Vermont Cartoonist Laureate: The Flowery Ed Koren

Ed Koren is now the State of Vermont's Cartoonist Laureate, an honor he has been awarded for the coming three years. That still leaves forty-nine states with no Cartoonist Laureate, an appalling oversight on their parts. It seems only right that the United States should also consider appointing a national Cartoonist Laureate. Given the spirit of camaraderie that reigns inside the Beltway, it should be easy to select a suitable candidate.

Back in 1992, Mr. Koren created an uplifting, color drawing on New Yorker stationery for political cartoonist Draper Hill (1935-2009), apparently as a get-well note. The drawing was sold by DuMouchelles of Detroit in the year of Hill's death, and now has been sold again by Royal Books of Baltimore.

Edward Koren, Drawing on New Yorker letterhead dated 15 May 1992.
Inscribed "For Draper [Hill]~Please accept these friends to speed
you back to your accustomed self./Ed Koren"

http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/edward-koren-amer.,-1935-,-mixed-media-on-paper,-2455-c-c7eaa81f5e

Edward Koren, Drawing on New Yorker letterhead dated 15 May 1992.
Inscribed "For Draper [Hill]~Please accept these friends to speed
you back to your accustomed self./Ed Koren"

http://www.royalbooks.com/pages/books/131811/ed-koren/original-drawing-by-ed-koren-inscribed-to-cartoonist-draper-hill

Note:  Read my other posts about Vermont Cartoonist Laureate Edward Koren here.

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Vermont Cartoonist Laureate: The Bookish Ed Koren

Today the New Yorker's Edward Koren will be appointed Vermont's second Cartoonist Laureate for a three year term. He succeeds the state's first Cartoonist Laureate James Kochalka. Good move, Vermont.

http://www.cartoonstudies.org/

Reader and contributor David from Manhattan recognized Ed Koren's gifts even before the State of Vermont did. Here he provides Attempted Bloggery with a splendid collection of scans of original drawings made by Mr. Koren in various cartoon books over the years.

We lead off with an unusual 1997 inscription to the family of poet Gregory Orr:

Edward Koren

Country drawing inscribed "Summer 1997/Brookfield/For the Orrs/Risha-Greg-Eliza-Sophie/From the Korens/Curtis-Ben-Ed-Katmandu"

in Quality Time: Parenting, Progeny, and Pets. New York: Villard Books, 1995.

Bookseller Image
Quality Time: Parenting, Progeny, and Pets. New York: Villard Books, 1995. 

Bookseller Image 

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=10680374015&searchurl=amp%2525253bsgnd%3Don%26amp%3Bamp%2525253bx%3D-926%26amp%3Bamp%2525253by%3D- 

Here's an outstanding drawing in "Well, There's Your Problem" (1980):

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Bob Hemminger from Edward Koren" in "Well, There's Your Problem."  New York:  Pantheon, 1980.

Last, we have four wonderful copies of Caution:  Small Ensembles (1983):

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Joy Weiner/From Ed Koren" in Caution:  Small Ensembles.  New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Edward Koren, Drawing of a photographer at the New Yorker.
Inscribed "For Elise/My best/Ed Koren" in Caution:  Small Ensembles.  New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Sabele and Richard Gray were married in 1984. What could bode better for the marriage than this beautiful Koren drawing in a copy of Caution: Small Ensembles (1983)? Unfortunately, findings of the State of New York Division of Tax Appeals regarding personal income taxes for the years 1984 through 1987 and 1992 through 1994 did not go in their favor, and Richard's incarceration (for an unrelated civil contempt charge) was found to be insufficient excuse for his not appearing in tax court, as may be seen here. The couple was divorced in 2003, with a post-judgment stipulation dating to 2005. Litigation regarding Richard's unauthorized exercise of minor children's stock voting rights may be seen here and further Superior Court action regarding child support continued through 2011. The drawing has proved more resilient than the marriage and cannot be faulted for any of this.

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Sabele [Foster]and Richard [E. Gray]/June 1984/Congratulations--/Edward Koren" in Caution:  Small Ensembles. New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Sarah /Avec amitié/Ed" in Caution:  Small Ensembles.  New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Note:  See more posts about Vermont Cartoonist Laureate Edward Koren here.

Other fine examples of signed books with original drawings may be seen here.

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Ed Koren at Bookstock

In the summer of 2012, long-time Attempted Bloggery reader and contributor David from Manhattan made the considerable drive up to Woodstock, Vermont. He went in order to see New Yorker cartoonist Edward Koren give a presentation at Bookstock. Lucky for us, David snapped a photograph of Mr. Koren during his slideshow. Projected on the screen you can make out a classic New Yorker cartoon by James Thurber. I would love to have heard what Mr. Koren had to say about it.

David also had the foresight to bring along two wonderful cartoon collections that are now sadly out of print. He obtained from the artist an original drawing in each of these books. David has graciously agreed to share all this here. I am especially pleased to present it now, during the week that Mr. Koren is to be appointed Vermont's new Cartoonist Laureate.

Edward Koren at Bookstock on July 28, 2012.
Projected on the wall is James Thurber's famous barking seal cartoon.
Photo by David from Manhattan.

Here is the classic Thurber cartoon that Mr. Koren showed during his slideshow presentation:

James Thurber, "All right, have it your way--you heard a seal bark!"
The New Yorker, January 30, 1932, page 11

James Thurber, "All right, have it your way--you heard a seal bark!"
The New Yorker, January 30, 1932, page 11

David was fortunate to be able to obtain two souvenir drawings from the cartoonist:

Edward Koren. A creature holds up a sign saying "For David."
Inscribed "Best--Ed Koren/Woodstock, Vt. 7/28/12"
in Do You Want to Talk About It? (1976)

Edward Koren. Drawing of the drive up to Vermont.
Inscribed "For David/With appreciation/of your drive north/--July 28, 2012 Ed Koren"
in "Well, There's Your Problem" (1980)

Note:  That's not all! Additional posts about Edward Koren may be found on this very blog here.

Other examples of signed books with original drawings may be seen here.

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