Kunstbar!

Been to the Kunstbar lately? I love that after several years, it's *STILL* up and running.
(Make mine a Matisse please bartender.)

Cool Art books: Maurice Sendak 1980 to Present

The chosen illustration for Mr. Sendak's book cover is that of Mozart at his klavier in the "waldehutte" or secluded studio ("small working studio in the deep woods"). Before it was a book cover however, it was also the illustration for the Houston Opera's production of The Magic Flute.
My first introduction to Die Zauberflote was via "The Pet of the Met" illustrated by Don Freeman. All of the characters in this book are mice, specifically, the Petrini Family with their three little ones; Doe, Ray and Mee. Among the adventures of the mice living in the opera building, the Petrini's dress up and perform The Magic Flute. Many, *MANY* years went by before I learned more about this opera and was finally disappointed to discover that it was not a story about mice dressing up as birds and dancing wildly in the woods!

Was I the only child duped by Don Freeman???! Bravo, bravo.

Cool Art books: Bill Peet's autobiography, fully illustrated!

Bill Pete's books were some of my favorites growing up. I distinctly remember checking them out of the Old Mission School library, time and time again, once my own copies were well worn. What I love most about his style to this day is that it offers great warmth and great darkness. Perhaps this was learned at Walt Disney, but I'm guessing that it came from more sincere place, his own life. (Chester the Worldly Pig is another version of Peet's autobiography) Now I'm looking forward to having some tea and thumbing through it in my own studio. Houghton Mifflin's brief Bill Peet page