This is the new Tom Clark poem, Pink Trees published in an edition of 50 signed copies. It is illustrated with a painting by Claribel and printed on Hahnemühle iBugra paper. Thanks to Tom for letting us publish this one!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
One of a Kind Books
We have been busy making one of a kind books. Each book is a monoprint or painting by Claribel constructed in an accordian style format. Some open up completely and lay flat for viewing or display. The latest group has handpainted covers as well.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
"Cocktails With William Powell" Poems
Claribel and I recently had the pleasure of attending a cocktail party at our friend William Powell's house. Here is a photo of C.C. and W.P. sharing a toast early in the evening. I've written some poems about the guests in attendence and Claribel has painted pictures to accompany them. Cheers!
William Powell & Carole Lombard
There was a commotion
out by the swimming pool
when William Powell,
(so debonair
I could never call him Bill)
arrived with Carole Lombard
on his arm and hand in hand,
impeccably dressed
they both jumped
in the pool.
Later Cole Porter
wrote a song about it.
Curious George & The Man
In The Yellow Hat
Sure he’s curious.
An inquisitive nature
often accompanies
superior intellect;
descended from a monkey king
George is superior
in many ways.
I am his father
and he is my furry son
and each accepts the others
shortcomings.
Our days pass happily
the way they should
and I wear the yellow hat
so George can spot me
in a crowd.
Bonnard & Me
Where you are
the cherry trees bloom
outside your window,
here it’s dreary
and gloom hangs
on the morning
like a wet jacket.
A cup of tea
and a head full
of scribble
I start writing–
snow blossoms
outside my window.
Hedy Lamarr & Franz Kline
Dear Franz Kline,
when I saw your paintings
there was a strange migration–
a swift departure,
an unsteady arrival.
My response was unexpected;
I’ve only felt this
once before
when I was walking
across a railroad bridge
too afraid to look down–
and then I did.
Until we meet
I remain,
yours.
The Little King & Claribel
The Little King
as wide as he is tall
doesn’t speak, he mutters
and points the way
with his pointed black beard.
He’s not concerned
with royal decrees
or castle and kingdom–
mischief and mayhem
are his scepter and crown
and at this very moment
he’s in a little toy plane
circling the outlying districts
of memory and time
dropping custard pies
on upturned faces.
Vincenzo Perrugia & Mona Lisa
Would you think I’m crazy
if I told you I was crazy
about you, La Gioconda?
I would also tell you
my heart is stuck
like a frozen lock,
I am clumsy and numb
until I see you.
I intend to take you
for my own–
we’ll share the long dark nights
and I’ll watch over you
willing to lose my freedom
for loving you.
Dr. Kildare & Cherry Ames
Dr. Kildare made house calls.
He also removed his own appendix
assisted only by a Slovenian scullery maid
named Glinka.
Stitching himself back together
was the hardest part.
He put the appendix in a white tissue.
Three years later he married Cherry Ames,
Department Store Nurse.
They had a son named Norbert.
Maybe you know him?
Jack Benny & Rochester
Back in Waukegan
Benny Kubelsky never walked
on water,
he waited until it froze
and skated on it.
Benny Kubelsky couldn’t defy
the laws of gravity
but every Sunday night
at seven o’clock
along with Rochester Van Jones
he lessened their effects
for half an hour.
There was a commotion
out by the swimming pool
when William Powell,
(so debonair
I could never call him Bill)
arrived with Carole Lombard
on his arm and hand in hand,
impeccably dressed
they both jumped
in the pool.
Later Cole Porter
wrote a song about it.
Curious George & The Man
In The Yellow Hat
Sure he’s curious.
An inquisitive nature
often accompanies
superior intellect;
descended from a monkey king
George is superior
in many ways.
I am his father
and he is my furry son
and each accepts the others
shortcomings.
Our days pass happily
the way they should
and I wear the yellow hat
so George can spot me
in a crowd.
Bonnard & Me
Where you are
the cherry trees bloom
outside your window,
here it’s dreary
and gloom hangs
on the morning
like a wet jacket.
A cup of tea
and a head full
of scribble
I start writing–
snow blossoms
outside my window.
Hedy Lamarr & Franz Kline
Dear Franz Kline,
when I saw your paintings
there was a strange migration–
a swift departure,
an unsteady arrival.
My response was unexpected;
I’ve only felt this
once before
when I was walking
across a railroad bridge
too afraid to look down–
and then I did.
Until we meet
I remain,
yours.
The Little King & Claribel
The Little King
as wide as he is tall
doesn’t speak, he mutters
and points the way
with his pointed black beard.
He’s not concerned
with royal decrees
or castle and kingdom–
mischief and mayhem
are his scepter and crown
and at this very moment
he’s in a little toy plane
circling the outlying districts
of memory and time
dropping custard pies
on upturned faces.
Vincenzo Perrugia & Mona Lisa
Would you think I’m crazy
if I told you I was crazy
about you, La Gioconda?
I would also tell you
my heart is stuck
like a frozen lock,
I am clumsy and numb
until I see you.
I intend to take you
for my own–
we’ll share the long dark nights
and I’ll watch over you
willing to lose my freedom
for loving you.
Dr. Kildare & Cherry Ames
Dr. Kildare made house calls.
He also removed his own appendix
assisted only by a Slovenian scullery maid
named Glinka.
Stitching himself back together
was the hardest part.
He put the appendix in a white tissue.
Three years later he married Cherry Ames,
Department Store Nurse.
They had a son named Norbert.
Maybe you know him?
Jack Benny & Rochester
Back in Waukegan
Benny Kubelsky never walked
on water,
he waited until it froze
and skated on it.
Benny Kubelsky couldn’t defy
the laws of gravity
but every Sunday night
at seven o’clock
along with Rochester Van Jones
he lessened their effects
for half an hour.
Friday, April 24, 2009
"Cocktails With William Powell" Paintings
William Powell & Carole Lombard
Curious George & The Man In The Yellow Hat
Bonnard & Me
Franz Kline & Hedy Lamarr
The Little King & Claribel
Vincenzo Peruggia & Mona Lisa
Dr. Kildare & Cherry Ames
Jack Benny & Rochester Van Jones
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The Piano Book
We are finishing work on a new book, The Piano Book; Starring Glenn Gould and Harold Cone. It's a book inspired by the friendship of two pianists and particularly of their meeting at Carnegie Hall many years ago.
Claribel was present at that meeting but as a young child she didn't fully understand the significance as she sat off to the side reading a book she'd brought along. As the two men chatted, laughed and played the piano she continued reading but the memory of that day has remained strong.
We dedicate this book to the memory of Glenn Gould and Harold Cone. They are ever present.
Glenn Gould Drives
for C.C.
Glenn Gould heads north out of Toronto
looking for solace, a place to think.
He packs his burgundy 1972 Ford LTD
station wagon with travel essentials;
extra scarves and gloves, books, sheet music
eight track tapes, a flask of strong tea
and a sleeve of Ritz crackers.
Leaving town he drives through two red lights
and stops at a green light
humming his way through the Goldberg Variations
thinking of Bach and harpsichords
thinking of the new Steinway
being created for him, playing it as he hums
and drives into the northern darkness.
Luminous fields of snow slide by
as he tunes in New York and the Philharmonic
the AM radio crackling just a bit
but he thinks to himself;
"Beethoven never sounded so good".
Glenn Gould drives
and Cassiopeia appears in the sky
like a glittering diamond necklace–
he sees an upward bound diatonic in sixths
and drives on into the night.
Harold Cone
What does a concert pianist do
when the piano is out of order
when his fingers freeze in an unheated hall
when a steeply sloping stage threatens to slide him
and the piano and chair into the orchestra pit
when camera fans use flashbulbs
or even come on stage during a concert
when hundreds of breath-takingly beautiful flowers
are presented as gifts as he boards the train?
The pianist must simply compose himself
with humility and wonder.
Claribel was present at that meeting but as a young child she didn't fully understand the significance as she sat off to the side reading a book she'd brought along. As the two men chatted, laughed and played the piano she continued reading but the memory of that day has remained strong.
We dedicate this book to the memory of Glenn Gould and Harold Cone. They are ever present.
Glenn Gould Drives
for C.C.
Glenn Gould heads north out of Toronto
looking for solace, a place to think.
He packs his burgundy 1972 Ford LTD
station wagon with travel essentials;
extra scarves and gloves, books, sheet music
eight track tapes, a flask of strong tea
and a sleeve of Ritz crackers.
Leaving town he drives through two red lights
and stops at a green light
humming his way through the Goldberg Variations
thinking of Bach and harpsichords
thinking of the new Steinway
being created for him, playing it as he hums
and drives into the northern darkness.
Luminous fields of snow slide by
as he tunes in New York and the Philharmonic
the AM radio crackling just a bit
but he thinks to himself;
"Beethoven never sounded so good".
Glenn Gould drives
and Cassiopeia appears in the sky
like a glittering diamond necklace–
he sees an upward bound diatonic in sixths
and drives on into the night.
Harold Cone
What does a concert pianist do
when the piano is out of order
when his fingers freeze in an unheated hall
when a steeply sloping stage threatens to slide him
and the piano and chair into the orchestra pit
when camera fans use flashbulbs
or even come on stage during a concert
when hundreds of breath-takingly beautiful flowers
are presented as gifts as he boards the train?
The pianist must simply compose himself
with humility and wonder.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
18 Views of San Francisco
Here is a glimpse of our current project, 18 Views of San Francisco, a suite of 10 luminous paintings by Claribel paired with exquisite haiku by Don Skiles. The paper for the text and paintings is Hahnemühle iBugra with Hahnemühle Bugra covers, each bearing an original collage by C.C. The endpapers are special Japanese Chiyogami. This stunning title is limited to 15 copies, each carrying the chops of the artist, poet and printer/binder.
Sound of rolling traffic
like far off ocean murmur
Surf of the city
Rain street of Sausalito
past the cinema
Nighttime lights like oil paint shimmer
The light, the shadows
Which is which?
Beautiful, silent
Grey days
blue water
the sun's around somewhere
Sound of rolling traffic
like far off ocean murmur
Surf of the city
Rain street of Sausalito
past the cinema
Nighttime lights like oil paint shimmer
The light, the shadows
Which is which?
Beautiful, silent
Grey days
blue water
the sun's around somewhere
Friday, October 10, 2008
New Poems
My North Star is a poem by Pat Hays that will be appearing in a book entitled "Watersongs" that we are currently at work on. The book is a collection of poems by several writers accompained by Claribel's paintings.
The Little King is a childhood friend of Claribel's who began life as a cartoon in The New Yorker. He became so popular that a series of animated cartoons was created about his adventures. This is my tribute to him.
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