The strong life of Donald A Strong

Donald Strong in the 80's

My dearest friend, Don Strong, whom I have known since he graduated from Columbia in the 80's has finally found release from the taxing illnesses that compromised the vital life he sought to lead. The battle  did not stifle the tremendous amount of energy he had in his life. Being an indomitable spirit he forged ahead with the dreams of his life, with a great impact as a GW faculty member on friends, colleagues, students at GWU and beyond. To those of us who loved him, as both friend and brother, he made you stand in your glory if you couldn't see it yourself. Never an understated person, in mind or in volume, he would push you to reaches within that may not had been obvious or even comfortable to recognize before. 

The bouts Don had with his body, and sometimes with us, were balanced by the loving support he generously shared with the world at large. For me, the sadness was the way he left us. Quietly without a word, in the course of a dark night, when in the past, he would normally had rallied us for assistance.  Not hearing from him was in every way, not normal. The suddenness and  deafening silence of it all had to be by choice. In my mind, he decided the moment had come to move to the next stage, whatever that may look like, saying goodbye without a word.

I will miss my brilliant friend, brother and loved one that sometimes gave too much and other times accepted too little. I will make my way forward with the knowledge and spirit of his emphatic ways, still resonating with me and egging me onward to be all I can be. I miss you already, Don Strong.

My Time in the World of Fashion

See the CBS Feature Here

Under a canopy of bright lights wrapped in a furl of sound equipment and cameras, I sat knee to knee with Anthony Mason, the CBS This Morning Saturday anchor to conduct an interview about my role in the world of fashion illustration, some years ago and today. His own intimate knowledge of that world, having grown up in the midst of it, had our light conversation remain just that...a light conversation. The nervousness I felt being interviewed on camera vanished as we spoke heart to heart about the world of fashion illustration.  We spoke of how it had once shined so brightly, then dimmed, and is now re-discovered as a lost art. He asked how I found myself doing fashion art, and I told him of the fateful day I walked through the doors of Edith Obel's fashion drawing class at Cass Tech H.S. in Detroit into a world I didn't realize existed. There, I found the art skill that really resonated with me in the beauty of women and the fashion world that was devised for it.

Today, for evidence of people's desire to see these illustrations, one only had to witness the throng of people that flocked to the opening of The Visionaries exhibit curated by fashion artist, Bil Donovan, at the Society of Illustrators on East 63rd street. The exhibit was filled with over sixty fashion illustrations by the top names in the industry, compiled for FIT's Francis Neady's Museum archive, in which I proudly have works.

One could also find aesthetes clamoring for entry to openings spearheaded by the great global connoisseurs of fashion art, Connie and Ashley Gray, at their Gray MCA Gallery in London. As Anthony had seen in  TUNSTULL, From Fashion to Fine Art, co-written by Jelani Bandele, I had an extensive role in the fashion art world with clients such as, WWD, Vogue, Playbill, Bloomingdales, Ralph Lauren, L'Oreal, before launching into my current fine art and teaching careers.

To my pleasure, part of the interview featured me creating a quick sketch of photographer and dear friend Romney Mueller-Westernhagen. Besides lending her natural beauty and energy to this moment, she played a pivotal role in my career as an illustrator.

For many of us, whether in the fashion business or not, illustrations were a part of our lives, as we fingered through newspapers, magazines, billboards, posters, books and the like. They added aesthetics in our lives and contributed to a more artfully inspired community. The new fashion illustrators of today bring dynamic new version of the art, with new materials and more inclusive attitudes about beauty. Names like CarlosAponte, George Gozum, Leonard Cadiente, to name a few, are bringing new excitement to the storied discipline.

Be sure to watch Tunstull, Bil Donovan and Sara Singh on CBS this Saturday, February 29th during the 8:00am EDT hour.

For more of my fashion art: www.tunstullstudio.com
Photos by Romney Mueller-Westernhagen

Sketch of Romney for the interview

Tunstull and Anthony Mason

L'Oreal sketch (l.) and Autumn Stroll (r.)

Meeting old friends for the very first time

When was the last time you met someone for the first time and felt like you were already old friends? Not just the sensation that you liked and understood one another upon first meeting, which is rare enough, but that you had a shared history of life experiences that were so similar, that you must have passed one another at events or in the hallways of your lives. Was this a perception from the past or a precognition of the future? This thought rambled through my mind from the moment I first met Monina Von Opel, and her husband Edward, at my studio this past weekend. Both having lived in Paris, and she as a fashion editor, had me convinced we had more in common than baguettes and brie.

They had arrived for a studio visit to select an oil painting for the permanent collection at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. The recently built modern facility contains many works from some of the top artists known on the island and elsewhere. I was thrilled to be sought out for the honor and had cleaned up the studio for the visit.

Works bubble wrapped for their long term protection were freed from the encasements and sparkled  like new again. As we poured over the works, my artistic past in oils and watercolors flowed before our eyes, with many attendant stories of how and where they came about. Though the works have been with me all along, they felt like children returning home and showing me how much they had grown. For artists, the distance of time is the only way one's works can be truly appreciated by its creator. In time all the unmet desires for the work falls away and the art stands on its own in the artist's eyes.

Monina and Edward selected "Rose Dawn" to grace the walls of the gallery, as a memory of our new found friendship. https://www.mvhospital.com/art/collection

Artful Levity with Audrey Smaltz

Nigel Freeman and Audrey Smaltz

In the highly coveted setting of the Swann Gallery on East 25th St, some of the most beautiful examples of African American Artists works of the 20th century are on view from the private collection of the Johnson Publishing Company, of Ebony Magazine fame. Filled to overflowing with friends and collectors, those storied art filled walls roared with laughter and delight as the ever vivacious, Audrey Smaltz, dazzled the audience with stories of her global exploits as seekers of high fashion and art along with Eunice Johnson, creator of the Ebony Fashion Fair.

In her inimitable way, Audrey described the arc of her life as a model/commentator turned entrepreneur, and wove in stories of the rarefied lifestyle she enjoyed as a collaborator of one of the greatest collection of haute couture and fine art ever assembled. The talk was as enlightening as it was gratifying, as we vicariously stepped into the world view of two of the greatest purveyors of alternative perspectives of African American life. Audrey maximized those years as a fashionista and later created her own milestone enterprise, The Ground Crew, employing many young people, new to the fashion world, during Fashion Week.

The gallery walls meant for artistic contemplation, reverberated with laughter as we learned of the many experiences Audrey enjoyed with her larger than life personality. Honored to be questioned by the Head of the African American Collections, Nigel Freeman, a fun banter started from the beginning. Smiling from the surrounding walls, the masterful works of Richard Mayhew, Ann Tanksley, Jacob Lawrence, Francis Sprout, Kenneth V. Young, Barbara Johnson Zuber, and Henry O'Tanner (coined HOT's by Audrey) among many others. As Audrey said, "one must have art and music in your home" for it to feel alive. I believe the many works came to life that night. Many friends were there to get an early look at the art and share the moment with Audrey. Incidentally she shared how she and Gail were collectors of my work, while on the podium, which was an honor for me.

The official auction for the Johnson Publishing Company artworks is Thursday, 2:00pm, January 30th, at 104 East 25th St, NYC.

Audrey Smaltz, Barbara Harris and Lu Sierra

Coco Mitchell and Lu Sierra

Glenn and Audrey Smaltz

Glenn and John Treadwell

Last Night on the Vineyard

Last night was like no other night of this past year, celebrating my 18th year of showing my art on the Vineyard. The confluence of positive energy, abounding love and mutual support pervaded the opening at Cousen Rose Gallery.  The initial trickle of friends gave way to a swarm of guests, seeming to appear out of nowhere. Almost instantaneously the gallery filled with smiling faces and warm embraces for one another and for Joe and myself.

Zita Cousens had mounted such a beautiful exhibit that each work was appreciated by all. People liked the more animated approach to the oil landscapes and were equally taken with the watercolors of locals enjoying summer life on Martha's Vineyard. Conversations were brisk and lively among new and old acquaintances, some seeing one another for the first time this season.

I managed to see friends only seen here this time of year.  Just walking in the door I was met with a robust greeting from Roger and Myrna, sitting alongside of Nadia. Two people in our hearts are Preston and Connie, who we have missed seeing for several seasons, brought much joy. Many friends had the pleasure of seeing Lailah Hathaway perform the same evening and made their way to the gallery afterward. Among the supporters were Charles and Reesa, in lovely summer attire, Dennis and Nancy, our gracious hosts from Sarasota, Willie and Lateria, Karl and Kirk,  Jean and her sister Agnes, my WWD colleagues from years ago, Ed and Claudia, Wesley and Judy, our friend Regina was there with great art promoter Valerie, the vivacious Audrey and astounding Gail, alongside Pamela and her sister Charlayne, in from Amsterdam. It was a pleasure to see Hassan, Linda and Christine, being among the earliest supporters of my work on MV.

I could go on highlighting the many supporters that brought well wishes and love last night, however suffice it to say, that everyone had a great time, the work was admired and many took something home to add to their lives.

Photos by: Romney Mueller-Westenhagen

Questions creating Solutions

After feverish brushstrokes hurriedly applied to the canvas begin to accumulate into the promise of a great painting, the inevitable moment of apprehension about the outcome falls over the canvas like mud on a windshield. The mass of brilliant strokes that looked so promising moments or days earlier suddenly reveal new directions that hadn't been considered when the inspiration burned hotly.  Resolving newly created design situations take over from the fun of fluid responses to sparkling inspiration. 

Part of the fun of doing any artwork is the challenges that occur along the way.  The balancing of going left or right, deeper or lighter, warmer or cooler plays itself out in each original stroke, dictating what should come next or what should not have happened at all. As always those decisions will find their solutions in the maelstrom of choices each of us as artists deal with.

A year has passed since my new book, TUNSTULL From Fashion To Fine Art was published, and the elation of having my art career brought into focus has only begun. I am delighted by the recognition of my career by many personally unknown people and the opportunity to display my work in different places. One of those events is coming up in a few weeks beginning on Saturday, October 21st at 7pm for the Detroit Diaspora Exhibition at the Carr Center, 1505 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226. This group show event will highlight my abstract paintings, which were recently on view on Martha's Vineyard. I would love to see you if you are in the area that evening. I will be there with a few copies of my book if you would like a signed copy.

The Detroit Diaspora Exhibition

Tunstull---From-Fashion-to-Fine-Art

Preoccupation with Don Strong

Silent tears have been leaking from the corners of my eyes throughout the early morning hours as I awaken to the dismal prospect that my best friend may actually succumb to the painful grip of cancer destroying his body. The recognition of that possibility had eluded me as I sought to buoy his and my spirits, when fear arose in both of us. Not wanting to jinx the results with even thinking about a negative outcome I sought to focus on the elimination of the relentless pain that subsumed his consciousness and failed his physical capacities, always hoping for prolonged moments when it ceased, even for seconds.

He just called to let me know how he was doing, reaching out to make contact before leaving for the early morning surgery at the hospital. With a forced smile on my face and tears rolling down my eyes I face the reality that this might be the last time I speak to him. The deadening silence of a loved ones voice is the hardest thing we live with. It amazes me how people who are suffering the most are so quick to relieve you of your pain through humor or gestures of accommodation to soften the impact on you. The valiant soothing of the stress they know you must be going through too is one of the herculean gifts the frail and dying can muster to make it easier for you. Even if that person wasn't generous in their lifetimes somehow this generosity of spirit arises like steam on a wintry day melting away fears and calming the deep waters of loss.

The tragedy of the moment is further heightened by the thousands of miles we are separated by, in land and water and cultures, because I happen to be on the other side of the planet, trying to hold the hand of the voice that wakes me with a start each day. The fact that we have rarely been in one another's presence for years only intensifies the friendship, because it was not predicated on the things that most friends do together. Our memories of actual time together are few relatively but the hours on the phone seemed to fill in those gaps sufficiently for us. However, I promise to change that paradigm and visit with him in DC more often.

Becoming instant friends when meeting at Two Steps Down a popular restaurant and bar in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn in June of 1986, where we were neighbors for several years, we immediately took to making sure we connected each day to share the most useless information about our days. Changes in his career had him move to different states before finally settling in DC. When I said to him upon his move in 1989 that I suspected I would never hear from him again, he boldly retorted, "That's a damn lie!" And he was right.

Intense prayer and waiting will make up most of my day today however, as others note my preoccupation.

The Quality of an Embrace

In the darkness of night, when sight is of little value, I reach over for an embrace that seems to await me...without hesitation or force and am engulfed in loving acceptance. An embrace that is not based on how good I look but how good I feel. Within this embrace the shores of security is reached that seemed a journey away, just a moment ago. It is not the size of the embrace or the heft of it but the sheer fact that it is reciprocal and without expectations.

 The value of an embrace goes by unnoticed in many cases because they are freely given by loved ones and friends as a beginning or closure to a rendezvous. Even then the quality of it can touch us deeply because each is embedded with years of trust. Nothing is more welcomed than a friends arms that says "I'm here for you."

My mother shared such an embrace. One that was spongey in its initial draw, that seemed to absorb me with its acceptance, that washed over me with an abiding love, that singularly said I belonged to her...one that I achingly miss to this day.

 These are among the gifts of life we cherish but place no relative value on in the marketplace of commodities. They are the real physical needs that are eschewed in place of shiny objects that don't give back. We fill our days in pursuit of those things that will not embrace us in the dead of night nor soothe us at the break of day.

 If we made the embrace our goal, rather than riches, maybe we wouldn't have to fear an affront from loved ones, friends, strangers and peoples we don't know. Maybe a wall to separate us would crumble in the space of an embrace, where fear is replaced by love and happiness is truly a pursuit. I am not saying an embrace will bring world peace but it goes a long way toward bringing peace into your world.  Today maybe a good day to give and receive a hug.

TUNSTULL From Fashion to Fine Art 
A new book by Glenn Tunstull and Jelani Bandele

The Final Moments with Kyle

The heaviness of the day was further emphasized by the thick grey ceiling of clouds that snuffed out any ray of sunlight that would lift the sadness in our hearts as we prepared to say our last good bye to our cat, Kyle. Our two cats were our binding pillars that held us together like a family, attached to every movement and utterance a family cat is likely to make, we would talk endlessly of what he and his sister, Keyla, were up to. Ironically, the more weight he loss because of illness, the younger he looked, until he almost reverted to being a kitten in appearance. Now what is holding us together is the impending sense of loss that will finally and forever wash over us as we ring the death knell that will lay him to rest. The entire process of deciding his fate has weighed like Solomon's judgement on us...the power of life and death. We now move forward in the direction of removing him from life's misery and carrying him to the point of finality at his equally saddened vet's office.

Not wanting to believe he is going to be gone forever we hold on to each second, watching each breath hoping for a familiar whimper, a reassuring gesture, a helpless meow. As he lay limply in my arms, we deliver him to his vet who tries to calm our fears with a soft and encouraging explanation of what we can expect in this process. It seems so benign for all it's deadly results. We try to recall moments in his life with one another, that will stay in our hearts, but the sting of tears makes it impossible to complete the sentiment. With nothing left to say, we turn him over to the vet who administers the succession of shots that renders his virtually lifeless body to a body without any life in moments.

Once the lifeless body of Kyle was placed into a biodegradable box, sealed with tape the emotions slowed to a trickle, the flood of tears receded and finality sets in. There is nothing left to do or say and no one left to say it to. Though relief replaced the heavy weight of sadness, a shroud of disbelief now blocked the sun that now fill the skies.

Photo by Joe Steele

Time is your perception

Time waits for no one and no thing...it marches on whether we are aware of it or not...but does it move at the same speed for everyone and everything? For each of us time moves at different rates depending on our perception of it. For instance, a watched pot never boils, as the saying goes, but that same pot will burn the moment you take your mind off of it. Time is a construct that we measure in a systematic way that seems to mark its passing in a regular and consistent increments, but that construct bends one way or the other based on our perception of it. Watching a clock has a different impact from watching the sun cross the sky...each recording time in disparate ways.

That awareness is key to how we enjoy the lives of those around us and whether we devote time to them so they are truly long term relationships. Many people that we have known for the same amount of time have different impacts on us based on how much actual time we spend with them. Not to say you have to devote actual face time, but certainly conscious time thinking of them and yes communicating with them. Oftentimes we think we have the "luxury" of waiting until a more opportune time, only to realize either the depth of our friendship has thinned or disappeared altogether. Time will not wait until it is opportune for you and neither will your friends.

Social media has increased our connection to a multitude of friends but it hasn't increased the depth of those friendships. The assent of "Liking"friends posts is not the same as speaking on the phone or better yet having lunch with someone you care about. The pursuit of brevity in our communications is literally a shortsighted concept that seemingly deflect friendship rather than attach them to us in a meaningful way. The back and forth banter of a telephone call is a missing commodity today that we can remedy with a simple call.

We are now spending conscious time with our pet cat Kyle, who for almost a dozen years has been a constant source of pleasure to us but now is at an end of life stage in our relationship. Now we spend every waking moment in his presence, absorbing and sharing our love, capturing every inkling of his beautiful spirit before time slips away, as we perceive it, too quickly.

The Lightness of Love and Support

As I approached the gallery, people were already inside and out awaiting my arrival greeting me with hugs and kisses. Looking through the windows I saw the interior filled with light and color and my works displayed for the first time. They danced on the walls like musical notes, each piece flowing into the other like a choral group intoning songs of happiness. Zita Cousens had used her magical touch to array them beautifully once again. The opening night at Cousen Rose Gallery held the lightness of a birthday celebration where the giddiness of friends and loved ones lifted me. The overwhelming crowd gathered early and stayed late taking in both the work and one another, as old friends and new acquaintances. The astonishment in the eyes and quick questions of discovery were a joyful experience for me. Newness was in the air. Viewers, who were seeing my work for the first time that night, stepped in at a point in the arc of my creative expression, and long-time supporters expressed joy in seeing a new me on canvas. In prior years I may have been filled with nerves and apprehension, but this time I was free of them and happy to share a new birth in my work, and a renewed relationship with those who have been supporters for so many years. The ebullient smiles, hugs and cheers were a symphonic chorus of approbation; and the guests, as colorful as the works themselves, became extended canvases. Many old friends were hugged and many new ones met. Joe Steele held court as friends from all over came to support us on that special night. The success of any venture, whether it's a union, move, job, rearing children or an opening, depends on the support of friends and colleagues who assist you directly or indirectly in shaping those goals and implementing them. Many of those same folks were there that night doing what they do best...supporting a loved one. Photos by Jelani Bandele and Joe Steele