A pair of seemingly unlikely, but typical New York mentors reached over the barriers of class, language, culture and national background to help Joe Hing Lowe, a young Chinese laundryman searching for a turning point in life. He was “pounding” shirts with a heavy old-fashioned iron at 4 cents per shirt. Bill Lawrence, an African American artist who knew the pains of rejection and loneliness, reached out to the young Chinese immigrant. He called Lowe his “#1 son.” Another was immigrant artist Lajos Markos, who left Hungary when the Communists subjugated his country just like they did to Lowe’s home country China. Before long they had the steam iron pusher wielding a pastel pencil on Washington Square. One day, Lowe realized that he could make it here in America as a painter. He recalls the feeling as “one that was tremendous, like nothing that you can describe. I felt my destiny had opened up.”
One time, I asked Lowe, Why do you paint more Western-style paintings than Eastern-style ones? He replied, “I am an American. This is where I am. But I love my history, too.”
Memorial Day is a time to remember how our destiny as the land of opportunity, equality, a deep anti-racist tradition, and freedom of religion was assured by the many sacrifices of our armed forces. Young refugees like Lowe and Markos found brilliant careers here in America. Lowe is so renowned that he was elected to the Pastel Society Hall of Fame and has received many other honors.
[20150525_0600]
Nice way of putting it. Enriching story.
A classic American and New York story indeed. The painting is a beautiful and poignant rendering of an American symbol through classic Chinese technique, it seems.
Thanks Jennifer, and hats off to all those who bring us together and make us stronger as a community.
What an uplifting, inspiring story! Classic American anecdote of people from different backgrounds coming together to support each other in a shared passion. And what a great way to reflect on how the sacrifices of those who served in our armed forces can affect all of us in the most simple yet far-reaching ways.