Vermont Business MagazineIn his newest collection,In the Wild,recently released by Button Street Press, the acclaimed New Yorker cartoonist illustrates country life, exurbanites and the ironies of living in the boonies. His cartoons have Vermonters looking at city folk, and city folk looking at Vermonters. Koren’s humor, his humanoid,fuzzy, puzzled and brave creatureswill delight the reader, country dweller ornot. In this latest collection of cartoons on country life, drawn from his porch in Vermont, nothing is sacred: vegetarians, parenting, animals, gourmands, country stores…all are examined with the unique perspective and creativity of this brilliant observer (and artist) of “the wild.”
Edward Koren has long been associated withThe New Yorkermagazine, where he has published over 1100 cartoons, as well as numerous covers and illustrations. He has also contributed to many other publications, written and illustrated several books for children, and illustrated many more in various genres.
Koren has deep roots in both New York City and Vermont, where he lives with his family and has been a member of the Brookfield Vermont Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years. He received The Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, and served a three-year term as Vermont’s second Cartoonist Laureate (Vermont is the only state in the nation with a Cartoonist Laureate).
Friends Ben Cohen (co-founder of Ben and Jerry's) and writer Howard Norman contributed introductory pieces to the book, providing great behind-the scenes insights.
New York and Vermont intertwine in Koren’s life and work, where he gleefully practices his exquisite talent for noticing. As he writes in his Artist Notes about his exhibition at Columbia University: “I can never quite believe my luck in stumbling upon riveting mini-dramas taking place within earshot (and eyeshot), a comedy of manners that seems inexhaustible. All kinds of wonderful moments of comedy happen right under my nose.”
Koren will make author appearances in November to launch his new book. Upcoming appearances includeBear Pond Books in Montpelier, VT on Nov 23, Noon (book signing only); the Norman Williams Public Library (with The Yankee Bookshop) in Woodstock, VT on Nov 27, 6pm; and the Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT on Nov 30, 7pm.
BIOGRAPHY
Edward Koren has long been associated with the The New Yorker magazine, where he has published over 1100 cartoons, as well as numerous covers and illustrations. He has also contributed to many other publications, written and illustrated several books for children, and illustrated many more in various genres.
Born in New York City, Koren attended the Horace Mann School and Columbia University. He did graduate work in etching and engraving with S.W. Hayter at Atelier 17 in Paris, and received an M.F.A. degree from Pratt Institute. He was on the faculty of Brown University for many years.Koren’s cartoons, drawing and prints have been widely exhibited in shows across the United States as well as in France, England and Czechoslovakia. A major retrospective of his work was shown at Columbia University’s Wallach Gallery in 2010, and at the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum in the summer of 2011.
Koren has deep roots in both New York City and Vermont, where he lives with his family and has been a member of the Brookfield VT Volunteer Fire Dept for 30 years. In 2007 he received The Vermont Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, and served a three-year term as Vermont’s second Cartoonist Laureate (Vermont is the only state in the nation with a Cartoonist Laureate.)
New York and Vermont intertwine in Ed’s life and work, where he gleefully practices his exquisite talent for noticing. As he writes in his Artist Notes about his exhibition at Columbia University: “What captures my attention is all the human theater around me. I can never quite believe my luck in stumbling upon riveting mini-dramas taking place within earshot (and eyeshot), a comedy of manners that seems inexhaustible. And to be always undercover makes my practice of deep noticing even more delicious. I can take in all the details as long as I appear inattentive — false mustache and dark glasses I place. All kinds of wonderful moments of comedy happen right under my nose. My low expectations are never disappointed, or, as Lily Tomlin has observed, “No matter how cynical I get, I can never keep up.”
For more information on the author and artist, visitwww.edwardkoren.comandbuttonstreetpress.com.