LITERATURE + LECTURES

Blue Willow Bookshop presents Alex Beard, Tuesday, January 18 at 5pm. Author and illustrator Alex Beard (The Jungle Grapevine) visits to share his newest picture book, (Monkey See, Monkey Draw).

Monkey See, Monkey Draw tells the story of a troop of monkeys and an elephant who learn to paint and draw with their hands and feet in a tale about confronting fears and the discovery of creative expression.

Alex brings his love of travel, exploration and painting to his newest book. He's a great presenter who always gets the kids involved in the pictures and art. Don't miss this special afternoon event!

Alex Beard is a painter and author who has emerged as one of his generation's most creative and successful artists. Through his work, Beard hopes to demystify art and share the creative experience with as many people as possible, using every tool he can find.

Influenced to think creatively from a young age by his uncle, noted photographer Peter Beard, Alex grew up among some of the world's most interesting and influential people -- Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, and their Pop World cohorts were familiar faces in the Beard household. Now, his artwork hangs on public and private walls around the world.

Alex's French Quarter and New York City Studios have not just been chic destinations, but open to the public in a way that has encouraged and fostered interaction between the artist and his audience. Vanity Fair magazine singled him out as "… an accomplished artist, an adventurer, and an accidental entrepreneur."

A firm believer that art is a medium that should be accessible to everyone, Alex uses uncommon avenues to share the creative experience with people of all ages.

In September 2009, Alex's first children's book, The Jungle Grapevine™, was published by Abrams, along with a companion set of kids' games and puzzles featuring the book's whimsical animal characters. The Wall Street Journal favorably compared the "quirky and original" illustrations in The Jungle Grapevine™ to the famous "Babar" books.

Because "it's never too early to spark a child's imagination," says Beard, he embarked on a 50-city nationwide "Kids' Day" tour, inviting children of all ages to join him in artistic endeavors - drawing, painting, story time, and group coloring projects.

Fall 2009 also saw new additions to the popular Alex Beard Impossible Puzzles line, as well as the introduction of the Untamed Collection, a series of party and strategy games, as well as stationery, sketchbooks and the like, based on Alex's fine art.

Alex and his family live in his adopted home of New Orleans, where he has opened an Alex Beard Studio on the corner of Royal Street and Pirate's Alley in the French Quarter.

As part of his commitment to Louisiana, he has partnered with the Saints football organization to create limited edition silkscreen prints, the proceeds from which directly benefit charities across the state. In addition, the Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood and Family Learning Center has honored Alex for his philanthropic work in the New Orleans community.