On Creative (AND Other) Gestures
As long as I can remember, I’ve needed to have a creative project (ideally one that taps both my verbal and visual energies). And the past year has afforded me the time to invent several of them. On January 1, I launched this blog, Twenty20 (Twenty20Year.com). Its mission “To celebrate generosity and creativity while continuing to ask, ‘How can we be better?’” clearly forecasting a year devoid of both.
Logo for my niece’s birthday quiz; one of my “Masks for a New Era”
I reimagined some popular book titles and dreamt up a series of humorous “Masks for the New Era.” Both fueled, I think, by my need to populate a nearly barren Instagram feed.
And I created a series of “Trivia Quizzes” (using Flexiquiz.com). Some to stay connected to the disparate factions in my life (i.e., my cousins, my extended circle of childhood friends). Another featuring fun facts culled from everyone in my sister’s household. And still another McKenzie-themed quiz, “gifted” to my niece to help her stay connected with friends on her birthday.
Lastly, I created THE ART OF CARICATURE: A COLLECTION (on Shutterfly, of all places). The monograph details my 3-decade-long effort to amass a comprehensive (but far from exhaustive) overview of the art form. One made even more special by something I was gifted just a month ago.
It’s a high/low collection that includes famous names (Al Hirschfeld, Miguel Covarrubias, Paul Colin) and lesser-known ones (Ken Fallin). Small finds (a Duke Ellington study by Disney artist, T. Hee) and big scores (Alfred Frueh’s 1922 portfolio, Stage Folk, won with a heart-pounding, final-seconds bid of $290 and estimated to be worth $13,000 today).
In the introduction, “Why Am I Drawn to Caricatures?” I note, “Ongoing research has led me to Eddie Vitch (whose work once covered the famed Brown Derby's walls), and Sam Norkin (whose drawing of Barbra Streisand on page 3 may one day be mine, should I have a sudden windfall).”
My monograph—limited to an edition of two
The introduction, with Norkin’s Streisand caricature no bigger than a postage stamp
Sam Norkin’s bio—added following my brother’s gift
Five months after writing those words, Norkin’s original ink drawing is now mine. Not through any windfall, but rather the abundant heart of my brother, Chris, who surprised me with it on our birthday. Note: I made only ONE copy of the book! And had tossed off a rather murky PDF as an FYI to my siblings and best friend. That my brother would latch on to those words (with Barbra’s image no bigger than a postage stamp), and then find the original online still overwhelms me. It was a remarkable gesture—in a long history of remarkable gestures.
In a final effort to properly thank him, I’ve ordered a single, 2nd copy from Shutterfly. One featuring Norkin’s bio among his fellow artists, a new spread (right) dedicated to his drawing, and these words (texted to my brother that day):
“That I cited Norton as the one hole in my collection that I might someday fill, and you DID!... Well, I suddenly look at the entire collection anew; and feel the pieces resonate more with your gift among them.”
And I always will.
