I made a tryo - two in the headline One being the name Christopher Tenev , and the word Hutchins Gallery - sorry!
it - that is , life has been quite the illusive and mysterious, wondrous collecting of moments since my graduation from The Lawrenceville School 1968-1972. Those four years brought me experiences, welcomed me to some, illluded me from others, challenged and captivated me in some, others made mw wonder " why! must I ? ". Much of these four years really tested me and made me think about my place and time, relation to, commitment to!?
I was coming from a Junor High School that was coed to an all boys prep school. I was suddenly taken out of an environment that i knew and felt comfortable in as i had many friends of both sexes, and plunked into an environment of many boy achievers, excellers, winners that the only option was to win.
I was and still am a free spirit that believes in the expression ' live and let live '. did not know it so much at the time but then and now I see my task as competing against myself and not against others to beat them and win. I liked people and wanted to both be their friends and accepted by them. I was open to them and trusting and believing in their good ad the good that would result from us both knowing and working together for that.
I can think of three of my classmates,actually for or five - a handful that I associated and did things with on a more regular base of interactions - Roy Abramowitz, Court Wedemeyer and Dave Goldberg: There were others lije Paul Valany and Bruce ( I roomed first with Bruce and then Paul. I loved Paul's outlook on life and how to handle others. it was very matter of fact and a way to diflect, compartamentalize and move forward doing what one wanted or needed to do, and not caught up in social spars, jibes or negativity thank Paul! And more that I felt were more accepting and less challenging and confrontational. Those were classmates that would personally confront me, call me by other names but mine, put shaving cream on my door handle in the Kennedy House. For the most part I was left to my own devices and I am thankful for that and for the fact that I had the inner strength to be on my own and survive and do my best.
I was not what The Lawrenceville School was looking for, I do not know really why I was accepted there except for that I had a wealthy relative paying for me that had also helped Leontyne Price launch her singing career.
There were no computers, no cell phones, no lap tops or iPads or iTunes only phones , records, radios, many fun gadgets like those blobs of colos floating in an enclosure all around, bumping into each other like gocarts but much gentler and not loud or aggresive.
There was a phone booth on each level of the Upper House, Iknew that well as I would talk for hours on my level and I know I upset many of my Upper Class , and to their credit they were by the most part very gracious. Thank you all for that all these years later as I talked with Babs.
Some ofypu met and knew Babs like Roy and Dave , and Jim that introduced me to her as he came up to me once and asked me if wanted to go on a blind date with him that I accepted gladly. I met Babs and we hit it off immediately. She attended the Catholic school in the Ewington area and refered to the nuns as nunyfuns!
Of the teachers I was the most aware of Jack Garver the arts professor there. i took a number of his classes and enjoyed them. I refer in my mind at that time to my Rembrandt period. Infell head over heels for Rembrandt!
I had Dr Deinle for Science and I, as my classmates remember to this day would respond when we used the word " well " without thinking : " Are you refering to my health , or water or oil in a well!?!? " He would always have a wry expression on his face when he did, too.
I also had an excellent Spanish teacher tgat encouraged me to keep at it, and that encouragement for me really helped me. Gracias para todos Senor!
I also in Upper School had my room next to that of our Hall Monitor Mr Robbins the Classics professor. I enjoyed listening to his many classical records as he would play them on his fine turntable and sound system. He invited me in on several occasions to listen to the music with him, and that really helped to spawn my love for both classical music and opera. Thank you Mr. Robbins.
In the Mennedy House there was an assistant House Master and he loved music and more current , contemporary music. I sold him my album of The Left Bank with the songs " Walk away Renee " and #Pretty Balerina ". He was delighted to get it, too.
IN SPORTS ONE OF MY HIGH POINTS THERE WAS in RUNNING WHERE i won the 40 yard dash, and I do not think enyone expected me to win it, but I was damned if I was not going to win it with Babs in the bleachers cheering me on! I beat Wes and he came over smiling toncongratulate me shaking my hand. Tgank you Wes all these now so many years later.
I was notb rich there, i had an allowance from my parents and remember it went into change to call Babs on the phone , and other things I needed vrom the local Drug Store pharmacy across the main highway cutting through Lawrenceville, just to the left of the Jigger Shop cafe bar restaurant.
At the Jigger Shop I discovered the amazing treat of their cinammon butter covered toasted , not bagels, iforget the word just now, I am 71 years of age and sometimes the word or words I am looking for escape me entirely much to my frustration! Muffins ! That is the word - those were amazong, warm, slattered in butter and decked nicely with melting cinnamon on those muffins! that was enough to do anything for except for " To die or to kill for ! "
Another haven or safe space for me wasturning records of my choice in a small rambler studio off the Circle to the right of the houses if you are looking at The Kennedy House and the main street. it was secluded, a bit like a faerie tale setting and forgotten and yet, tosome, vital and essential. Did Kenny spin records there as well, did Rob spin them, too!? I forget. i would go and soin records by the Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service , The Left Bank, The Youngbloods, maybe Joni Mitchell as i discovered through Babs' sister the album " Blue " by Joni Mitchell.
I saw John Sebastian play in Princeton, Janice Ian, and more - loved it, loved music that ghelped me to keep both focus and my balance.
I was not Lawrenceville material then, and probably still now. oh well, lived with it then,still living with it now.
I remember on Sundays going to the doughnut store to the right of tge Jigger Shop and just down a side street a hundred or two hundred yards on the right - loved those doughnuts - jelly or fruit- filled with yummy icing! decadent, messy, finger-licking delish!
i sucked at both math and chemistry, liked english,loved art!
i used to babysit the children of Mr Eglin, he was the guidance counselor helping to get us into college.
My good friend Suzie Lykes recommended i check out Randolph- Macon College and I did. I went there and shined for four years! I was more involved in college in Ashland, Virginia as both the Editor-In -Chief of The Yellow Jacket newspaper and a year after of the Yellow Jacket yearbook. it was a good fit.
The Lawrenceville School was a more trying fit for me. i am glad I had the experience as it made me stronger.
I femember with Roy Abramowitz at the end of the school year, as i stayed a few extra days, as did Roy, as he would fly back to South Africa and I would fly to Trinidad and later to Costa Rica as my father worked for the State Department and the American Embassy.
Roy and I would go through the empty rooms of our classmates and discover all the ":goodies " left behind by our classmates. Fun fun fun! it was interesting being there with everyone gone.
I discovered then also the MG cars, a small red one driven by Babs' brother that was nice enough to drop Babs at Lawrenceville and also pick her up, sometimes me, too with the three of us riding in the car, Babs on my seat.
i loved swimming there, I also did wrestling.
I also remember all the the tie-dye blankets thatbecame wall coverings in Kenny and other classmate rooms, ; that was visually so exotic and stimulating to the eye and other senses.
I made several pastel portrait sketches of classmates like Uldis, Bruce, and several others. i still have them. Would like to show them there with some of my etchings and current work and hope to do this at the next Alumni Weekend or the next.
S exciting still all of this!
I will include soon some of my writings I did in my deep red ruby notebook put out by Lawrenceville. I wrote in tiny cursive then, will be interesting to go back and see what I was thinking and writing about then?
Cheer to the graduating cless of 2025! And to your job well done there and graduating! May your experiences to follow be as stimulating and successful/ productive as they have been for me as I followed both my art consistently and worked on constantly, and also both educated and helped others enjoy their wine experiences! Wine and food, casual, more firmal, at the beach or in the mountains, at home, family and friends, colleagues , whomever!?
Sam Waugh in our class was our valedictorian and his essay that he wrote and delivered has stayed with me ever since in inspiration and insight! i still have the issue published with a copy of it within tucked into my senior year book.
It has all been glorious even now as I am writing constantly on recycled / reclaimed surfaces with acrylics and glitter , my either blok Letters or my Cursive letters - much of my personal responses to politics of the day or current social media and environmental effects we are all dealing with - barraged constantly, non- stop, by ads on tv, true or not true, lies or bullying, being bratty, being honest, kind,loving, sharing,selfish, callous, empathetic, listening, open or totally closed to anything but furthering self and power and monetary gain!?!
All such a physical and mental drain by any way you look or oetceive any of it! Exhauring! I am a total wreck, and yet still loving being alive, positive, being seen, heard, counted, hopefully respected and valued, but probably not, unless there is an angle in it, money or fame, acclaim, benefits, perks, trips, free jet p,planes, whatever!
You think I am cynical, no, Iam not, but i will have no one pull the wool over my eyes anymore!
Cheers! Thanks Lawrenceville from then and now!
Love you all.
Anthony TONY Quinn happy Friday May 30 , 2025 at @:34pm
now as i edit and post this, exhausted from my one finger tapping on this iPad sreen I scream in silence, thrilled to be so close to being finished, at least for the moment!
And I have edited and am done! YY! Hip hip parade carnival style with streamers , dreamers and more - so much still to live, to explore! Adore s,more till we all snore!
I will see you tomorrow, weather permitting. Tony nowb3:36pmnafter the editing!
Me and my art here too.
