In case you don't know what a "Baba" is - in may European languages, a Baba is a Grandmother. I see fewer and fewer "Babas" as I get older. Babas used to frequent the West Side Market and wander around the Tremont area. My own Baba died shortly after I was born (she was actually my Great Grandmother.)The painter: Maria Kovalenko Leysens happens to be my cousin. She was born at Grace Hospital on W. 14th Street. Her Baba lived on Kenilworth. Maria's Mother and Father lived in a house behind Baba's - which now happens to be next door to the Visible Voice Book Store. Maria's family moved out of the Tremont area, (back then it was known as "the South Side") in the early 60's.
The painting above is watercolor.
I had a Buba too! The painting reminds me of her! She used to work at Higbee's as a cleaning woman and lived in the Polish neighborhood near Fleet Avenue. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting my painting! Seems like everyone has known a Baba... My Baba was a strong woman... did what needed to get done and still had time to make pirogies for dinner. oh and had Hershey bars in the cupboard for us too.
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