ROBERT CRUMB, arrives with his wife, ALINE KOMINSKY CRUMB, also a well known comic book artist.
'The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis' opening reception,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the reception was also a book signing for the hard cover illustrated book - for which these 207 drawings on display were produced. Mr. Crumb literally signed copies of the book, collector's items, and even the show's cards - from the moment he set foot in the gallery, till he (really) couldn't hold another book - 90 mins later. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

R. CRUMB graciously signed all items proffered by his many fans. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the show runs thru APRIL 24, 2010

R. CRUMB signing his book - 'The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis'. DAVID ZWIRNER, March 4, 2010

the book, published by W.W. Norton in Oct 2009, was 5 years in the making.
R. CRUMB'S BOOk OF GENESIS.
DAVID ZWIRNER, March 4, 2010

he also seemed to very much enjoy meeting his fans !! R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the book was quite hefty !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOk OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER, March 4, 2010

R. CRUMB, born in Philadelphia in 1943, began drawing comics as a young boy.
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER, March 4, 2010

you can watch a great clip from - 'CRUMB' - that super super documentary on R. Crumb, directed by TERRY ZWIGOFF, that won the Grand Jury Award at SUNDANCE 1995: here !!/MADMAN SCREENING ROOM

according to WIKIPEDIA .. "in 2008 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY hailed 'CRUMB' as the 14th best !! film of the past 25 yrs." - amen.

ALINE KOMINSKY CRUMB lives with R. CRUMB in the south of France. apart from being a long time collaborator with R. Crumb on several projects, such as 'Dirty Laundry', she is a great comic artist, in her own right - and pretty much just as in-your-face all-out-frontal !! (and I think their daughter, Sophie is too.) ... she is very funny, and very forthright, too. She was raised on Long Island. there is a fascinating, and very revealing article on her, esp since it is written by ILANA ARAZIE, her cousin once removed, read it here !! nothing like family to pin down the truth. someone at the opening told me they have been married for close to 39 yrs., but it's not quite a conventional marriage - as Aline says: "I've been with Robert since I was 23, so if we hadn't had an open relationship ... " !!

you can catch some of ALINE KOMINSKY CRUMB'S 2007 'NEED MORE LOVE' exhibit at ADAM BAUMGOLD GALLERY, here, 2007-04-05 !!

and then you can check her out on WIKIPEDIA !!

what can we say, R. CRUMB has mellowed !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER, March 4, 2010

DAVID ZWIRNER at the opening of R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY,
March 4, 2010

MR. ZWIRNER informed us, upon inquiry - that the drawings in the show - would not be available individually, that the gallery & artist wanted the exhibit to be sold as a whole or complete series - as one major piece ... guess that made sense.

THE BOOK Of GENESIS, Illustrated by R. Crumb. ($25) R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

looked to be a fascinating way to make it through the great book . . . even for children, though I didn't see every single page. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

all 50 chapters !! 'The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

well, even the text & hand written graphics - were fun !! R. CRUMB'S BOOk OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

of course, a big part of the impact of the exhibit: in counterpoint to the lively comics and rowdy spirit - ZWIRNER put the drawings up on display in the most beautiful & graceful way - the show probably rates as one of the best gallery or museum installations of the year. no doubt about it. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS. DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010.

yeah, you should definite go see it !!

the 207 framed drawings were arrayed in rows. it was a perfect marriage of work & space. note the evening's blue light coming in from the skylights over head !! R CRUMB"S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

being contarian, we began - at the END !! R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

. . . "and Joseph died, 110 years old." R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2020

. . . "and Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am about to die and God will surely single you out.'" R.CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the start was - very abstract !! R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER, March 4, 2010

actually quite starkly graphic & even, mesmerizing. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

. . . "and God said, 'let there be light'" !! wow. R. CRUMB'S BOOk OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

. . . "let there be a vault in the midst of the waters'. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

. . . "let the waters under the heavens be gathered in one place so that the dry land will appear." R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

STEVE KASHER, of STEVEN KASHER GALLERY. he pointed out the liberal use R. CRUMB made of - white-out !! R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the lettering was just as cool as the drawing - R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

ADAM, meet EVE - R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

detail, R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

source materials with brief notes, were exhibited on a few display tables. R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the note says: "The spirited drawings in 'The Picture Bible' (1998), such as these pages from the story of Noah were especially important in Crumb's research and the development of his scenes and characters. He referred to this book for its illustrations of camels, women's veils, soldier's garb, battle scenes, a king on a throne in a palace, sheep, and a 'dark shadow effect'".
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

this book cover, especially - also seems to have been evidently very influential.
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

actually this wasn't the first time we had seen Bible illustrations, and use made of vintage Bible story books - this display case brought back to mind the recent Mormon tableaux and collages of CASEY JEX SMITH at LaVIOLA BANK GALLERY, (now ALLEGRA LaVIOLA GALLERY).

bumped into ENGER BROS pal - RICK RODINE at the opening.
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

he had brought along vintage mint condition copies of two R. CRUMB illustrated books, he had bought in the 80's - hoping to have Mr. Crumb sign them !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

one was an early CHARLES BUKOWSKI story - 'BRING ME YOUR LOVE', R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS<
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

here's RICK RODINE waiting patiently to see if R. CRUMB would sign them . . . R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, March 4, 2010

yes, he did !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the signature . . . R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

RICK RODINE with his signed trophy !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

FILE UNDER: it's a small world !!
RICK RODINE introduces us to his NYC-based friend, NINA KATAN and her daughter LOLA.
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

NINA KATAN. turns out NINA KATAN'S dad, ROGER KATAN, is a famous French architect, who lives close-by to the CRUMBS, and was not only a model for some of the characters, but provided a lot of feedback and inspiration for the detailed Biblical era drawings. Nina Katan is an artist herself.
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

ROGER KATAN was the model for ISAAC !!
R.CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS, DAVID ZWIRNER, March 4, 2010

ROGER KATAN is credited for his help in the introduction. Nina told us her dad, was not an urban architect, but a 'preservationist' architect - who specialized in helping under-developed communities retain their heritage. he therefore was helpful in things like how Biblical tents, and 'cities' would look like. apparently telling R. Crumb his first tent drawings - looked straight out of the window of a modern camping gear store !!
R CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

ROGER KATAN was also the model for JACOB.
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

my absolute fave page !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the map was cool, too.
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

THE WORLD OF ABRAHAM, CIRCA 2000-1600 B.C. !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the world of 2010 A.D. !! - NYC style !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010

the audience that turned out for R. CRUMB - was overwhelming - new generation !!
R. CRUMB'S BOOK OF GENESIS,
DAVID ZWIRNER,
March 4, 2010