Artist Don Hershman turned his passion once again into purpose with his newest exhibition of 20 paintings entitled “The Art of Code Switching,” which debuted at the Salomon Arts Gallery in Manhattan’s Tribeca district.

Notable Attendees included: Don Hershman, Jorge Alzate, Rodrigo Salomon, Gigi Salomon, Ford Crull, Elton Ilirjani, Julia Ilirjani, Carmen D’Alessio, Tina Radziwill, Ava Breeze, Leesa Rowland, Pedro Oberto, Nabys Vielman, Marc Bouwer, Heidi Schaeffer, Neil Koenigsberg.

Originally trained as a board-certified podiatric surgeon in the early 80’s, Hershman reflects on his own life as a gay man of an earlier generation where code switching was clearly linked to his survival.  “When I began my formal residency training in the early 80’s I had to relocate to the south, forcing me back into the closet.  Creating these new paintings took me on a journey back to a time where there was no political correctness or recourse, easily fired or shunned if it were revealed that I was gay.  After residency, I relocated to San Francisco and worked as a podiatric surgeon in an atmosphere engulfed by the AIDS epidemic, where young men often were not only hiding their sexual orientation, but their HIV status as well.  They were constantly code-switching without even knowing it.”

Now with The Art of Code Switching his passion to speak on the subject matter is beautifully projected in this new collection.  With bravado he takes the viewer on a journey to open their minds to comprehend patience and understanding amongst all mankind.

The show will run until Sunday, October 15 and will proudly donate 10% from the proceeds of art sales to The Trevor Project to support the nonprofits suicide prevention efforts among the LGBTQ+ community.

Photo credits: BFA / Hannah Turner Harts / Nick Guttierez

G.H. Harding

SUNDAY DEADLINE —  As we go to press, the AMPTP has submitted it’s last, best offer to the WGAto resolve this strike; now heading into 145+ days. Strikes are meant to be settled, but the damage may have already been too much. Governor Gavin Newsom estimates a 5 billion dollar take-down for Hollywood and the state in general. As we mentioned last time, thousands of below-the-line workers have already been let go or furloughed during the strike and even if it is resolved by later-today, it will take a full 10-12 weeks for everything to be up and running again.  By my count, that’s mid-December. Stay tuned … it can only get better.

Rick Wakeman

WAKEMAN’S OPUS —(via Prog) Rick Wakeman has announced that he has released a massive 32-disc box set entitled The Prog Years 1973-1977, which features his studio albums from 1973’s The Six Wives Of Henry VIII through to 1976’s No Earthly Connection, plus his film soundtracks for 1975’s Lisztomania and 1977’s White Rock. You can watch a video trailer for the box set here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nER9BgLka1w

Each album is represented by four discs, either CD or DVD, featuring the original album plus rare live material, demos, alternative mixes and live film footage all from the era. These include live performances of Six Wives… and Journey To The Centre Of The Earth from Melbourne, a DVD of The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table performed on ice at Wembley, the full films of both. Lisztomania and White Rock, and more.

The Prog Years 1973-1977 also features a 60-page hardback scrapbook, 10 x postcards, 8 x full-size replica promotional photos and 4 x A3 posters, plus reproduction press kits for the relevant albums. The first 500 copies of this extremely limited box set will also come with a numbered certificate signed by Rick himself.

He may wear the cape and be a bit old school, but Rick Wakeman is the real deal. He rocked Yes and his solo albums were simply terrific. When Yes did The Apollo several years back, when Wakeman left the stage and went up and down the aisles with his keyboard strapped on, there was sheer joy. He’s amazing. Bravo!

SHORT TAKES — Robert DeNiro shilling for Uber? That’s what a divorce does to you. Actually, it should be great commercial, although it was filmed in London as opposed to NYC, which is odd. Taxi Driver writer Paul Schrader was quoted in Deadline as saying: “Ouch,” he wrote. “Why Bob would do this is beyond my reckoning. But I haven’t seen it. If I’m lucky I never will” I’m sure he asked Driver-director Marty Scorsese …

Micky Dolenz, ACE Theatre

Micky Dolenz’s SRO show Friday night in LA (at the ACE Theatre)

ACE Theatre

was sensational and he debuted the live version of his new single, R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People.” Seen at the show were Randy Lewis; Roy Trakin; Tyrone Biljan; Ken Sharp and Nederlander’s Lisa White …

Savannah Guthrie

On Friday’s Today Show, Savannah Guthrie interviewed someone who told you how to pack during a move, quickly. They said to put all personal items in a lock box with a label saying to be moved by owner only. Savannah quipped that all the personal items in your nightstand belong there begging the question, what does she have in hers? … A report on NY1 about the ongoing migrant crisis in NYC called The Roosevelt Hotel – where the migrants have been housed – the new Ellis Island … Say what you will about NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen, but it’s been a key area in NYC for decades.

Film Center Cafe

For me, when the Film Center Cafe disappeared, it was a tragedy. And, remember the fabulous restaurant Memphis?  Here’s a great look into images from there: https://w42st.com/post/hells-kitchen-photographers-karla-james-murray-book-vanishing-mom-and-pop-stores/?utm_medium=email … George Clooney selling his Lake Como retreat he’s had for 21 years? Could go for 100 million … SIGHTING: PR-pasha David Salidor at Shalom Japan in Williamsburg Sunday night … Usher headlining Super Bowl 2024? Wonder where that choice came from as he hasn’t had a hit in 20 years …

Jen Psaki

Watched Jean Psaki on MSNBC Sunday. She didn’t bowl me over, but was good. She had stories on Rupert Murdoch and FOX and an interview with Hillary Clinton, who bashed Trump and Putin again … and HAPPY BDAY Mark Bego and Cory Robbins!

NAMES IN THE NEWS — Sara Gore; Andrew Sandoval; Pat Prince; Mark Bego; Jim Clash; Cynthia Rowley; Barry Zelman; Christopher Gilman; Barry Manilow; Joel Diamond; Nancy Ruth; Teresa Knox; Gary Gershoff; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Tony King; Donnie Kehr; Kimberly Cornell; Lush Ice; Barry Fisch; Eppy; and BELLA!

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and is the holiest day in Judaism and Samaritanism. This holiday is centered on repentance and fasting, as it is the day we are closest to God, and to the essence of our souls. Yom Kippur states, “For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before God.”

The holiday started several minutes before sunset on Sunday, September 24, until after nightfall on Monday, September 25th. For nearly 26 hours people of the faith will abstain from food and drink, they will not wash or apply lotions or creams, they not wear leather footwear, and will abstain from marital relations. Instead, spending the day in synagogue, praying for forgiveness.

Yom Kippur may be the most solemn day of the year, but its undercurrent is of joy. Joy of being immersed in the spirituality and the confidence that God will accept, forgive and give us life, health and happiness.

Maybe we should all take a day to atone and set our minds to things of a spiritual nature.

For the 17th year, the Metropolitan Opera’s Opening Night will be transmitted live to numerous large screens on Tuesday, September 26th at 6:00pm in Times Square on Duffy Square (between 46th and 47th Streets). This year it will feature Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking starring Joyce DiDonato and Ryan McKinny in a new production by Ivo van Hove conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

A 17-year tradition continues as the Met once again partners with the Times Square Alliance to present a free, live transmission of the season-opening opera to the iconic screens of Times Square. This year’s simulcast of Dead Man Walking is Tuesday, September 26; house opens at 5:30 p.m.; pre-show begins at 6:00 p.m.; and the opera begins at 6:30 p.m. Attendance is free, and no tickets are required. There will be 2,000 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis at Duffy Square (between 46^th and 47^th Streets) and the Broadway plazas between 43^rd and 44^th streets and 46^th and 47^th Streets with additional standing room available.

The participating screens in Times Square include ABC SuperSign; American Eagle Times Square; Branded Cities’ NASDAQ Tower; and EXPRESS Times Square.  The live transmission to Times Square is made possible with the cooperation of the City of New York and the Times Square Alliance, with leadership support provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir about her fight for the soul of a condemned murderer, Dead Man Walking matches the high drama of its subject with Heggie’s beautiful and poignant music.