Share this on:
 Facebook
 Twitter
 Tumblr
 E-mail
374
VIEWS
 
RECOMMENDS
3
SHARES
About this iReport
  • Approved for CNN

    • Click to view JodiKaplan's profile
    Posted November 14, 2012 by
    JodiKaplan
    Location
    New York City, New York
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    'Superstorm' Sandy: Your stories

    JodiKaplan and 14 other iReporters contributed to Open Story: Sandy's damage across the East Coast
    More from JodiKaplan
    More iReports you should see

    IN NYC - WHEN SANDY MET ATHENA

    By JodiKaplan  |  Posted November 14, 2012  |  New York City, New York
     

    CNN PRODUCER NOTE     iReporter JodiKaplan decided to brave the nor'easter storm - called Athena by some - that swept over New York City on Wednesday night to attend an art benefit. Her images sweep across the Upper West Side, where she resides, and the Upper East Side, to capture a city once again buffeted by bad weather. "The weather is really challenging. Streets are slippery. Life has come to a halt again with [the storm]," she said. "But at least taxis are available. The drivers told me that they do not have a lot of people to pick up on the streets. Nobody is going outside right now." Our iReporter says resilient New Yorkers are carrying on with life as best as possible, but it's not easy for many. "It feels very weary to have this second storm - like we do not have a break," she said. "There are still a lot of people without heat, electricity. New Yorkers are worn down by this. But at this point everyone wants to push through it." The weather made the party she attended a small, defiant moment. "Everyone was tired of being tired. We all talked about art. Nothing else but art. No politics. No weather. Just art! It was liberating," she said.
    - sarahbrowngb, CNN iReport producer

    There is something inherently beautiful about the first snowfall of a season. Usually. Covering over the devastation of hurricane Sandy with a blanket of white, Athena lashed out in an untimely manner on an already challenged NYC. It looked like a territorial battle of long lost lovers. Demanding attention. And in the end, merging into one. A new landscape of courage. In this post-election wonderland.

     

    New Yorkers came out to connect tonight. In the middle of this second storm, weathering the elements to create colorful experiences of NYC normalcy. Craving it.

     

    I slid into a taxi, crossed Central Park to Fifth Avenue and 87th Street and breathed in the beauty of the camouflaged city along the way.

     

    A benefit for a museum art collection in the home of a generous and gracious host added an air of fantasy to the evening. Stunning paintings. Views overlooking Central Park’s snow-covered trees. Festive outfits. The sound of laughter. The defiance of nature. An oasis. From the storms. Of weather. And of politics.

     

    The gathered guests seemed a collection themselves. Of people. Hailing from all distances with some still displaced from their homes. Everyone needed a relief. Desperately.

     

    The art world thrives here in NYC, although so much work was unfortunately destroyed by recent flooding. The evening’s speaker talked about the importance of exposing yourself to work that makes you feel very uncomfortable.

     

    The art collection on the walls of this Manhattan home and the “art collection” of images seen along the way on the streets of NYC, seemed almost interchangeable. – Jodi Kaplan

    What do you think of this story?

    Select one of the options below. Your feedback will help tell CNN producers what to do with this iReport. If you'd like, you can explain your choice in the comments below.
    Be and editor! Choose an option below:
      Awesome! Put this on TV! Almost! Needs work. This submission violates iReport's community guidelines.
    More from this assignment - 'Superstorm' Sandy: Your stories
    On CNN On CNN
    razorbill. Victim of Hurricane Sandy
    On CNN
    Christmas in Disaster
    On CNN On CNN
    I'm Sorry For What You've Been Through
    See all 3,526 iReports
    Add your Story

    Comments

    Log in to comment

    iReport welcomes a lively discussion, so comments on iReports are not pre-screened before they post. See the iReport community guidelines for details about content that is not welcome on iReport.

    Add your Story Add your Story