Dulwich OnView

Local artist Randy Klein’s new book is launched in East Dulwich.

When I first came to live here in Britain, lots of friends kept telling me about the wonders of rural England. ‘What, you haven’t been to Norfolk?’ they said to me. But I’m from New York, and really didn’t have much craving to see the rural delights of England. I am a city rat, and always have been. But when I hooked up with Jenny, I could fight it no longer and together we ventured beyond the confines of the M25. And to my amazement, my car didn’t drop off the edge of the known world. But also to my amazement, I discovered quirkiness, tweeness, and indifference beyond my wildest imagination.

I had my first experience of ‘rock’ – not the geological kind, but the hard candy sort. This was over 15 years ago, so I encountered the wonders of pub lunches which had nearly nonexistent serving hours. Arrive 15 minutes before or after appointed lunch serving time, and even frozen scampi or ‘Ploughman’s’ (aka cheese on a platter) were unachievable. And I collided with bed and breakfasts with seeming endless lists of rules for guests, as well as breakfasts which were no longer served after some ungodly hour of the morning. Without a native to guide me through this maze of eccentric rules and regulations, I would never have survived!

Randy and Jenny Klein on a Norfolk beach

It was culture shock from the pastoral point of view as well. While still living in the states, I was allergic to leaving the New York metropolitan area. However, I had been to the sea (New York is on the coast, as I sometimes forget). But summer holidays splashing in the waves near Coney Island didn’t prepare me for the seaside here in the UK. For one thing, I discovered ‘shingle’ – not the nasty skin condition, but a strange substance used as a replacement for sand on beaches. And the wind, the tidal dangers, the grey cold weather of midsummer. I just wasn’t ready for it.

Now, nearly 20 years after our first series of explorations – to Norfolk, Glasgow, and eventually to the sun of southern Italy, Jenny and I have discovered our diary of these travels. And the notes we made all those years ago have come alive as the travels of Jeff and Mabel – a loud Yank colliding with English manners and an English rose hand holding and hiding her face in embarrassment. The result is Jeff and Mabel Hit the Road.

They go for lunch in what Jeff insists is a ‘wee’ café. Jeff now uses the word ‘wee’ at every opportunity, along with ‘hoots’ and ‘sporran’, chuckling the while at his own wit.

The wind nearly blows Jeff’s ears off, and he realises how wise Mabel was to bring a hat.

Randy Klein is an American artist living in South London. He has created many artists’ books (illustrations from Inner Cities below) which are in the collections of museums including the Tate Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He has exhibited widely here and abroad, most recently in Ravenna, Italy. He is represented by GX Gallery, Camberwell.

Jeff and Mabel Hit the Road will be launched on Wednesday 11 March 2009 Upstairs at The Magnolia, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, SE22

7pm – 9pm (Readings etc start at 8pm)

The evening will feature readings from Jeff and Mabel Hit the Road
and other entertainments including a showing of Randy Klein’s film Tales of New York.(see this on DOV’s video sidebar) Other books by Randy Klein will be on sale on the night.
Come along, have a drink, bring your friends
For more details please contact
Randy at info@randyklein.co.uk

Another DOV article: Short films by Randy Klein