#SaraBermansCloset

[sliceannarbor]

Maira Kalman

Illustrator/Author/Designer New York, New York mairakalman.com

Photo: Rick Meyerowitz

SPECIAL GUEST SERIES

Maira Kalman is a Manhattan based illustrator, author, and designer best known for her New Yorker covers and narrative drawings for The New York Times. She has also written and illustrated 28 children's and adult books. Kalman’s most recent titles include: Swami on Rye: Max in India (2018), Cake (written by Barbara Scott-Goodman, 2018), Beloved Dog (2015), Thomas Jefferson : Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything (2014), My Favorite Things (2014), Food Rules: An Eater's Manual (written by Michael Pollan, 2011), The Principles of Uncertainty (2009), and The Illustrated Elements of Style, 2008 (written by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White). She published her first children's book Stay Up Late in 1985 to illustrate the lyrics of musician David Byrne. 

In 2017, Kalman collaborated with her son, Alex Kalman, to create Sara Berman's Closet, an exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City showcasing her mother's [Sara Berman] life from 1982-2004 when she lived in a small apartment in Greenwich Village. 

That same year, Kalman was awarded the AIGA Medal for her work in "storytelling, illustration, and design while pushing the limits of all three.” She has collaborated with Isaac Mizrahi, Kate Spade, and Michael Maharam to design fabrics and accessories, created ballet sets and costumes for the Mark Morris Dance Company and mannequins for Ralph Pucci. Kalman is the recipient of numerous honors from the Art Directors Club, The Society of Publication Designers, and The American Institute for Graphic Arts. In June 2019, Atlanta's High Museum hosted an exhibition exploring her work in The Pursuit of Everything: Maira Kalman's Books for Children. Kalman’s work has also appeared in books published by the Museum of Modern Art and Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. She is represented by the Julie Saul Gallery in New York City. 

When Kalman is not working, you can find her walking around. She resides in Manhattan in a sun-filled apartment with miles of bookshelves.

FAVORITES

Book:  In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

Most valued possession:  Books

Motto: Sorry, the rest is unknown.

Destination: A garden anywhere in the world.

THE QUERY

Where were you born?

I was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York with my family at the age of four. I was raised in Riverdale, the Bronx.

What were some of the passions and pastimes of your early years?

The usual pursuits. Ballet lessons. Piano lessons. Bike riding. Reading. Reading. Reading.

How did you find your style in writing and illustrating children's books?

My style has always been compatible with a child. And my mind as well. There is a whimsy and freedom. An ability to be stupid and smart. And writing for children forces a rigorous editing process. The audience is open minded and the book does not go on too long.

What intrigues you most about the art of illustration/narrative drawing?

It's a good way to tell a story, if you need to tell a story. What compels one to do that is a mystery to me.

How did the concept for Sara Berman's Closet [both exhibition and book] take shape?

We adored my mother. An irreverent, loving woman with a great sense of humor (see her map of the United States). She only wore white. And her closet was a study in perfection. Ironed. Folded. Lined up. When she died, I stood in her closet and thought it should be a museum exhibit. My son, Alex Kalman, fortunately runs a small museum in a defunct elevator shaft in lower Manhattan. It is called MMUSEUMM. We installed the pristine closet there on a grungy alleyway. And then it went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What has been most gratifying about that endeavor?

To know that an idea can be realized in a meaningful way. Not every idea can be real. But this felt so true that it had to be. It may take longer than you imagine. But it can happen.

What led to your collaboration with author Michael Pollan to create illustrations for Food Rules: An Eater's Manual?

Michael and I are friends and we share an editor. His wife thought it would be a nice idea that I illustrated the book. We all agreed, and we are happy we did.

In what ways has your style of storytelling and illustration evolved since entering the profession?

I am a better painter now after all these years. But I am not so sure that is an asset. I speak basically the same way to adults and children. I try to say less. I am as uncertain as I am certain.

What surprised you most about the charge of creating cover illustrations for The New Yorker?

It is thrilling to be asked. And the reach is immense. There is a magical place in the world for these covers. It's good to be part of the history of it all. What you discover is that there is no rule or formula. Each idea is unique. Many ideas do not make it. And there is no way to predict what works and what does not.

Is there a book or project along the way that has presented an important learning curve?

And the Pursuit of Happiness was a great learning experience. When The New York Times sent me on this assignment to write and paint about American democracy and history every month for a year, it was something I had no interest in at all. But it was fascinating and filled me with a greater respect for and interest in history. And I am now definitely more compassionate in general.

What three things can't you live without?

Family. Books. Music.

From where do you draw inspiration these days?

Absolutely everywhere and everything. Walking. Looking at people, dogs, buildings, trees. Music. Film. Reading. Travel. The obits.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life, and why?

My mother, my late husband, and my children. They are the source of meaning and love. And they were and are great fun.

How would you define a life well-lived?

To have work that you love and people that you love.

What one person, dead or living, would you like to have dinner with?

Abraham Lincoln

What's right with the world?

There will always be horrific things happening in the world. That is nothing new. The point is to focus on meaningful things in your life and to do the best you can. Momentous events happen in tiny moments during the day.

What do you consider your greatest life lesson?

There is no one state of being. No destination to a permanent human mood. You can't always be happy. There is happiness and sadness and they inhabit the same space and continue to vie for attention.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a person who had a keen sense of the absurd and sorrow, but kept on going. That is a heroic state in my opinion.

[drownmeinbeauty]

DRESS WHITES

An installation at The Met recreates a closet from the Greenwich Village studio apartment of Sara Berman.  Berman was born in 1920 in Belarus, emigrated to Palestine in 1940, and then to New York in 1953.  From 1982 until her death in 2004, she stored her her all-white wardrobe, as well as other loose possessions, in a single walk-in closet, on two hangbars and six rows of narrow wood shelves.  Her wardrobe consisted of: ten or so pairs of trousers, twenty or so shirts, ten or so sweaters, stacks of folded socks and underclothes, two wool scarves, two wool caps, one pair of gloves, a cotton bathrobe, three plastic wristwatches and, on the floor, seven pairs of flats with their toes pointed outwards.  The housewares stored inside include: linens, towels, an iron, a globe, a white wood serving tray, a steel casserole, a set of painted ceramic mugs, a small stack of letters, and about a dozen books.

All these things are fine and lovingly cared for, but they are not luxurious, and they are not sentimental.  They are remarkable instead because Berman selected and displayed them with such care.  Stacks of tshirts and underpants are folded precisely, as if for sale, each pile sitting an inch away from the next.  Shirts are ironed and buttoned, facing front, with an inch left between each hanger.  The things contained in this closet, shockingly few in number for a contemporary American, are all of what Sara Berman needs.

Berman’s closet isn’t monastic; it offers its own kind of opulence.  With the pieces inside it’s possible to craft a great number of ensembles, spanning seasons and occasions.  Her closet might be as rich in fashion possibilities as Nan Kempner’s famously overstuffed ones.  A small photograph of her on the gallery wall shows her in white coat, shirt and trousers, with a mens striped necktie, looking naturally, elegantly and eccentrically chic.  This closet, filled with her personal effects, could have been understood as a memorial.  Instead it speaks, strongly, to her love for herself and her love for her life.

Photograph © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

[andfreedomfor-blog]

A little Fall 2017 NYC Art Guide...

Here is my action plan for the Fall.  Hope it sparks a couple of ideas for your weekends.

Aquavella

Jacob El Hanani, October 2 - November 17 El Hanani has spent his life drawing meticulous, but formless works.  He stresses the importance of time, noting in an interview that the average viewer spends 3 seconds in front of a piece, a reminder that there is much to see in abstract drawings.  

David Zwirner

Richard Serra, November 4 - December 18  I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t like Richard Serra’s monumental sculptures.  Definitely looking forward to this.

Guggenheim

Mystical Symbolism: The Salon de la Rose+Croix in Paris, 1892 - 1897, through October 4 Probably the strangest exhibit on the lineup.  In this age of automated everything, a belief in the uncontrollable forces of the occult is fascinating.  

June Kelly

Sky Pape, September 7 - October 10 Full disclosure, Sky Pape was the subject of an AndFreedomFor interview, but that only serves to prove my admiration for her fastidious works.  

Metropolitan Museum

Sara Berman’s Closet, through November 26 The way women dress is a topic too laden with cultural significance to go into here.  Nevertheless, clothing remains a key and deeply personal form of self-expression.  In this exhibit, the Met presents the passion of a woman who saw her closet as an object of art in and of itself.  

Taking Pictures: Camera Phone Conversations Between Artists, through December 17 As the art world struggles to redefine itself in a time where images are produced and reproduced at frequencies previously unseen, this show experiments with a new but fundamental medium - camera phones.  Equipped with the same technology as you and I, do artists view the world so differently?

Met Breuer

Modernism on the Ganges: Raghubir Singh Photographs, October 11 - January 2, 2018 Raghubir Singh’s photographs of India portray the hustle bustle we’ve all come to associate with the country, but also the quiet meditative moments staring out your car window, emptiness.  

MOMA

Louise Bourgeois: An Unfolding Portrait, September 24 - January 28, 2018 I sometimes think that the creative process, the subject of this exhibition, is as interesting as the work it creates.  Where did Louise Bourgeois’ ideas come from?  How did she settle on a medium?  What did her first attempts look like?  The MOMA is in a great position to explore these questions, being the holder of one of the best collections of Bourgeois’ work anywhere.  

Pierogi

David Scher, October 14 - November 19 I’m looking forward to seeing David Scher’s art in person.  His works on paper resemble modern Hieronymus Bosch ink drawings, full of small and frightening details.

Whitney Museum

Helio Oticica: To Organize Delirium, through October 1 This retrospective of Helio Oiticica’s work includes photos, paintings and even walk-in installations, spanning the 70s and 80s when the artist lived in New York.  Closely tied to the music of the culture from which he came, the Whitney has created an accompanying playlist of Tropicalia.  Thumbs up.

[colina99]

Visit with #Mom to the smart, witty, charming, and wonderful exhibit #SaraBermansCloset by @mairakalman and #AlexKalman at @americanjewishmuseum in #Philadelphia. (at National Museum of American Jewish History) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxVPDMPnwcQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10q3u2p11fjow

[kellykilmer]

There are certain people I get squishy around. The words leave my mouth and I have no idea who is saying them or why. I just sound like a deranged fangirl cheerleader whose heart is bursting out of her chest. There are certain people who do that to me and Maira is one of them. Tonight was the second time I spoke with one of my favorite humans @mairakalman. The first time was her first exhibit at the @skirball_la in 2009. Go. Go see #SaraBermansCloset Read the book. I hope to see more Maira and Alex collaborations. Thank you, #MairaKalman #AlexKalman #skirball (at Skirball Cultural Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtAlbvBHeDO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11v21xpl6stiq

[sah-rah]

Day 5: A red pom for my closet. Just like #sarabermanscloset for the @mairakalman exhibit at the Met. Thanks for your post and mention to check out the NYT article @randibrookmanharris #myyearofpompoms

[joanaavillez]

#sarabermanscloset (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

[mollydonohueuniverse]

[eyesearsviewsnyc]

Delightful installation in the #AmericanWing #themet #saraberman #sarabermanscloset (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

[landofthebrits]

Repost from @joanaavillez of our exhibit #sarabermanscloset 👟👞👝👜👓🕶 (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

[kellykilmer]

Last night I stayed up late devouring the words and images from the collaborative project called #SaraBermansCloset by @mairakalman and her son, Alex. I thought I would share some of my favorite pages. I am very excited about seeing the exhibit and both Maira and Alex tomorrow night at the @skirball_la #MairaKalman #AlexKalman #dailycreativegem #artinspiration #creativity #artbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs8-brnDDfi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zci80ikaap4e

[landofthebrits]

"There is nothing of value in the closet, if you reckon value in material terms. But Berman’s greatest luxury was her belated freedom." -The New Yorker #sarabermanscloset (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

[landofthebrits]

The essence of someone through their belongings #SaraBermansCloset (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

[joanaavillez]

Go see Sara Berman's Closet @mmuseumm it will knock your sock off #sarabermanscloset