Something To Do With Wings
A Memoir 2010, 2017
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“One night at Studio 54, I saw Andy Warhol sitting with a small group of friends. I went up to him and whispered in his ear ‘What’s your secret?’ Without a moment’s hesitation, his reply was: ‘It has something to do with wings’. I considered that to be a brilliant answer since to me it meant that we all had wings, and it was up to each of us to learn how to spread them and to fly—as he had done. I often quoted his words to friends as I thought they were so right on. Looking back now, I can see how applicable that metaphor has been to my own life.”
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About the Book
This memoir chronicles the life of an artist who began his professional career as a Harvard trained lawyer before discovering the artist within.
Novak, now 86, looks back on a life of unpredictable twists and turns that have led to a sense of fulfillment, happiness and celebration. The key ingredients: a positive attitude, a sense of commitment to a purpose, being open, a passion for one's work, believing in oneself, and coming from love in dealing with others. He also acknowledges the importance of the support received from friends, family and significant others.
Novak's art, an exploration of color and light, has garnered substantial art world recognition, including a paintings retrospective at the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College initiated by Timothy Rub, its former director and currently director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
This book suggests to the reader, by way of example, that opportunities for new pathways in life abound, awaiting discovery.
About the Author
Joe Novak’s life has been one of accomplishment, hard work, sensitivity and an unshakeable belief in himself. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, he became a leading tax expert in San Juan, Puerto Rico during the sixties and early seventies. He was a partner in a major San Juan law firm, and served as consultant to the Governor of Puerto Rico on tax reform. In the early eighties, in New York City, at the age of 50, he became a serious painter, his present great passion and the source of new achievements. Throughout both careers, he has been sustained by loving relationships and supportive friendships. This memoir, written entirely by the author himself, travels with him on his 79 year journey, acknowledging his mentors and significant others and recording his experiences with the famous and not so famous. If there is a message here, it is—if we are open to life, anything is possible. Joe Novak lives and works in Rancho Mirage, California. His website is www.joenovak.com.