Long Island Artist Brings Colorful Word Art to The Croton Free Library

The Ottinger Room of the Croton Free Library came to life with the colorful word art of Long Island artist Cliff Baldwin this weekend with an opening reception being held in the gallery last Saturday afternoon.

“The kids really liked the art,” said Rob Shepperson, curator of the Ottinger Room and referring to a children’s program that took place in the room while the art work was hanging up. “They liked the colors but they couldn’t read the words yet.”

The show called Four Letter Words features a series of digital monoprints comprised of made up words with shapes and colors derived from George Harriman’s Krazy Kat comics. The bright colors and made up words that were easily formed into recognizable words, like WRYD=RIDE and KRUZ=CRUISE, were a lot of fun to look at.

“The Four Letter Word Series tickles, pokes at and points us towards the absurdity inherent in language and color,” said the artist statement that described the show.

“It was very refreshing to walk in here,” said Croton resident Brigid Faranda. “The colors are pretty. It was refreshing.”

“It’s just fun for me,” said artist Cliff Baldwin of his work. “I have a need to see beyond color and text… my head works in a sculptural way… for me it’s like making a car.”

In addition to the monoprints in floating frames adorning the gently curved walls, the show also featured the song BOIG that Baldwin composed to go along with the work.

Besides being a word artist and composer, Mr. Baldwin is also a designer, sculptor and filmmaker and a long time friend of Shepperson.

“It’s usually Croton artists we show,” Shepperson said. “But we [Baldwin] go back a long way. We both went to Kansas City Art Institute together and I have been following his art since.”

Mr. Baldwin’s work has been exhibited around the world in cities such as Tokyo, Berlin, Los Angeles and New York and he has work in museums such as The Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of The Art Institute of Chicago and The National Gallery of Canada.

The Ottinger Room puts on six shows a year with shows rotating every two months. Artists interested in having a show should contact Shepperson at the library.

“He [Shepperson] asked me months ago if I wanted to do a show,” said Baldwin. “The work is designed for this space.”

The work will be on display now through the end of August and the monoprints are for sale. They cost $350 each, come framed and are one of a kind. If you are interested in purchasing one of the works please contact the artist at cliff@pleasewatch.com.