"As much as the teachers and students and
everybody else loved Keith's lively art, they
loved Keith - his enthusiasm and exuberance,
his joy and jubilance - even more."
I recently watched a PBS American Masters documentary about Keith Haring: Street Art Boy. I was interested because I had just read two new books about the artist and had learned a lot. I had some knowledge of his art, none of his life.
In this first book, I am impressed by the telling. Ms. Lewis Brown relates moments in Keith's life in an easy conversational tone that will appeal to younger readers. She talks about his early interest in doodling, and his commitment to a drawing life. As a young boy, he drew every day. Art surrounded him.
As a teen, he was inspired by a Christo lecture. This connection with an artist who expressed himself in new and imaginary ways inspired Keith to put what was in his head onto the walls of his classroom at the School of Visual Arts. When done, he was surrounded by that art. Riding the subway provided new inspiration. Soon, and feeling people needed art around them, Keith began sketching on subway walls.
"There were people who thought his pictures were
just scribbles. They said he was making a mess.
Others thought his pictures were gorgeous.
They believed he was making masterpieces."
He painted, he built sculptures, he created art wherever he was. He opened a store in SoHo and sold his art to everyone who visited. He painted in places around the world, and inspired many. He died too young, but left a lasting legacy:
"... - pictures that make people smile and laugh and cry and think,
drawings that buzz and whir and shout and whisper,
paintings that look simple but help us understand
complicated ideas ... "
An author's note tells more about the artist's short life. An illustrator's note explains the work done to properly honor an artistic hero. Finally, there are lists of resources for both kids and adults.
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