3

Paul, George and Ringo.
“I worked with Paul once —
he’s only released eight pieces
since 1999,” says Glaser, who is
McCartney’s exclusive distribu-
tor. “He really is all about the
art and doesn’t advertise that
he does it. He’s not like that.
So for people to be able to see
these pieces is a pretty big deal.
“His father-in-law [Linda
Eastman’s father] and his family
were entertainment attorneys,
and he represented Willem de
Kooning and other artists. They
are really the reason Paul went
into publishing and buying
songs — he was a huge influ-
ence on Paul,” Glaser says.
McCartney’s own work, says
Glaser, which he started paint-
ing in the 1980s, tends toward
the Abstract Expressionist and
is heavily influenced by de
Kooning.
“The personalities of each
Beatle come through so clearly,”
Glaser says. “Paul is very
thoughtful, creative. He’s deep.”
“John Lennon had a love
affair with the visual arts,”
Glaser says. “He was a line
drawer, like Thurber or
Hirschfeld. We have what’s
called the Bag One Portfolio. It
was a gift to Yoko for their wed-
ding — he personally super-
vised the printing, publishing

and signing.
“He created them on a litho-
graphic plate, then destroyed
the plate to preserve the integ-
rity of the print, which is what
artists do,” Glaser says. “The
Museum of Modern Art in New
York has a numbered edition,
some others, and we have a
numbered edition.”
Among the Bag collection
were eight erotic drawings.
“When they were originally
exhibited, Scotland Yard shut
it down and confiscated the
pieces,” Glaser says. “John went
to court and won, of course,
because they’re art — of course
there are nudes. But they were
very damaged.”
George Harrison created a
book, Songs By George Harrison,
and he wanted it illustrated. “A
good friend of his, Keith West,
illustrated three of the songs,
‘Piggies,’ ‘Here Comes the Sun’
and ‘Taxman,’” Glaser says.
“After the book was published,
West told George he’d like to
publish the illustrations and
asked if he’d sign them. So we
have those signed pieces, too.”
Ringo Starr, Glaser says, is a
Pop Artist in the vein of Haring,
Basquiat and Warhol. “He does
it for fun. He’s really colorful.
And he’s an artist through and
through — he reinvents himself

4

every year. He evolves.”
Glaser is also impressed that
100 percent of proceeds for
Starr’s art is given to the Lotus
Foundation, an organization
founded by Starr and his wife,
Barbara, to fund and support
projects aimed at advancing
social welfare.
“I’ve worked with a lot of
other artists, but the Beatles
are my focus,” Glaser says. “I’ve
been touring with Ringo for 16
years — we talk to people, we
sell a couple of pieces of art and
we raise money for charity. He’s
been so amazing to me.
“People wonder, are they
good guys, Ringo and Paul?”
Glaser says. “They’re so real and
down to earth. Everyone wants
a piece of them, but they’re just
these guys from Liverpool.
“I’ve been a fan for so long,
that this is just surreal to me,”
he adds. “Life is funny. I’ve been
lucky. And I love to share it with
other fans.
“Beatles fans and art lovers
will love to see this exhibit,”
Glaser says. “People don’t have
to buy. This is for the love of
Beatles and the love of art. I
love when people come in and
gasp.
“But if you come and buy a
piece,” Glaser says, “that’s great,
too.” •

5

6

details

• In honor of Paul McCartney’s two Detroit concerts, “The Beatles Art Show
& Sale” will start with a special preview reception with Neal Glaser 8-10 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30, followed by the exhibition Oct. 1-Oct. 3 at Danielle Peleg
Gallery in West Bloomfield. (248) 626-5810; daniellepeleggallery.com

7

1 Beach Towels by Paul McCartney
2 McCartney painted Ginsburg’s Flower
for Beat poet Allan Ginsburg.
3 Honeymoon is part of John Lennon’s
Bag One Portfolio, a wedding gift to
Yoko Ono.
4 Wooden Man by Ringo Starr
5 Is It Time? by Starr
6 McCartney at work
7 Neal Glaser with Ringo Starr

• Paul McCartney brings his One on One tour to Little Caesars Arena Oct. 1-2,
performing three hours’ worth of some of the greatest music from the last 50
years. $59.50-$250. (800) 745-3000; olympiaentertainment.com .

Paul McCartney

jn

September 28 • 2017

45