Photos © The Al Hirschfeld Foundation. All rights reserved.
Hirschfeld on the Upper West Side: An Evening with David Leopold of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation
LIVE Event! Wednesday, April 23rd 6:00-7:30pm
Church of St. Matthew and St. Timothy
26 West 84th Street
Landmark West is honored to have David Leopold, creative director of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation and highly esteemed archivist, curator, and author, for an evening celebrating the history and creativity of one of the greatest caricaturists of the 20th century—Al Hirschfeld.
Hirschfeld’s work is instantly recognizable. Over the course of his remarkable 82-year career, he captured thousands of Broadway and Hollywood greats in his signature calligraphic style.
Few are as familiar with the work and whimsy of Hirschfeld as David Leopold. Leopold has spent more than 30 years studying the artist’s joyful drawings, serving as Hirschfeld’s archivist and visiting him in his studio at least once a week for the first 13 of those years. (Although Leopold admits he had already been counting Ninas for years.)
For this exclusive event honoring Landmark West’s 40th anniversary, Leopold assembles a magical multi-media presentation of Hirschfeld pieces related to the Upper West Side. We'll hear Hirschfeld’s story through the people, places and productions related to the West Side—from Hell's Kitchen all the way up to Morningside Heights.
Some will be drawings that we’ve never seen before, others are beloved favorites. With Leopold as our generous guide, there will be backstories and personal tales of Hirschfeld’s life, art, and friendships with his many famous subjects, from Ellington to Sondheim, Robbins and Rivera. There will even be time to ask questions and share memories of favorite Hirschfeld works.
Please join us for this intimate live evening with David Leopold and follow the line of the legendary pen of Al Hirschfeld across the Upper West Side.
Following the presentation, the Al Hirschfeld Foundation and LW! will present a gallery of Hirschfeld artwork for sale to benefit LW!
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About Al Hirschfeld
Al Hirschfeld's drawings stand as one of the most innovative efforts in establishing the visual language of modern art through caricature in the 20th century. A self-described “characterist,” his signature work, defined by a linear calligraphic style, appeared in virtually every major publication of the last nine decades (including a 75-year relationship with The New York Times) as well as numerous book and record covers and 15 postage stamps. Hirschfeld said his contribution was to take the character, created by the playwright and portrayed by the actor, and reinvent it for the reader. He was declared a Living Landmark by the New York City Landmarks Commission in 1996, and a Living Legend by The Library of Congress in 2000. Just before his death in January 2003, he learned he was to be awarded the Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts and inducted into the Academy of Arts and Letters. The winner of two Tony Awards, he was given the ultimate Broadway accolade on what would have been his 100th birthday in June 2003. The Martin Beck Theater was renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theater.
About David Leopold
David Leopold is the Creative Director for the nonprofit Al Hirschfeld Foundation. He is the author of several books, including The Hirschfeld Century: A Portrait of the Artist and His Age (Knopf), called by The Washington Post, “An instant classic,” and, due in September, Hirschfeld’s Sondheim (Harry Abrams Comic Arts). For more than 25 years, Leopold was also the Picture Editor of the award-winning literary magazine, The Lincoln Center Theater Review. In September 2016, Leopold received the Joseph and Joan Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity from Lincoln Center. His articles have appeared in various publications including The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune. He served as consultant on the PBS series "Broadway: The American Musical" and the Oscar nominated documentary, "The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story." Leopold is the creative force behind Hirschfeld exhibitions at the Library of Congress, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, The New York Historical and The Museum of Broadway, among others. He has earned rave reviews from audiences around the country for his illustrated presentations on the work of Hirschfeld.
