![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition by Salmagundi Club](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-outside.jpg)
New York, New York
This was the big day, the Opening Reception and Award Ceremony for the 2009 Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition by Salmagundi Club, my first exhibition in New York City. The reception was to take place between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. But first, we planned to leave Connecticut early and see some of the sites in the city.
Walking Around New York City – 2009 Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition
We planned to leave early and see some New York City sites. Our friend Joan Shackford (president of the Cheshire Art League of Cheshire, Connecticut) accompanied us.
![John O'Keefe and family at Washington Square in New York City](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-1.jpg)
(located just a few blocks from the Salmagundi Club)
![Joshua and Danielle at Washington Square](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-2.jpg)
From Washington Square, it was down to SoHo for some lunch. We enjoyed a lovely meal at an outdoor Italian restaurant. We planned to visit some art galleries but learned that many had moved uptown to the Chelsea area. However, we did manage to find a few galleries to visit.
![John O'Keefe and family with Joan Shackford at outdoor restaurant](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-3.jpg)
![Jennifer O'Keefe in SoHo, New York City](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-4.jpg)
On the way back to the Salmagundi Club, our group split; Jennifer, Joan, and Danielle made a detour to the bakery Magnolias, and Joshua and I went straight to the Salmagundi Club.
Opening Reception and Award Ceremony (7-10-2009) – Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition
The big moment had arrived! Almost like clockwork, at around 6:00 PM, the gallery started filling, and it soon became a packed house.
![](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/oka/artwork/john-okeefe-jr-oil-the-fields-edge-FRAME-NONE.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, The Fields Edge by John O'Keefe Jr.](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-7.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Joshua, Danielle, Jennifer, Ernie Sterlacci, and John O'Keefe Jr.](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-9.jpg)
![Ernie Sterlacci, Joan Shackford, Jennifer O'Keefe, and Ernie Sterlacci](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-10.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, guests start arriving](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-6b.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, more guests arriving](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-6.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-8.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Ernie Sterlacci and John O'Keefe](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-11.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Joshua and Danielle hanging out](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-12.jpg)
Award Ceremony – Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition
Around 6:45 PM, the Award Ceremony started. The artwork at this show was exceptional, and I was honored to have been accepted to be among such great artists.
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, guest assemble to view award ceremony](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-13.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, guests viewing the award ceremony](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-14.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Danielle and John O'Keefe Jr.](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-15.jpg)
Enjoying the Exhibition
After the Award Ceremony concluded, people began moving around and mingling again. Joshua spent most of his time listening to the live jazz band The Jeevan D’Souza Trio. He had recently begun learning to play guitar, and he was not going to pass up a chance to see live musicians playing up close.
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, The Jeevan D'Souza Trio](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-16.jpg)
A little later in the evening, a close family friend, Ann Benedetto, who lives near the Salmagundi Club, showed up. Ann was my mother’s best friend when they grew up together in Astoria. Ann lives and works in Manhattan and owns a clothing store in Tribeca called “ANue.”
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Ernie Sterlacci, Ann Benedetto, and John O'Keefe Jr.](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-17.jpg)
![Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, Ann Benedetto and Ernie Sterlacci](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-18.jpg)
The evening was exciting. I met several artists, and we exchanged congratulations on being in the exhibit. Later, I was introduced to the president of the Salmagundi Club, Claudia Seymore, by another elected member, Christine Ivers. I know Christine from the Connecticut art scene. Christine and Claudia sponsored me, and I filled out a membership application and submitted my portfolio, which I hope will be approved. The reception ended around 8:30 PM, and it was time to head back to Connecticut.
Heading Back to Connecticut – 2009 Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition
Joshua snapped the following photos as we left the city. They are pretty good, so I decided to close this journal entry using them.
![Jennifer and John O'Keefe in New York City](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-19.jpg)
![Joshua O'Keefe photograph of New York City streets](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-20.jpg)
![Joshua O'Keefe photograp himself in New York City](https://static.okeefe-arts.com/images/jok/blog/journal/john-okeefe-jr/2009-salmagundi-club-non-member-exhibit/john-okeefe-jr-2009-salmagundi-non-member-exhibit-7-10-09-21.jpg)
Concluding Thoughts
So ends the Annual Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition by Salmagundi Club. Today was another one of those days that was overwhelming for me. My art journey feels like it just keeps getting better and better. My previous success at the Lyme Art Association and a possible elected membership at the Salmagundi Club. I couldn’t be more pleased.