Cartoonist Robert Crumb to Make Rare Public Speaking Appearance at The New York Public Library

"Welcome to Crumbland: R. Crumb and Robert Hughes in Conversation," Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 P.M.

New York, NY, March 21, 2005 -- In his only scheduled U.S. speaking appearance to promote his forthcoming book, The R. Crumb Handbook (MQ Publications), artist Robert Crumb will speak at The New York Public Library, with art critic Robert Hughes, on Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Celeste Bartos Forum at the Humanities and Social Sciences Library, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Tickets are $10 ($7 for Library donors) and can be purchased by calling (212) 868-4444 or visiting www.smarttix.com. Tickets will go on-sale on Wednesday, March 23 at 10 a.m. This event is co-sponsored by MQ Publications.

Described by Hughes as "the Brueghel of the 20th century," Robert Crumb has become the only sixties counter-culture artist to break through into the world of fine art. His distinctive pen-and-ink style became emblematic of the 1960s counter-culture, and has proven to be an enduring influence on graphic art and design ever since. The release of The R. Crumb Handbook coincides with Crumb's inclusion in the Carnegie International exhibition, at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, the opening of a solo show at London's Whitechapel Art Gallery beginning March 30 and at the Matthew Marks Gallery in New York in the fall, and the unveiling of a limited edition R. Crumb t-shirt by designer Stella McCartney.

About the speakers
Robert Crumb is the creator of Fritz the Cat, Zap Comix, Mr Natural, Devil Girl and the Keep on Truckin’ Guys. He is the subject of two award-winning documentaries about his life and times. He lives in the South of France.

Robert Hughes is renowned both as an art critic for Time magazine and as the best-selling author of The Shock of the New, The Epic History of Art in America, and The Culture of Complaint.

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About LIVE from the NYPL
LIVE from the NYPL is the new name for Public Programs at The New York Public Library. Expect conversations, real debates, performances, readings, and much more. Bookmark: www.nypl.org/live and email live@nypl.org.

Contact: Tim Farrell 212.704.8600