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And Now a Brief Break From Insanity for Some UWS Spring Zen

April 28, 2025 | 8:26 AM
in ART, COLUMNS
23

Om.

* * *

Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com

Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.

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23 Comments
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Neal Leibowitz
Neal Leibowitz
24 days ago

Better late than never.

3
Reply
Nancy
Nancy
24 days ago

I spy with my little eye our neighborhood watercolorist and pet savior Anne Watkins!

4
Reply
Gary
Gary
24 days ago
Reply to  Nancy

Good eye! That’s her lovely photo I used in background as well. Thank you Anne.

2
Reply
Anne Watkins
Anne Watkins
23 days ago
Reply to  Gary

Thank you, Gary, for including me in this bucolic scene. We are so lucky to live here and enjoy the park. Shout out to the Riverside Park Conservancy and NYC Parks for caring for this treasure. Delighted to be in your circle, Gary and Nancy!

2
Reply
Judy Orich
Judy Orich
24 days ago

Thanks Gary….much needed and beautifully illustrated.

4
Reply
birdie
birdie
24 days ago

Worth waiting an extra day for this sweet illustration. Sometimes calm is needed more than funny.

1
Reply
Ken
Ken
24 days ago

Is there a tiny iPhone hidden in your beard?

2
Reply
nook
nook
24 days ago
Reply to  Ken

haha

0
Reply
Jean Mensing
Jean Mensing
24 days ago

Thank you Gary Martin…. N.Y.C. needs you

3
Reply
Steve
Steve
24 days ago

Totally agree. The blooming trees are especially beautiful this Spring.

2
Reply
Nina
Nina
24 days ago

Best medicane!

1
Reply
Don
Don
24 days ago

The more “OM” the better!!!

1
Reply
Carmella Ombrella
Carmella Ombrella
23 days ago
Reply to  Don

Indeed. Adding a bit of SHANTIH to the OM.

0
Reply
Arline Shenker
Arline Shenker
24 days ago

This illustrates beautiful weather here

1
Reply
David
David
24 days ago

If there is a more beautiful springtime setting, I have not seen it. Thanks Gary.

2
Reply
Terry
Terry
23 days ago

Love springtime! Wondering if that’s my Stella in the background also is loving this beautiful weather!

1
Reply
Gary
Gary
23 days ago
Reply to  Terry

Hi stella!

0
Reply
Jerome N
Jerome N
23 days ago

The only real insanity here is this never ending complaint of “insanity” from our usual neurotic and progressive UWS crowd…

6
Reply
EricaC
EricaC
22 days ago
Reply to  Jerome N

It’s funny. Even the people I know who like the things being done admit that it is bonkers. It is just a bonkers they like.

1
Reply
ecm
ecm
23 days ago
Reply to  Jerome N

Don’t let us wake you.

2
Reply
Joe Chiplock
Joe Chiplock
23 days ago

Oh, my… Yes. Best image yet. That’s the Upper West Side I know and love. And I’m as thankful for what 10023/10024/10025 have to offer us as, it appears, Gary is. (And I love the two guest stars in the lower right-hand corner…#IFKYK.) Happy Spring.

1
Reply
Nancy
Nancy
23 days ago
Reply to  Joe Chiplock

It’s almost exactly a year since Rosie died…

0
Reply
Mark
Mark
23 days ago

In so many ways, we’ve earned this spring. Thanks for commemorating this moment of grace, Gary.

1
Reply

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