From left to right: Peter Strindberg, Jack Kamesar, Harry Cohen, Brian Carter, Skip Henderson. Not Pictured, Bruce Burtch.
Photo by Alex Schwartz.
By Bruce Burtch
W
ith eyes about four inches
from the canvas, I was
admiring the magnificent,
though seemingly random
brushstrokes of the towering
Abstract Expressionist painting. “Do
you want to meet the artist?” asked
Agne Christensen, owner of Room
Art Gallery in Mill Valley, startling
me out of my intense exploration.
Coming straight towards us was this
diminutive older gentleman (and
at 92, he is all three) with a huge
smile, sparkling eyes and a slightly
18 MARIN ARTS & CULTURE
balding head accented by tufts of
wavy white hair.
“Hi, I’m Harry, do you like my
work?” he asked loudly. His
hearing is challenged. It was love
at first sight. OK, maybe just a
very intense like, but I had just
come face-to-face with a mini-me
version of Santa Claus. His paint-
splattered pants (worn even at his
own art show opening), rumpled
clothes and sincere handshake
made a wonderful, welcoming first
impression. Harry Cohen exudes
warmth.
About 1O days later, I was immersed
in his home/studio high up in the
redwoods of Woodacre, which was
full of paintings, mobiles, sculptures,
tables packed with hue-laden
brushes and innumerable paint cans.
Even the floor, walls and ceiling
exploded with color—random drops
of creativity flung everywhere.
Given the myriad of hanging
artwork, the light streaming in
through the windows had to
compete with the lack of available
air space.