Photo Coverage: NYPL Unveils Al Hirschfeld Installation

Yesterday, January 25, the New York Public Library celebrated Al Hirschfeld with an unveiling of the installation of Al Hirschfeld's barber chair and life-long drawing table in the Lobby of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center.

Unveiling participants included Louise Hirschfeld Cullman, wife of the late artist and president of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation; Dr. Paul LeClerc, President of The New York Public Library; Jacqueline Z. Davis, Barbara G. and Lawrence A. Fleischman Executive Director for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; guests include Hollywood and Broadway dance legend Marge Champion (Show Boat, Follies); entertainment caricature artist Ken Fallin; owner of the commercial gallery displaying representing Hirschfeld's work, Margot Feiden,; former managing editor of The New York Times, Arthur Gelb, Tony Award winner Tammy Grimes (The Unsinkable Molly Brown); legendary fshion designer and writer Mary McFadden; Hollywood legend Dick Moore (Our Gang, Oliver Twist); Hollywood legend Jane Powell (Royal Wedding, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers); artist, actress, designer and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt; Tony Award-winning scenic designer Robin Wagner (The Producers, Angels in America); and Tony Award-winning scenic designer Tony Walton (Guys and Dolls, Anything Goes).

For more than eight decades, Al Hirschfeld created virtually all of his legendary drawings at this table. Whether it was the latest Broadway opening, the release of the next Academy Award-winning film, a new ballet, a classic opera, or portraits of The Players in all of these and more, Hirschfeld immortalized the performing arts of the 20th and 21st century on this table. No one documented more of the lively arts than he did.??While he made his lines in ink fly, leap and dash, he sat in a barber chair, which he called the "last functional chair" because it could go up, down, swivel and recline. This chair, which started in the barber shop of the Chrysler Building, was gifted to him as a 90th birthday present by friends in 1993 to replace an older one.??The chair and table will continue to add to the cultural life of the library with a rotating installation of relevant Hirschfeld images.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the leadership support of Dorothy and Lewis. B. Cullman. Additional support for exhibitions has been provided by Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg and the Miriam and Harold Steinberg Foundation.?? www.nypl.org

The mission of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation (Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, President) is to promote interest in the theater and dramatic arts by supporting not-for-profit museums, libraries, theaters and similar cultural institutions. The Foundation fulfills its mission by making grants to such organizations, by mounting exhibitions of Al Hirschfeld's artworks at museums and other venues and by donating or lending Al Hirschfeld's artworks to such organizations. Special thanks to David Leopold, The Hirschfeld Foundation's archivist and curator. For more information, visit www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos / Retna Ltd.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Louise Hirschfeld Cullman & Lewis B. Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Jacqueline Z. Davis attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dr. Paul Lecleric, President of New York Public Library attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Lewis B. Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Jacqueline Z. Davis & Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Lewis B. Cullman and wife Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Jacqueline Z. Davis, Dr. Paul Lecleric, Louise Hirshfeld Cullman & David Leopold attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Lewis B. Cullman and wife Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Jim Brochu attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Louise Hirschfeld Cullman & Jim Brochu attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

KT Sullivan attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

KT Sullivan & Marge Champion attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

KT Sullivan & Marge Champion attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore & Jane Powell attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Jane Powell attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Jane Powell attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore & Jane Powell attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore & Jane Powell attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore & Jane Powell & Marge Champion attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore & Jane Powell & Marge Champion attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore & Jane Powell & Marge Champion attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Marge Champion attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Eli Wallach attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Eli Wallach attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Dick Moore & Jane Powell & Marge Champion & Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

KT Sullivan & Marge Champion & Jane Powell attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Lewis B. Cullman and wife Louise Hirschfeld Cullman attends the reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.

Reception and unveiling for the Al Hirschfeld permanent installation at The New York Public Library for Performing Arts in New York City.