Lady Liberty gets to gives her feet a rest in Zaq Landsberg'ssculpture Reclining Liberty (2021). She has previously been installed in Morningside Park (2021-2022), Liberty State Park (2022-2023), and the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington (2023-2024). Now she is in Staten Island occupying The Circle at Corporate Commons 3, where she is a part of the Nicotra Collection. Here she lies in the sunlight at the end of summer.
Just published on April 9, Taking Liberties is cartoonist Felipe Galindo's—or Feggo's—set of variations on the subject of the Statue of Liberty. The book, almost entirely in color, is, in part, a series of clever riffs on Lady Liberty using elements of Galindo's Mexican-American heritage. It is also, in part, a sober critique of the Trump administration's divisive politics on immigration still fresh in our memory. I asked Feggo to personalize my copy and he graciously complied.
It is signed, as he took the time to indicate, in the month of publication. The book, as you can see, is published in a bilingual edition, especially appropriate for this title. Feggo participated in an Artist Talk about the project last month that is now viewable on YouTube:
"Taking Liberties"
Virtual Parlor Chat
Artist Talk with Felipe Galindo, "Feggo"
The Morris-Jumel Mansion
Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Thursday, April 22, 2021
(Begins at 1:45)
While stopping by Feggo's website, I was unable to resist also picking up a copy of George Washington: Back in New York City which I missed back in 2019.
The back cover has a caricature of Feggo by the late Robert Grossman:
The biggest surprise is that Feggo has a cat book! Who knew?
Feggo trio
How Ancient Art Influenced Modern Art
Lesson by Felipe Galindo
TED Ed
Note:I ordered Feggo's books directly from felipegalindo.com (or feggo.com—take your pick) and so can you. The books are also available through Amazon.
The Boeing 314 Clipper was a large flying boat airliner in service for luxury transoceanic passenger flight between 1939 and 1948. Nine of the twelve Clippers produced went into service for Pan Am. The Yankee Clipper flew between Port Washington on Long Island and Southampton. The flyover of the Statue of Liberty shown on a vintage postcard would seem to be staged for publicity. The photograph looks doctored, which is perhaps why the back of the postcard has to state that it's an "actual photograph," although this may have been a common affirmation at the time.
Statue of Liberty eBay Listing Ended January 7, 2019
The title of Saul Steinberg's 1965 composition "The Chrysler Building" doesn't begin to hint at the imaginative transformation that art deco landmark has undergone. Even more remarkable is the appearance of the Statue of Liberty, here draped in the French Tricolor and wearing an American Indian headdress. A rainbow and the pyramid from the back of the dollar bill balance out this image. The art has appeared in publications of the Galerie Maeght, Paris. It will be sold by sothebys.com on September 28 with an estimate of $20,000-$30,000. Bidding starts at $14,000, but the reserve is apparently higher.
Saul Steinberg The Chrysler Building, 1965
Saul Steinberg The Chrysler Building, 1965
Saul Steinberg Sothebys.com Listing Accessed September 20, 2018
Cartoonist Mischa Richter included Lady Liberty—usually accompanied by her partner Uncle Sam—as a recurring character in many of his New Yorker cartoons. Back in a 1977 cartoon, he showed her sporting side. Now, as the U.S. Open gets under way in Forest Hills, it seems a good time to revisit the original art, which was just sold on eBay.
Mischa Richter Original art The New Yorker, August 8, 1977, page 28
The item is marred by cracked glass in the corner of the frame.
Note:Attempted Bloggery seeks scans and photographs of original cartoon art by Mischa Richter and other New Yorker artists. If you are in possession of such artwork, the ball is in your court.
Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam frequently appeared together in Mischa Richter's cartoons for the New Yorker. Two original gag cartoons with these characters were sold in January by Swann Auction Galleries, which chose to photograph only one of them, twice.
Mischa Richter, "Not apple pie again!" Original art. The New Yorker, May 25, 1992, page 39
Mischa Richter, "Not apple pie again!" Original art. The New Yorker, May 25, 1992, page 39
Swann Galleries, January 22, 2015 Sale 2372, Lot 202 Hammer Price $275
Mischa Richter, "Not apple pie again!" The New Yorker, May 25, 1992, page 39
Mischa Richter, "Not apple pie again!" The New Yorker, May 25, 1992, page 39
The original artwork for the second drawing was not included in the catalogue:
Mischa Richter,The New Yorker, August 24, 1992, page 21
Mischa Richter,The New Yorker, August 24, 1992, page 21
Note: Did you know that I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy? Attempted Bloggery's most patriotic posts make great reading for Independence Day. Call it macaroni.
Mischa Richter was born in Russia, but who wouldn't still call him a great American?
Did you see what happened here? Swann Galleries sold two original drawings, and photographed only one of them. That means this blog now has a deficit of one original drawing. The good news is that you, Kindly Reader, can balance the budget and eliminate this unseemly deficit by submitting a scan of just one original New Yorker drawing for publication here. Help make this blog whole again. If only politicians could solve their budget problems this easily!
