The Pember Library and Museum is proud to host Vermont artist Robert Birbeck for its February First Friday and month long collaborative exhibit at the Library. Opening on Friday, February 5 at 7 pm, the solo show will display hand drawn pencil portraits of all 75 authors on the Modern Library 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century List, along with their corresponding works. (Of the 100 novels, there are only 75 authors, since several writers have more than one book on the list).
All 75 author sketches will be on display at First Friday, then the display will rotate 24 portraits per week for the duration of the month of February. Circulating copies of novels will be available at the Pember for everyone to catch up on the list.
Known primarily as a painter and sculptor, Bob has exhibited at major New York shows and has received numerous awards for his sculpture. The author drawing series came to him as the result of a dry spell in which he struggled for new sculpting designs.
“I felt I was repeating myself,” said Birbeck, “and I decided to take a break, and began reading. I had come across Modern Library’s list of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th century, and decided to start reading from that list. After finishing several of the books, I began doing pencil sketches of the authors, which turned out to be the start of this series of portraits. What began as a rest period from creating new sculpture, became a wonderful, new experience in itself.”
Bob will be present at First Friday to answer any questions.
Musician Stephen Havel will be performing.
Food and refreshments will be available.
First Friday is February 5th, from 7 – 9 pm.