(And Some That Wasn’t): Inside The New York Times Op-Ed Page by Jerelle Kraus
“Among its other innovations, The New York Times Op-Ed has given us the elegant visual jazz of artists set free in a parallel universe, a monochromatic dreamscape where Dada collides with Pop. Kraus serves up the best of these excursions, including, happily, those that went too far.” —Garry Trudeau
Unknowingly to me, it was Jerelle Kraus who inspired our letterpress collaboration with New York Times Op-Ed artist Igor Kopelnitsky. Ms. Kraus is the award-winning art director whose 30 year tenure at The New York Times developed the Op-Ed genre featuring the influential art published with the persuasive opinions that transformed journalism. On Sparked, I’ve shared some of my favorites, especially from Maureen Dowd and Paul Krugman along with the provocative images. But it was the clever political art that caught my imagination leading me to read the viewpoints and commentary. Jerelle Kraus has recently published with Columbia University Press All the Art That’s Fit to Print (And Some That Wasn’t): Inside The New York Times Op-Ed Page celebrating the coterie of artists (Igor is included) with her personal story leading the revolution! Visit Jerelle’s site for a wonderful backstage look into her universe with images and remarks. Even one meeting with Nixon! I’ve had the pleasure of an email correspondence with Jerelle, and she has shared upcoming interviews for radio, TV, and a trip to Istanbul judging an international art show. Lucky New Yorkers can catch Jerelle for a discussion at Mid-Manhattan Library on May 4th, 2009 at 6:30 pm.
