No One Looked at New York Like Jason Polan

The artist with his tools. Photo: David La Spina/Esto Jason Polan’s powers of observation, which rose to almost idiot-savant levels, and his hand — so simple, quick, supple, fun, and visually intelligent — made him one of the consummate draftsmen of the 21st century. Thinking back, after hearing of his death on Monday at age 37, I realize I never saw him not drawing.

He was a kind of super-talented American genius. Just as early itinerant photographers set up studios in storefronts or on city streets to take pictures of passersby, Polan offered to make “an hour’s worth of drawings for $125” or posted where he’d be at a certain time if anyone wanted him to draw them. He published a book of drawings made outside the Bleeker Street studio of renowned street photographer Robert Frank.

His line is puckish, wonderful, kooky — akin to Alexander Calder’s — and almost impossible not to at least smile at. Polan’s craft arcs out of the art world and into the real world in the ways Keith Haring’s did. A street artist, Haring raced about, worked big, fast, and bold. He was there and gone. Polan isn’t street; he’s of and on the street, more a lurker, witness, reporter, appreciator of everything. He was a bit of a weirdo, too, like another watcher, Andy Warhol.

I knew Polan a little. Not long after he arrived in New York from Michigan in the early 2000s, he introduced himself to me on the street. He showed me the sketchbook he was carrying . I was instantly smitten. I loved running into him, looking at what he was working on, and giving him the wrong advice about what to do with his drawings — things like “Make them bigger and vary them more and draw the whole front of the Met.

jerrysaltz There's no greater truth than when it is without pause or deliberation. His was swift and well stated. I'm going to treasure his books for years and share his story with others.

jerrysaltz Loss of an incredible creative mind. What a legacy of magic he leaves us with. Thank you for this.

jerrysaltz Please learn to spell Bleecker (not Bleeker) Street. FFS

jerrysaltz Art comes from life and reflects life.

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

One week until Iowa: The state of playWe’re a week out from the Iowa caucuses, and it is anybody’s ballgame right now. Sanders has sat atop most of the recent polls conducted in the state, including two of the three new surveys out over the weekend Victims of extortion will speak out only when they believe there are those who have the ability to stop the extortion will hear him. Ukraine leadership knows Republicans control the Senate, and they are puppets of Trump, so speaking out would be futile and self-destructive.
Source: politico - 🏆 381. / 59 Read more »