#950 - George Zimbel

Irish Dancehall, The Bronx, 1954 (printed 2006)
#950 - George Zimbel

“I am a visually upbeat person. I see things that are “up” and it gets me interested"

 

~ George Zimbel

 

George was always fun to be with and the complete opposite to an angst ridden gloomy artist. He was a great dining companion full of wonderful stories and anecdotes. This is of course his masterpiece. How can one not be caught up in this scene of universal teenage angst? A cocky young man and his potential dance partners, it is full of nervous eagerness and so captures the experience of being young in the 1950’s. I was the complete opposite of this young dude. I was very skinny and painfully shy and remember going to small dance socials in halls in North London desperately trying to connect with someone. The memories are flooding back as I write this. I used to go with a friend and we would both sheepishly go up to two young girls and I would nervously blurt out the words “Would you and your friend like to dance with me and my friend?” And the answer would more than likely be an abrupt “No”. The memories still linger. I think I better go into therapy. It still hurts!