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Does Life imitate Art or does Art imitate Life? Whether one´s medium of creative expression is a pen, a paintbrush, a camera or a musical instrument, the answer is a resounding "yes". As artists, we are constantly mesmerized, amused, challenged, inspired, humbled, shocked, or disturbed by the plethora of free material that surrounds us and flirts with our senses. As activists, it is our hope that whatever finished product emerges from our time and energy can be a vehicle to deliver a broader message and if only for a fleeting moment to invite total strangers to entertain a perspective not previously imagined.
My husband and I first met artist Dan Koffman at his Monterey (California) gallery on a cloudy afternoon almost ten years ago. Not only were we intrigued by the whimsicality of art on display in the windows a collection that featured wine bottles, olives, and cigars but also by a sandwich board sign outside the door that proclaimed "We are SO open". We no sooner crossed the threshold than Koffman himself emerged from behind the curtain that separated his work space from the showroom and began to chat about his images and the inspirations that generated them. Looking back, it was a friendship that began from the first hello and soon thereafter segued to signature martinis, lively dinners and a standing invitation to share Thanksgiving feasts and celebrate one another´s birthdays. Even when Koffman and his wife, Sandy a four-time mayor of Pacific Grove relocated their home and studio to Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest the traditions continue unabated.
When I decided to write a feature story that would put Koffman´s latest endeavors in a global spotlight, I knew that the sandwich board and his Oz-like entrance into our lives a decade ago would figure prominently. This is a man who is not only So open to welcoming gallery visitors and reconnecting with old friends but who also embraces life with open arms and who is as much a keen and mirthful observer of human nature as he is empathic to the amount of pain we inflict upon one another through neglect, intolerance, and selfishness. He is, further, someone who possesses the intellect and instinct to point out that we all possess the hearts, the brains and the courage to make a difference and, through persistence, to spread light in a world that too often chooses to hug the darkness.
Koffman recently took time out from his latest campaign and his involvement in the local arts and political scene to tell us about his life, his work, and his unabashed passion for being an agent of change.
When did you first know that you wanted to be an artist and what steps did you take to pursue this dream on a professional level?
I was in the first grade when I realized that art would likely be my life focus. We were studying the Westward movement and the teacher asked for volunteers to create and paint a mural on the wall. I noticed that the cute girls all raised their hands . . . I decided then and there to jump in. I still remember how I focused on creating covered wagons and horses. It was great fun and time just melted away.
As a child, I would sit and listen to the conversations of my parents, my uncles and aunts who were all business people. Discussions about marketing and advertising really caught my interest. In the evenings after long visits, I´d sit with colored pencils and crayons designing displays and advertisements based upon the discussions. When I was eleven, my uncle Buddy was laying plans to open one of the first discount retail stores in Los Angeles called Mars. On his next visit, I presented an idea for a 6 foot Martian with a moving head as a "welcome to the store" display. He offered me $150 for the idea and construction. This was my first professional creative commission.
Ever since, I have focused my talents on the ideas that come from the marriage of art and business, pursuing in school, art, industrial design and architecture . . . followed by the study of business and economics . . . always, I might add with a bit of a twist and a smile.
When did you first realize that art was a potent tool to deliver messages about the world at large?
That would specifically be on June 2, 1989 when I received a phone call, followed by a letter, from the Charge d´Affaires Minister from Afghanistan who was responding to my (then) just launched Flag of Peace and Freedom project. Most readers will recall that this was just a few months after the Soviets had pulled out. "Our people are so beleaguered, we want to demonstrate to our citizens that our hopes for peace could be realized. We want to raise your Flag of Peace over our huge soccer stadium (one of the few remaining undestroyed facilities) in Kabul and celebrate for one day."
Who says one person can´t make a difference? Peace didn´t last for long, but my artistic communication registered for a moment in a troubled land.
Tell us more about the Flag of Peace.
I sat on a catamaran on a beach in Malibu in 1984 with my head in my hands as the news on that day was so horrific (could be any day!) pondering man´s inhumanity to man. In that moment, in the sky, the sun broke through the grey clouds as two birds soared. "If everyone on the planet would realize that we all live under the same sky and are warmed by the same sun, this could set a positive universal tone so much better than our regular mean spirited focus on our differences!"
That "inspiration in the sky" which I translated into a flat fabric construction became the Flag of Peace and Freedom.
For several years, I pursued the United Nations as, who I thought to be the logical messenger of the Flag. After their (nice) "thanks, but no thanks" I set out to communicate the message directly to each world leader. This was prior to the broad use of the computer, so it required letters and phone calls to the State Department and much old-fashioned hard research. In 1988, the first world wide mailing went out to all of the 192 countries on the planet . . . each letter personally written in longhand to the attention of each world leader. Fast forward to now, and thus far, 32 countries have flown the Flag of Peace and Freedom. A visit to www.peaceflag.org tells the story in more detail.
Several years ago, you caused quite a stir outside your gallery in Monterey by collaborating with a bigger-than-life artist. Who was she and how did this special liaison come about?
You´re referring to my collaboration with Lisa the African Elephant, my painting partner. We painted "pictures of peace" for 2000 people who had assembled in front of my downtown Monterey, California Gallery.
This all came about as my response to the International "Brick Wall" that I ran into in the post 9/11 world. My annual letters to world leaders began to be returned unopened out of "fear of anthrax" . . . few were interested in any dialog about peace! I thought long and hard about how I could start the conversation up again and it occurred to me that people could easily ignore a guy, up on his "peace soapbox" . . . but if he had an elephant by his side, he´d be pretty hard to ignore!
I had previously met Lisa the elephant at Wild Things animal preserve in Salinas California. Charlie Sammut, her loving steward, was very happy to work with us to refine our painting techniques prior to the public event. It was during these sessions that I came to love and respect this might creature . . . soon, enlarging the scope of my message to include her goal of achieving greater understanding and respect for all creatures great and small. We expressed it as a "tweaked" version of the Golden Rule . . . "Do unto others, including Elephants, as you would have them do unto you!"
I wrote a book interweaving our stories "The Man and The Elephant . . . Painting a Picture of Peace" and we filmed a documentary which we satellite broadcast out to the world. The message was "If a man and an Elephant can work together respectfully towards mutual positive goals, what could happen if people did the same thing?" There´s a great short video online at www.themanandtheelephant.com that was taken from the documentary that sums up the effort.
It´s that "What if" question that keeps me on track!
How about a couple short questions about preferences?
Sure thing!
Morning versus evening?
Morning . . . and the earlier the better! There´s just something about the stillness as the darkness yields to the sun that speaks so eloquently about possibilities and opportunities of a new day.
Music while you work versus silence?
I do love smooth interpretive jazz for its free form . . . but find that silence allows for me to tap into my inner interpretive artist for creative application to virtually any of my efforts.
Theater versus movies?
Movies . . . and, at home over going out. I always have my clipboard and pen by my side and find that I never know when something will strike a chord . . . and spark some sort of free association. I am a copious note maker.
Dogs versus cats?
I do appreciate the beauty of cats . . . but I´m a dog-guy. The love and warmth that they give so honestly just always touches me deeply.
A boisterous party or an evening at home with a handful of friends?
Give me an evening at home with a few special folks . . . a great meal and wonderful bottle of wine. Fewer people allows for more of an opportunity for conversation and connection.
In the movie of your life, who would play you?
Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman or Robin Williams . . . I´m both serious and nutty with a keen sense of community, broad sense of humor and often all over the place . . . with a laser focus when I choose. Any of these guys could interpret my character well.
What stands out in your mind as the best book you´ve ever read and how did it influence you?
The Little Prince by St. Exupery is my book. No matter how many times I´ve read it, it never fails to hit at the heart of the important matters of life. It speaks to being in the moment with a deep appreciation for the magic of love, life and laughter.
If you were one of the characters in the Peanuts cartoon strip, who would you be?
Oh, I suppose I´d say Schroeder . . . banging away at that piano, making wonderful music and sometimes oblivious to everything else.
Tell us about your latest project a focus on the Golden Rule. How did it come about? What is your ultimate objective in promoting this message?
The Flag of Peace and Freedom project focused on getting the message to world leaders. My new focus is getting the word out to the people with the sincere belief that if the people lead, our leaders will follow! I call my most recent peace effort "The Golden Rule Activist". My message is simple. Firstly, the Golden Rule forms the basis of virtually every religion on earth . . . and for folks who are non-religious but who believe in fair play, it also resonates.
The problem is that we forget to employ the message and "right action" on a regular basis. It seems, to many people, that it´s far easier to point a finger and blame others for the state of our world. Nothing could be further from the truth, in that each of us has the power to make a real positive difference. That´s where the "Activist" part comes in.
So, I´ve taken on putting the Golden Rule back on center stage by creating simple reminders that folks can easily employ to spark right action. Yes, it starts in the heart and mind but is truly measured by our actions!
Being kind and respectful to one another is something that we´re all taught in school. Why is it, though, that we seem to lose this guiding principle, as we get older?
Perhaps this simple message is disregarded as naοve . . . not fitting in the real world. So we have fabricated this convenient cop-out to keeping our blinders on. Sorry, this just won´t work anymore. How many opportunities do we have to turn things around? It´s a serious mistake to think that we don´t ever have to take personal responsibility for making this a better world. It´s critical to realize that every positive action, no matter how small, registers in the world. We are not powerless unless we think we are.
Ultimate objective? Easy! Creating a better world one person at a time. See www.goldenruleactivist.com for more details.
What personal or professional accomplishment thus far are you the most proud of?
I am most proud of my work on behalf of my community . . . both local and international in all the many forms it has taken over the years and the forms it will take next. I have learned that one person can make a real difference . . . additionally, I must say that my focus on humor and making people smile has made all of the efforts, while sometimes difficult, a real joy.
Whose work do you most admire in the art world?
It would be a tie amongst Monet, Lautrec, Walt Disney and John Lennon
If you could travel back in time to meet these guys, what is the one question you would most like to ask them?
"Could we spend the evening together over a great meal and a bottle of wine?" . . . and then I would just let it happen!
Anything else you´d like readers to know about you?
It´s important to encourage people to dream big dreams and then it´s important to get to work! Equally important is to nurture love in your heart and to tell the folks who you love that you love them . . . often! It´s pretty clear that each lifetime is finite . . . there´s no time to waste . . . get to it!
My husband and I first met artist Dan Koffman at his Monterey (California) gallery on a cloudy afternoon almost ten years ago. Not only were we intrigued by the whimsicality of art on display in the windows a collection that featured wine bottles, olives, and cigars but also by a sandwich board sign outside the door that proclaimed "We are SO open". We no sooner crossed the threshold than Koffman himself emerged from behind the curtain that separated his work space from the showroom and began to chat about his images and the inspirations that generated them. Looking back, it was a friendship that began from the first hello and soon thereafter segued to signature martinis, lively dinners and a standing invitation to share Thanksgiving feasts and celebrate one another´s birthdays. Even when Koffman and his wife, Sandy a four-time mayor of Pacific Grove relocated their home and studio to Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest the traditions continue unabated.
When I decided to write a feature story that would put Koffman´s latest endeavors in a global spotlight, I knew that the sandwich board and his Oz-like entrance into our lives a decade ago would figure prominently. This is a man who is not only So open to welcoming gallery visitors and reconnecting with old friends but who also embraces life with open arms and who is as much a keen and mirthful observer of human nature as he is empathic to the amount of pain we inflict upon one another through neglect, intolerance, and selfishness. He is, further, someone who possesses the intellect and instinct to point out that we all possess the hearts, the brains and the courage to make a difference and, through persistence, to spread light in a world that too often chooses to hug the darkness.
Koffman recently took time out from his latest campaign and his involvement in the local arts and political scene to tell us about his life, his work, and his unabashed passion for being an agent of change.
When did you first know that you wanted to be an artist and what steps did you take to pursue this dream on a professional level?
I was in the first grade when I realized that art would likely be my life focus. We were studying the Westward movement and the teacher asked for volunteers to create and paint a mural on the wall. I noticed that the cute girls all raised their hands . . . I decided then and there to jump in. I still remember how I focused on creating covered wagons and horses. It was great fun and time just melted away.
As a child, I would sit and listen to the conversations of my parents, my uncles and aunts who were all business people. Discussions about marketing and advertising really caught my interest. In the evenings after long visits, I´d sit with colored pencils and crayons designing displays and advertisements based upon the discussions. When I was eleven, my uncle Buddy was laying plans to open one of the first discount retail stores in Los Angeles called Mars. On his next visit, I presented an idea for a 6 foot Martian with a moving head as a "welcome to the store" display. He offered me $150 for the idea and construction. This was my first professional creative commission.
Ever since, I have focused my talents on the ideas that come from the marriage of art and business, pursuing in school, art, industrial design and architecture . . . followed by the study of business and economics . . . always, I might add with a bit of a twist and a smile.
When did you first realize that art was a potent tool to deliver messages about the world at large?
That would specifically be on June 2, 1989 when I received a phone call, followed by a letter, from the Charge d´Affaires Minister from Afghanistan who was responding to my (then) just launched Flag of Peace and Freedom project. Most readers will recall that this was just a few months after the Soviets had pulled out. "Our people are so beleaguered, we want to demonstrate to our citizens that our hopes for peace could be realized. We want to raise your Flag of Peace over our huge soccer stadium (one of the few remaining undestroyed facilities) in Kabul and celebrate for one day."
Who says one person can´t make a difference? Peace didn´t last for long, but my artistic communication registered for a moment in a troubled land.
Tell us more about the Flag of Peace.
I sat on a catamaran on a beach in Malibu in 1984 with my head in my hands as the news on that day was so horrific (could be any day!) pondering man´s inhumanity to man. In that moment, in the sky, the sun broke through the grey clouds as two birds soared. "If everyone on the planet would realize that we all live under the same sky and are warmed by the same sun, this could set a positive universal tone so much better than our regular mean spirited focus on our differences!"
That "inspiration in the sky" which I translated into a flat fabric construction became the Flag of Peace and Freedom.
For several years, I pursued the United Nations as, who I thought to be the logical messenger of the Flag. After their (nice) "thanks, but no thanks" I set out to communicate the message directly to each world leader. This was prior to the broad use of the computer, so it required letters and phone calls to the State Department and much old-fashioned hard research. In 1988, the first world wide mailing went out to all of the 192 countries on the planet . . . each letter personally written in longhand to the attention of each world leader. Fast forward to now, and thus far, 32 countries have flown the Flag of Peace and Freedom. A visit to www.peaceflag.org tells the story in more detail.
Several years ago, you caused quite a stir outside your gallery in Monterey by collaborating with a bigger-than-life artist. Who was she and how did this special liaison come about?
You´re referring to my collaboration with Lisa the African Elephant, my painting partner. We painted "pictures of peace" for 2000 people who had assembled in front of my downtown Monterey, California Gallery.
This all came about as my response to the International "Brick Wall" that I ran into in the post 9/11 world. My annual letters to world leaders began to be returned unopened out of "fear of anthrax" . . . few were interested in any dialog about peace! I thought long and hard about how I could start the conversation up again and it occurred to me that people could easily ignore a guy, up on his "peace soapbox" . . . but if he had an elephant by his side, he´d be pretty hard to ignore!
I had previously met Lisa the elephant at Wild Things animal preserve in Salinas California. Charlie Sammut, her loving steward, was very happy to work with us to refine our painting techniques prior to the public event. It was during these sessions that I came to love and respect this might creature . . . soon, enlarging the scope of my message to include her goal of achieving greater understanding and respect for all creatures great and small. We expressed it as a "tweaked" version of the Golden Rule . . . "Do unto others, including Elephants, as you would have them do unto you!"
I wrote a book interweaving our stories "The Man and The Elephant . . . Painting a Picture of Peace" and we filmed a documentary which we satellite broadcast out to the world. The message was "If a man and an Elephant can work together respectfully towards mutual positive goals, what could happen if people did the same thing?" There´s a great short video online at www.themanandtheelephant.com that was taken from the documentary that sums up the effort.
It´s that "What if" question that keeps me on track!
How about a couple short questions about preferences?
Sure thing!
Morning versus evening?
Morning . . . and the earlier the better! There´s just something about the stillness as the darkness yields to the sun that speaks so eloquently about possibilities and opportunities of a new day.
Music while you work versus silence?
I do love smooth interpretive jazz for its free form . . . but find that silence allows for me to tap into my inner interpretive artist for creative application to virtually any of my efforts.
Theater versus movies?
Movies . . . and, at home over going out. I always have my clipboard and pen by my side and find that I never know when something will strike a chord . . . and spark some sort of free association. I am a copious note maker.
Dogs versus cats?
I do appreciate the beauty of cats . . . but I´m a dog-guy. The love and warmth that they give so honestly just always touches me deeply.
A boisterous party or an evening at home with a handful of friends?
Give me an evening at home with a few special folks . . . a great meal and wonderful bottle of wine. Fewer people allows for more of an opportunity for conversation and connection.
In the movie of your life, who would play you?
Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman or Robin Williams . . . I´m both serious and nutty with a keen sense of community, broad sense of humor and often all over the place . . . with a laser focus when I choose. Any of these guys could interpret my character well.
What stands out in your mind as the best book you´ve ever read and how did it influence you?
The Little Prince by St. Exupery is my book. No matter how many times I´ve read it, it never fails to hit at the heart of the important matters of life. It speaks to being in the moment with a deep appreciation for the magic of love, life and laughter.
If you were one of the characters in the Peanuts cartoon strip, who would you be?
Oh, I suppose I´d say Schroeder . . . banging away at that piano, making wonderful music and sometimes oblivious to everything else.
Tell us about your latest project a focus on the Golden Rule. How did it come about? What is your ultimate objective in promoting this message?
The Flag of Peace and Freedom project focused on getting the message to world leaders. My new focus is getting the word out to the people with the sincere belief that if the people lead, our leaders will follow! I call my most recent peace effort "The Golden Rule Activist". My message is simple. Firstly, the Golden Rule forms the basis of virtually every religion on earth . . . and for folks who are non-religious but who believe in fair play, it also resonates.
The problem is that we forget to employ the message and "right action" on a regular basis. It seems, to many people, that it´s far easier to point a finger and blame others for the state of our world. Nothing could be further from the truth, in that each of us has the power to make a real positive difference. That´s where the "Activist" part comes in.
So, I´ve taken on putting the Golden Rule back on center stage by creating simple reminders that folks can easily employ to spark right action. Yes, it starts in the heart and mind but is truly measured by our actions!
Being kind and respectful to one another is something that we´re all taught in school. Why is it, though, that we seem to lose this guiding principle, as we get older?
Perhaps this simple message is disregarded as naοve . . . not fitting in the real world. So we have fabricated this convenient cop-out to keeping our blinders on. Sorry, this just won´t work anymore. How many opportunities do we have to turn things around? It´s a serious mistake to think that we don´t ever have to take personal responsibility for making this a better world. It´s critical to realize that every positive action, no matter how small, registers in the world. We are not powerless unless we think we are.
Ultimate objective? Easy! Creating a better world one person at a time. See www.goldenruleactivist.com for more details.
What personal or professional accomplishment thus far are you the most proud of?
I am most proud of my work on behalf of my community . . . both local and international in all the many forms it has taken over the years and the forms it will take next. I have learned that one person can make a real difference . . . additionally, I must say that my focus on humor and making people smile has made all of the efforts, while sometimes difficult, a real joy.
Whose work do you most admire in the art world?
It would be a tie amongst Monet, Lautrec, Walt Disney and John Lennon
If you could travel back in time to meet these guys, what is the one question you would most like to ask them?
"Could we spend the evening together over a great meal and a bottle of wine?" . . . and then I would just let it happen!
Anything else you´d like readers to know about you?
It´s important to encourage people to dream big dreams and then it´s important to get to work! Equally important is to nurture love in your heart and to tell the folks who you love that you love them . . . often! It´s pretty clear that each lifetime is finite . . . there´s no time to waste . . . get to it!
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