tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763883859696167228.post7056675681081521479..comments2023-11-03T03:37:02.548-05:00Comments on WEBSTER'S BLOGSPOT: The Americanism of Russian-American Master Artist Alexei AntonovTerry Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166609562028309038noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763883859696167228.post-87651267761890593122009-01-29T11:13:00.000-06:002009-01-29T11:13:00.000-06:00Mom,That is a good question, and I think the answe...Mom,<BR/><BR/>That is a good question, and I <I>think</I> the answer is yes, but I don't recall for sure. I do know that they were working on establishing permanent U.S. citizenship as early as 1992, utilizing all the proper channels, unlike some immigrants we know. The last time we spoke over the phone was a couple of years ago, I think, and I don't even remember whether the subject ever came up. I should probably call and ask.Terry Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166609562028309038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763883859696167228.post-77441490098778626322009-01-29T10:59:00.000-06:002009-01-29T10:59:00.000-06:00Terry, I had posted a comment yesterday, but it ap...Terry, I had posted a comment yesterday, but it apparently didn't make it onto the page. <BR/>I wanted to thank you for posting the link. I enjoyed the artwork. <BR/>I was also curious to find out if Mr. Antonov ever became an American citizen.Call Me Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420259973871484926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763883859696167228.post-22202211749623298212009-01-29T08:43:00.000-06:002009-01-29T08:43:00.000-06:00VA, thanks.I was navigating Alexei's site and ran ...VA, thanks.<BR/><BR/>I was navigating Alexei's site and ran across his bio. where I read that he enjoys bass fishing. Even though we developed a friendship in Alaska, I did not realize he was a fisherman. But maybe he took up fishing sometime after we left Alaska.<BR/><BR/>As for the seven-step Flemish technique he uses in his painting, he tried to explain it to me on a couple of occasions during my visits to his apartment-studio. But I'm afraid, language barrier aside, that I wasn't a very good student. I was a budding calligrapher at the time, and his advice to me as far as my work was concerned was simply that I needed to develop more freedom, more verve. I think he'd be impressed with how much my calligraphy has since improved. I truly did take his advice, but more particularly his instructions on how to achieve it, to heart.<BR/><BR/>I do have very good memories of our short friendship...<BR/><BR/>There is the story of the time that he and his wife decided to buy a new couch for their living room. Our couch was a little ragged, and Alexei offered to give us their old one, which we graciously accepted. <BR/><BR/>Picture Alexei and I toting the old couch out of his upstairs apartment onto the landing of the stairwell which separated his apartment from another apartment adjacent. As we're trying to work this thing around the bend, and onto the stairway, the lady across the way, apparently hearing the commotion, and seeing the trouble we were having through her peep hole, opened her door and said "bring it in here." So I backed into her apartment as she was reaching over me, removing the falling cushions from the couch, which, again, was very helpful given that we weren't smart enough to remove the cushions to begin with.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, we managed to get the thing turned and worked our way to the bottom of the stairs where we, by then exhausted from wrestling this thing, dropped it onto the ground and both sat down on it to rest for a few minutes before carrying it the rest of the way to our apartment, which was a separate unit from the main complex. When all of a sudden a flying cushion narrowly misses me and hits Alexei square in the head. At which point we both sprung from our seats, peering around the corner of the enclosed staircase, only to have a second and a third round fired at us in quick succession, with cursing in the background. <BR/><BR/>Watching Alexei dodge these projectiles, coupled with the look on his face, was one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life. Literally I was on the ground, almost in tears, laughing.<BR/><BR/>I later learned that this neighbor of ours had got wind that Alexei was getting a new couch, and had asked for his old one. He promised he would consider giving her the couch, but wanted to ask us first. This woman was absolutely livid that he had "betrayed" her when my wife and I were so much "better off" than she was.<BR/><BR/>But you'da had to been there, don't ya know. LOLTerry Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166609562028309038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763883859696167228.post-78175438109119546222009-01-28T22:17:00.000-06:002009-01-28T22:17:00.000-06:00Beautiful artwork! It must be great to see your fr...Beautiful artwork! <BR/>It must be great to see your friend doing so well with his art.<BR/>And of course the point about personal responsibility and the 'need' to share wealth is well taken.<BR/>-VAVanishing Americanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07723746944036650219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763883859696167228.post-72068480248493547182009-01-28T19:12:00.000-06:002009-01-28T19:12:00.000-06:00Obama says his "recovery plan will include UNPRECE...Obama says his "recovery plan will include UNPRECEDENTED measures that will allow the American people to hold [his] administration ACCOUNTABLE" yet Obama refuses to be held ACCOUNTABLE to the same American people for his UNPRECEDENTED refusal to show his actual birth certificate.Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04011502155494655727noreply@blogger.com