In 2007 artist Karl Haendel appropriated his twenty-seventh New Yorker cartoon, mining the work of cartoonist David Sipress for at least the second time. A 2004 work, New Yorker Cartoon Drawing #9, appropriated Sipress's "Bad dog" drawing. As with other drawings in the series, Haendel makes large graphite renderings of published New Yorker cartoon images. His process may or may not involve a light board or a projector; these renderings do not appear to be done freehand.
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The work currently resides at the Henry Art Gallery of the University of Washington, Seattle. The artist's installation view from a 2019 exhibition is notable for placing the New Yorker drawing and the Dylan lyrics well below eye level.
Joe Milutis's commentary on the grouping articulates the "multiple themes" to be discovered here:
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The museum's commentary doesn't even mention cartoonist David Sipress; it speaks only of "a Jewish-American themed cartoon from The New Yorker." The cartoon was published in December of 2006 so it seems Haendel selected it from a recent issue.
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This drawing is one of five framed pieces that make up the Mazel Tov group. The phrase is Yiddish meaning good luck or congratulations. The Jewish theme suggested by the title may also apply to the inclusion of the lyrics to Bob Dylan's"Jokerman." The grouping was offered for sale at Sotheby's in 2013 where it apparently did not find a buyer:
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| Karl Haendel Mazel Tov Group (2006-2007) Sotheby's 2013 |
The work currently resides at the Henry Art Gallery of the University of Washington, Seattle. The artist's installation view from a 2019 exhibition is notable for placing the New Yorker drawing and the Dylan lyrics well below eye level.
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| Karl Haendel Mazel Tov Group (2006-2007) Installation View, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington |
Joe Milutis's commentary on the grouping articulates the "multiple themes" to be discovered here:
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| https://henryart.org/exhibitions/karl-haendel-mazel-tov-group#page-navigation-overview |
The museum's commentary doesn't even mention cartoonist David Sipress; it speaks only of "a Jewish-American themed cartoon from The New Yorker." The cartoon was published in December of 2006 so it seems Haendel selected it from a recent issue.
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| David Sipress The New Yorker, December 4, 2006, page 68 |
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| Karl Haendel New Yorker Cartoon Drawing #27 (2007) |
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| Cartoon by David Sipress |
Could there be some autobiographical element to Haendel's selection of this cartoon mixing two distinct holiday traditions? Haendel didn't meet Emily Mast until 2009, two years after he completed the Mazel Tov Group. His wedding ceremony in 2011 was performed by a friend of the bride in "a ceremony that included Jewish traditions."
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| https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/fashion/weddings/emily-mast-karl-haendel-weddings.html |
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| https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2013/contemporary-art-n08967/lot.140.html |
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