A Humphrey Birthday Celebration

On Saturday, February 20th, the Warner Library in Tarrytown, New York, will host a James Humphrey Celebration. Reading from her late husband’s work, Norma Humphrey will celebrate what would have been the writer’s 71st birthday. The free program begins at 2pm and refreshments will be available. For more information visit the library online.

Painting to be Auctioned for Environmental Education Nonprofit

The James Humphrey Trust will donate the painting, “4th of July Aerial Fireworks” for a September 25th charity auction at the Beczak Environmental Education Center in Yonkers, NY. The fundraiser will raise money for the nonprofit organization which offers educational programs designed to teach people of all ages about the Hudson River and encourages them to become better stewards for nature. Inspired as he watched Independence Day fireworks illuminate the sky over the Hudson, Humphrey created the abstract painting in 2007. See more about the event here.

One Small Step for James Humphrey

The first lunar landing isn’t the only 40 year anniversary this week. An unpublished poem was recently re-discovered (along with several others) while listening to an archived recording from August 12, 1969, of Humphrey reading some of his early poems. Entitled, “Poem/Water,” it was written exactly 40 years ago this week. Within the short verse, Humphrey makes a slight political statement about NASA’s boys landing on the moon. You can hear it here.

Humphrey’s Painting at the Blue Door Gallery

James Humphrey’s brilliant abstract painting, “A Rare Nuthatch Flower In Tribute to Georgia O’Keeffe–1887-1986” is part of an exhibition entitled “Arts For Healing” at the Blue Door Gallery in downtown Yonkers, NY, on the waterfront. The community-minded exhibit will be displayed through August 1 so there’s still a little time to see this vivid 32x40 painting in person. On the back of the painting is a hand-written poem “The Elegance of All Things,” dedicated to O’Keefe and published in Humphrey’s anthology, Naked.