by Carol Markel

Those Who Make Art, Teach

“The Flowers” by Bonnie Lucas

f you were among the ambitious souls who decided to engage their creative side and take a class in visual arts at the Henry Street Settlement this fall, this is a chance to see your teacher’s art. Carrying On: Celebrating Faculty and Staff exhibits the work of 13 artists who are teachers or administrators at the Abrons Art Center. There’s a wide range of styles to see. Bonnie Lucas, who teaches painting and drawing, shows expressive sun and tree images in vibrant colors. She is “mesmerized by circles” and paints with a palette knife, allowing her to scrape and repaint to her heart’s delight. Lucas has lived and worked in a 400-square-foot studio on Spring Street since 1979. She became enthralled with art in kindergarten when she drew a rainbow and her teacher said “that’s beautiful.” Perhaps she will have a similar effect on her charges at Abrons. Claudia Herbert, a 20-year resident of co-op village, teaches the Toddler Art and Play Class. She shows an inventive ceramic lamp with a giant, curling flower serving as the base for the light bulb.

Abrons Art Center, 466 Grand Street, 212-598-0400, Mon.- Sat. 12-6, through 11/24/04

More Graffiti at Sunshine

here is a fresh crop of graffiti at the Sunshine Factory Cafe and Gallery, but owner Marcy Kamer isn’t complaining. Reprising the successful first graffiti show, over a dozen new artists show their prints, paintings and cartoons in Breaking Boundaries: Part II. As expected with this street-based medium, content is either satirical, political or sometimes spiritual. Amsterdam artist, Karski, makes his New York debut with several wonderful portraits.

Sunshine Factory Cafe and Gallery, 11 Essex Street, 212-420-7240, Mon.- Fri. 7:30-5, Sun. 9-5, through 12/31/04

Fish are Jumping and the Orchard’s in Bloom

Glass mosaic murals by Ming Fay (in small B&W photo)

y now we’ve all grown accustomed to the beautiful, new mosaic murals down in the Delancey St/Essex St subway station. A show at the Cuchifritos Gallery in the Essex Street Market presents a visual documentation of artist Ming Fay’s creative process for developing the murals as you would see it in his studio. For his five-year project, Fay traveled to Germany to work with the mosaic fabricators on glass selection and color choice. Watercolor paintings, models, collages and photographs are on view. On the Manhattan-bound platform of the F line, the mural depicts a cherry orchard that was originally part of the Delancey family farm, on today’s Orchard Street. On the Brooklyn-bound platform, shad fish, which make runs through our rivers every spring, represent the travel of immigrants across the ocean (and our travels across the Williamsburg Bridge).

Ming Fay - From Concept to Reality, inside Essex Street Market, corner Essex and Delancey, 212-598-4124, Mon.- Sat. 12-5:30, through 11/20/04

What’s Up on Orchard Street?

he block of Orchard between Grand and Broome is evolving from a place where you can stock up on underwear to a bevy of intriguing little shops. Granted, Lolita Bra’s yellow and red sign still dominates the scene with sly innuendo. But here also is Eggplant, a shop devoted to handmade gifts. Owner Debbi Grogan makes many of the delightful items herself, including toile (pronounced twahl) cotton pillows printed with pastoral scenes. She also makes bath salts and heart-shaped soaps in her signature colors of soft green, violet and pink. All are attractively packaged, and Debbi will make up gift baskets for holiday giving. Her petite dolls will take you back to “Little House on the Prairie.”

Eggplant, 85A Orchard Street, 212- 334-4342, open daily 10-6 except Weds. 10-4 & Sat. 1-6

few steps across Orchard Street is Pippin, a shop specializing in vintage costume and estate jewelry. Rachel and Stephen Cooper are veterans of the 26th Street Flea Market, so you’ll discover barrels of fun finds here - from brooches (this season’s must-have accessory) to original art and “boudoir” items like perfume bottles. Jewelry is accessibly priced from $5 and up. Don’t miss the Coopers’ darling dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, for whom the store is named.

Pippin, 72 Orchard Street, 212-505- 5159, Tues.- Sun 1-7