Aug 26th Artist Exhibition Opening and Benefit to Celebrate Walt Whitman’s 200th Anniversary titled – “Robust American Love”

A Portion Of The Proceeds From The Gallery Will Benefit The Walt Whitman Initiative To Help Landmark The Poet’s Brooklyn Home

Please join us today, Monday August 26th; reception for the artist 6pm – 7:30pm.
BlackBook Presents invites you to the opening of an exhibition of works by New York artist John Ransom Phillips titled ‘Robust American Love,’ to commemorate Walt Whitman’s 200th birthday The unprecedented series is based on the works of one of America’s greatest poets, bringing Phillips’ evocative, metaphorical painting style with a selection of Whitman’s most provocative quotations.

The gallery will host an official opening on Monday, August 26th, with a cocktail reception from 6:00PM – 7:30PM. Half the proceeds from the sale of the works will benefit The Walt Whitman Initiative, supporting the campaign to preserve Whitman’s last standing home at 99 Ryerson Street in Clinton Hill, where the poet completed Leaves of Grass (1855). The event and exhibition are open to the public.

“John Ransom Phillips is dedicated to ensuring that Whitman remains a living presence in his beloved Brooklyn,” said Karen Karbiener, President of The Walt Whitman Initiative and the curator of the exhibition. “We’re grateful for his support of our campaign to save this endangered historical site.”

NYC’s Landmark Preservation Commission rejected WWI’s application for landmark status for the house in 2017. WWI continues to build the case for landmarking it, and the LPC has agreed to a meeting in late August to discuss reconsidering the application.