RICCI ALBENDA in his garden. As part of his recent show at THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, Ricci Albenda opened his backyard garden in Brooklyn to the public on a few Sunday afternoons this past Spring 2008. we dropped by on Sunday May 4, 2008.

for more on Ricci's show at THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, which ran MARCH 21 - MAY 23, 3008 - check: here !!

stepping off the 'L' train in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, we notice some paste art. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

. . . what's coming down and what's going up. on the way to Ricci's home/studio/backyard garden - a few short blocks from the subway - plenty of examples of all the new development - that's got everyone freaked out over losing the good 'ole days in Williamsburg, and Brooklyn in general. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

YIKES !! no wonder everyone is up in arms - Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

well, at least some of the street art - still survives. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

street art, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

street art, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

street art, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

ORIG.TAT crew - Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci's place is in an area - that's still pretty much how it used to be. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

this is Ricci's home. it's on a really nice street of small, old homes. Ricci's place is the whole - first floor apartment. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

the door at the right, is the entrance. the front part of the apt is a studio space. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a storage space behind the entry door. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

very organized. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

'you're greedy, and you're selfish'. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a work table. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

on the opposite wall - a work in progress. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

'you're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're mine.' - a work in progress. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

the divider wall/storage unit to the living area. everything is nice to look at it. from the way things are placed, to the different finishes of the walls. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 3008

and just beyond, the bedroom looks out on the backyard garden! Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

the paper drawing says: 'No reason to say no.' Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

the bedroom. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

close-up on the word 'painting' over the bed. Ricci Albenda studio visit.
May 4, 2008

Ricci also made the small driftwood & woven thread sculpture on the dresser top. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

LUCKY DE BELLEVUE, has just arrived. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

JOSHUA SMITH is here as well. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a corner of the 'dining' room - which is just off the studio, right before the kitchen. several of Ricci's 3-D pieces grace the bureau top. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a charming, small wall piece by LUCKY DE BELLEVUE hangs in this area. RICCI ALBENDA studio visit, May 4, 2008

a small table array - on the way to the kitchen. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008 - Ricci's way with plants, and how he arranges them - is just natural born 'Ikebana' !! (Ikebana - the Japanese art of flower arrangement.)

Ricci's in the kitchen whipping up mimosas for his guests. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci's little dog - Albert !! .. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

another artwork, this time a painting by LUCKY DE BELLEVUE - in the kitchen. looks like a person gardening !! Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

kitchen shelves. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

looking out the kitchen windows to the backyard garden. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008 - it's obvious Ricci's show at THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK - was a very intimate portrait - that was very - close to home.

outside in the garden, the very first thing that catches our attention - is the 'roof' of the 'patio' area. in a very traditional use - grape vines, that will bear grapes later on in the heat of the summer - twine about the structure - along with tiny metal 'dragonfly' bells. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

the dragonfly 'chimes' have us totally captivated. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

guests at the outdoor table, enjoy the delightful ambience. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008 - yep - the garden, beyond, fills the backyard completely and it is L-U-S-H !!

this array of potted plants - definitely would come to mind when we would later go visit Ricci's zen-like show at the HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008.

it's hard to believe all this - is just a small backyard - in Brooklyn !! - so we take a look back at the house - just to make sure. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci has only been gardening for 5 years & this backyard garden - believe it - is his first time gardening ever. he said he learnt everything off the Internet. all the plants are perennials. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

he seems to be particularly into 'white' flowers of all kinds - large, small and tiny. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a little bird bath. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci Albenda's backyard garden. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

that's a candle holder, snaking up from the ground. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a rather strangely organic homemade - fish pond !! Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

yes, if you look closely - there ARE !! tiny goldfish swimming around in it. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

an old bathtub - that gets filled with water - and, hopped into - to cool off in. bet, it's in use today. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

you forget completely - you are in a small urban backyard - til you look up at the perimeters. the garden is so dense and multi-layered. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a world unto itself, Ricci Albenda's backyard garden. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

looking back at the house from the outermost edge of the garden. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

a young 'cannibal' tomato plant. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

a 'giant' Redwood bonsai. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

we first meet BRIAN FUNK, in his 9th year as head gardener of the famed Japanese Gardens at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

another very interesting guest at Ricci's garden party - DREW ABRAMS a young scientist working under NSF sponsorship - he could explain cutting edge science in very down-to-earth, easy to understand ways. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

DAVID MELROSE, a fabricator/carpenter based in Brooklyn. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

at David's side, his wife, photographer JODIE VICENTA JACOBSON. Jodie Vicenta Jacobson is the staff curator at THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK - and she is responsible for getting their current calendar of exhibits up-to-speed - curating Ricci's show there, as well as Peter Coffin's. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

check out: THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

Ricci shows us some potted plants - he is particularly involved with. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

S-P-I-K-E-Y !! Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

a tiny plant taking life, bound to flourish under Ricci's careful watch. Ricci Albenda studio visit. May 4, 2008

a last look - at at few more super gorgeous blooms. Ricci Albenda studio visit,
May 4, 2008

Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

perfect bloom. Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

some exquisite tiny blue flowers. why do these bring to mind - Ricci's word paintings so much? Ricci Albenda studio visit, May 4, 2008

we leave RICCI ALBENDA, artist/gardener off stalking some distant corner of his meticulous garden - that's calling to him. Ricci Albenda studio visit, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. an open studio/garden party - associated with his show at THE HORTICULTUTRAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, which ran MARCH 21 - MAY 23, 2008. A beautiful Sunday afternoon, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. May 4, 2008