Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring
by Matthew Burgess (Author) Josh Cochran (Illustrator)
"Burgess describes Haring discovering Robert Henri's The Art Spirit in college ("He felt as if the book was speaking directly to him"), encountering the large paintings of Pierre Alechinsky (he was "blown away"), and recognizing a common impulse in dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage ("For Keith, drawing and painting were like dancing. He called it 'mind-to-hand flow'"). Cochran uses a thick black line to suggest Haring's creations, and renders figures in a Haring-esque style without seeming gimmicky. Of interest to young readers are Haring's frequent efforts to involve children in mural-making projects. The story, including a respectful acknowledgement of Haring's death from AIDS, makes the subject seem immediate and real--and presents a compelling vision of answering the call to create." --Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
I would love to be a teacher because I love children and I think that not enough people respect children or understand how important they are. I have done many projects with children of all ages. --Keith Haring
Truly devoted to the idea of public art, Haring created murals wherever he went.
From Matthew Burgess, the much-acclaimed author of Enormous Smallness, comes Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring. Often seen drawing in white chalk on the matte black paper of unused advertising space in the subway, Haring's iconic pop art and graffiti-like style transformed the New York City underground in the 1980s. A member of the LGBTQ community, Haring died tragically at the age of thirty-one from AIDS-related complications. Illustrated in paint by Josh Cochran, himself a specialist in bright, dense, conceptual drawings, this honest, celebratory book honors Haring's life and art, along with his very special connection with kids.
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Publishers Weekly
In this picture book biography about artist and muralist Haring, Burgess and Cochran relate their subject's path to focusing his inexorable drive. Via straightforward language, Burgess describes Haring discovering Robert Henri's The Art Spirit in college ("He felt as if the book was speaking directly to him"), encountering the large paintings of Pierre Alechinsky (he was "blown away"), and recognizing a common impulse in dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage ("For Keith, drawing and painting were like dancing. He called it 'mind-to-hand flow'"). Cochran uses a thick black line to suggest Haring's creations, and renders figures in a Haring-esque style without seeming gimmicky. Of interest to young readers are Haring's frequent efforts to involve children in mural-making projects. The story, including a respectful acknowledgement of Haring's death from AIDS, makes the subject seem immediate and real--and presents a compelling vision of answering the call to create. Ages 6-14. (May)
Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
Gr 2-6—This big, beautiful biography of Keith Haring includes illustrations that encapsulate the iconic American artist's work and life. Each page contains a few sentences, but all pages feature full-color artwork that mimics Haring's well-known murals. Cochran's visuals effectively capture the sense of movement and fluidity of Haring's work. The story begins with Haring's childhood and covers the origins of his interest in drawing. Burgess describes the struggle of being an artist in New York City in the 1980s and the city's art scene. The book concludes with a biographical note, an author's note, an illustrator's note, and sources for the quotations that were used. VERDICT This bright literary work is packed with well-researched and well-written biographical notes on Haring's short life and the impact he made on the art world and public art. An ideal choice for primary school through high school libraries, especially ones geographically represented in the story (New York, Pennsylvania).—Samantha Hull, Ephrata H.S., PA
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Matthew Burgess is a full-time professor at Brooklyn College and a part-time teaching artist in New York City public schools. He was fascinated by the lives of saints as a child, and now he loves sharing the stories of his artistic heroes with young readers. Matthew is the author of Enormous Smallness: A Story of E. E. Cummings, Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring, and Make Meatballs Sing: The Life & Art of Corita Kent. He lives with his husband in Brooklyn and Berlin.
Josh Cochran grew up in Taiwan and California. Based in Brooklyn, NY, he works as an artist and illustrator, often painting murals. In 2013, his work on Ben Kweller's Go Fly A Kite received a Grammy nomination for Best Limited Edition Packaging. He has a number of side projects, and sometimes exhibits his work in galleries. This marks his picture book debut.
JNF006050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Art | Painting
JNF053080 - Juvenile Nonfiction | LGBT
Artists
Haring, Keith
Artsits
