposable cup without obtrusive handles, it was a matter of convenience for a population known for being on the go. Leslie Buck, (himself an immigrant and Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia), was given the task of selling the cups to Greek vendors. At first, there was no luck for Mr. Buck. But then he decided to design a cup that would remind the Greeks of their home country, and the blue and white WE ARE HAPPY TO SERVE YOU cup was born." This little painted ode to setting down roots, to the immigrant history of New York, and to blooming where you are planted is painted on cradled wood board with unpainted pale birch sides. It'll ship wrapped in layers of acid free glassine paper and soft padding from my home studio in San Leandro California.