Hi folks. I’ve been elated lately because I am in an Abstract Figurative Painting class at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. There are eight classes. We just had our third session. It is FREE! That includes all materials, even aprons. The educators are wonderful. My kind of teachers. Happy to see us. No right or wrong in our attempts. I’m having a ball.
One of the instructors told me she can’t wait to see what I come up with next.
In Monday’s class, one of the instructors mentioned stand-up comedy, and I shared that I do that. While everyone was painting, they asked me to do some comedy for them. I did. They were hysterical laughing. Now they want to be informed of my future shows. How great is that!
The students are all women and one gay man. The instructors are both young women. We are all so in sync. I’m going to miss this when it concludes.
Two days after our final session, there will be a new exhibit opening at the museum featuring works from professional artists. They plan to show a piece from each of us (non-professionals) on the lobby level when the exhibit opens. This whole thing is so exciting.
As far as comedy goes, on Friday 9/18, there was very heavy traffic on the way to City Island, and I was late and stressed. When I began the show, I couldn’t get myself together, so I basically just started introducing the comics. Honestly, I considered that I sucked as a comic but succeeded as a host. The line-up (Jose Angel Diaz, Debbie Bazza, Paul Hallasy) was very good, and folks enjoyed the show.
Two of my former co-workers attended the show, and they let me know that the b-tch, who let me go from a job where I worked for 18 years, got fired! What a moment! Now they are wondering if I would come back. Amazing. I’m still flying on the poetic justice of that person getting fired. The administration that hired her didn’t put me on the hiring committee even though I am very perceptive. She destroyed much of what was great about the program, and now I might be wanted back. I just wish the previous administration would’ve valued my perceptiveness and let me contribute to the hiring committee. They just liked to say that they value me, but really they were afraid of my truth-telling self.
The director who followed them was wonderful but only stayed for four years. She never said she valued me; she didn't have to, she just DID, and it was obvious. But the hiring committee was put together by the administration before her. They grew a good program compared to others. Many people benefited from the program. But there were problems that I often brought up at meetings. Hence, I was in a challenging position.
On Saturday, 9/19, at Pangea in Paul Hallasy’s EAT DRINK LAUGH show, I felt I did great. The audience members were coming up to me after the show to let me know. One of the other comics told me I had the room captivated. It felt fantastic.
My buddy Judy attended, and that felt great to me. We went out afterwards in the West Village for eating and drinking. She treated. She often makes me feel like the best date I’ve been on in a long time. 💛💚
My current job re-starts Tuesday, 9/22, leading a creative writing class for retired folks from a labor union. Last year, it went so well. I hope that’s how it goes this time.
On a local note, my upstairs neighbor who runs track in his apartment, has been gone, and I’ve been having peace in my apartment. It’s been about five weeks. I feel like I’ve been on vacation.
'Til next time...
* Not my painting; just something I found on Google.
Mindy Matijasevic
September 22, 2026
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