Be It Proclaimed:

Whereas,the brilliantly rich, colorful paintings, prints and illustrations made by artist Charley Harper have delighted Cincinnatians and art lovers around the world since the 1940s; and

Whereas, Charley Harper began his illustrious 60-year career as an artist when he attended The Art Academy of Cincinnati, where he later taught and inspired younger artists; and

Whereas, his bold, stylized images of natural scenes and his whimsical representations of animals have contributed to Charley Harper's vision of "protecting and preserving nature;" and

Whereas, a new generation of contemporary graphic artists have been moved and inspired by Charley Harper's simplified, beautiful imagery and his visionary imagination; and

Whereas,Charley Harper's friendship and mentorship of graphic artist Todd Oldham have inspired the Contemporary Arts Center to exhibit works pairing Cincinnati's mid-century modernist pioneers and contemporary peers in a 15-month exhibition entitled "Graphic Content: Contemporary and Modern/Art and Design;" and

Whereas,Todd Oldham describes Charley Harper's work as "a marvel, brilliant in a way I had never seen before," possessing a "lyrically joyous style," "a remarkable and exquisite color sense" and writes that "Charley's inspired yet accurate color sense is undeniable, and when combined with the precision he exacts on rendering only the most important details, one is always left with a sense of awe,"

Now, Therefore, I, Mark Mallory ,Mayor of the City of Cincinnati do hereby proclaim Friday, December 8, 2006 as CHARLEY HARPER DAY in Cincinnati.