Robert Flinkman

Robert Flinkman
Wooden chair
pastel on paper
24" X 18"
1991
copyright 1991 Robert Flinkman

February 17th, 1991        Sunday

I had a most amusing incident Saturday morning returning back here with the dark, wooden chair Bill gave me.......I had no trouble boarding the F train, I thought of replies to make should anyone ask me about it - "I want to make sure I get a seat on the train!" or "Well, I got a reserved seat on the F train!" It did seem funny, me sitting there in the oaken chair, with the curved arms and legs with the lyre on the back.
When I got off at 51st St. and was waiting for the IRT uptown, I noticed two young men pass by, one with a camera, noticing me with an amused look. A short while later, the one with the camera came up and asked me if he could take a picture of the chair. He had a black knit cap on, clean shaven round face and round gold wirerimms, 26 years old, a photographer from Portland, Oregon. HIs name is Steven Brals, and he gave me his card. I, of course, immediately acquiesced and placed the chair where he wanted. Actually with the color of the newly tiled walls  and platform - coffee-colored, with the blue tiles of 51st St., and the dark brown of the chair, it did look good. He took five shots of the chair on the platform, then two of me sitting on it. He had quite a sophisticated camera. We spoke for a short while about our interests and the art scene here. Very friendly. Well, if this pastel I did of it sells, I may get in contact with him, could be the buyer may be interested in a print. I could be as well.
After that, a short while later, an older woman, all bundled up, complimented the chair, admiring the forms. I told her of how I got it and what I did with it. The photographer was nearby, overheard our conversation and smiled, too. When I got on the Lex.Ave. train, a young man with his children remarked, looking at the chair, "That's a sure way of getting a seat on the train!" We laughed. It was really nice, encountering all of this at that one station, all within that twenty minutes or so. It made for a pleasant day. And I do think that that chair will bring me luck!