EASTON, Pa. — Of all the contributions iconic artist Keith Haring made to the art world, his sister said his generosity towards children stood out.
"Many people are familiar with Keith's work, even if they don't know his name," Kay Haring said. "But they may not be familiar with how many art projects he did with children and students."
Kay Haring touches on her oldest brother's philanthropy in her children's book "Keith Haring: The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing."
"It was just something he was always doing... He drew everywhere, anytime that he could."Kay Haring
She will read from the book, published in 2017, at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton.
Like many legendary creatives, Keith Haring, born in 1958 in Reading (the family later moved to Kutztown), displayed a passion for making art early on.
"It was just something he was always doing," Kay Haring said during a recent phone interview. "I was outside playing, and he was in his room drawing. He drew everywhere, anytime that he could."
Subway, awareness art
"The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing" is illustrated by Robert Neubecker, but each page features drawings by her famous sibling.
"The first one is from when he was 4 years old, a doodle. Then there are some things from elementary school, high school," Kay Haring said.
"It goes through the years. I also work with the Keith Haring Foundation, and they suggested some things to add to the book."
Keith Haring started the foundation in 1989.
His sister begins the book with a background of the artist's childhood.
She then transitions into his faster-paced life in New York City in the 1980s, where he enrolled in the School of Visual Arts and became friends with fellow artists Kenny Scharf, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Haring, who died in 1990, first became known for his graffiti art and famous subway drawings, including the widely recognizable "radiant baby" and "dancing dog."
As he rose to fame, his work touched on edgier subjects such as the battle to end Apartheid, the AIDS epidemic (Haring was diagnosed with the disease in 1988), and drug abuse.
His work often accompanied messages such as 1986's "Crack Down!" campaign and his "Ignorance = Fear" for a 1989 AIDS awareness campaign.
Statue of Liberty
However, Kay Haring says in her book that he loved working with the youth most.
She says he was inspired by their imagination, honesty and unbiasedness.
"One of the important projects that Keith did that I touch on in the book is when he produced a mural commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty in 1986," Kay Haring said.
"Over a few days, 900 children from New York City schools were instructed by Keith to contribute to the project about what Liberty meant to them."
Then, Keith Haring created a mural in Paris in 1987 for the Necker Children's Hospital.
While the hospital has been torn down and rebuilt, the mural remains.
"He did the logo for Best Buddies, National Coming Out Day and a New York Public Library poster, encouraging kids to read. He wasn't paid for any of that."Kay Haring
"Even though Keith was traveling to museums and people were hiring him, buying his artwork and collecting it, when traveling to different cities, he always wanted to create something in public, for them," she said.
He also held drawing workshops for children in schools and museums in New York City, Amsterdam, London and Tokyo.
He produced images for literacy programs and other public service campaigns — often for free.
"He did the logo for Best Buddies, National Coming Out Day and a New York Public Library poster, encouraging kids to read," she said. "He wasn't paid for any of that."
Q&A with Kay Haring, Tim Hare exhibition
At Saturday's event, Kay Haring will answer questions about her famous brother and participate in an author signing.
The event coincides with Sigal's latest exhibition, which explores the life of Tim Hare, an Easton architect, artist and LGBTQ+ activist.
"[Tim] saw Easton 'the way it could be,' just as Keith Haring believed that 'children know something that most people have forgotten."Sigal Museum Education Program Coordinator Beth Krumholz
"Tim was a driving force in historic preservation and community revitalization in Easton after urban renewal," Sigal Museum Education Program Coordinator Beth Krumholz said.
"He saw Easton 'the way it could be,' just as Keith Haring believed that 'children know something that most people have forgotten."
Admission to the Sigal Museum event is free. For more information, visit its website.
