The Gould Center and the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum will present "Drawn from the Heart," an exhibition of artwork from world-renowned artist, poet, and songwriter Leonard Cohen's private collection. The show opens Feb. 9 in the Athenaeum's Security Pacific dining room.
Leonard Cohen is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of our time. In addition to his internationally recognized music and poetry, his artwork is taking center stage through the production of Book of Longing, a concert work by world-renowned Philip Glass based on the poetry and artwork of Cohen's recently published book of the same name. Many of the poems and drawings in Book of Longing were created while Cohen was in residence as a monk at the Zen monastery on Mt. Baldy.
(Performances of Book of Longing are scheduled from Feb. 25-March 1, 2009, at Garrison Theater, Scripps Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.)
Spanning over 40 years, the exhibit highlights selected art from the drawings and journals of Cohen and reflects his life-long love of drawing. All images are produced with permanent pigmented ink on 300 lb. Arches watercolor paper, finished with a hand-deckled edge. For each print, Cohen has signed, titled, numbered and dated, and embossed and stamped with his official seal. More than 50 pieces of artwork will be featured.
In anticipation of the Cohen exhibit, Athenaeum director Bonnie Snortum says previously hung paintings in the Athenaeum's main dining room have been removed and walls have been freshly painted or had scars from past displays repaired.
Cohen is a Canadian born poet, novelist, and song-writer. In addition to his music, Cohen's collections of poetry, including Let Us Compare Mythologies (1956), and Flowers for Hitler (1964), and his novels, including Beautiful Losers (1966), have brought him international recognition. His dual interests in music and literature have produced notable works, including the albums Various Positions (1984), I'm Your Man (1988), The Future (1992), Dear Heather (2004), and Blue Alert (2006). His songs, including "Suzanne," Hallelujah," and "Bird on a Wire," have been covered by hundreds of artists including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and k.d. lang. In recognition of his remarkable work, Cohen was inducted into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also is a Companion of the Order of Canada, that nation's highest civilian honor. In March 2008, Cohen was inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The exhibition is open to the public and can be viewed from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday at the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, 385 E. Eighth Street, Claremont, Calif. The Athenaeum may be closed to the public on holidays and for scheduled events.
For more information about viewing times, call 909-621-8244.
The exhibition is sponsored by The Family of Benjamin Z. Gould Center for Humanistic Studies and the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College.
For more information about the Book of Longing performances, please visit www.claremontmckenna.edu/gould.