"Jackets, Covers & Sleeves" Exhibition Opening Wednesday 3 November 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010 at 10:50 
The Vintage Irish Book Covers blog are very proud to be presenting this exhibition of Cor Klaasen's wonderful book and record cover designs. We have been looking through the Klaasen family's archive of Cor's work and selecting the most interesting and striking pieces for inclusion in the show. The record sleeves alone will make this exhibition unmissable for anyone interested in graphic design, illustration and visual culture in general.
The opening is on Wednesday 3 November from 6-8pm and all are welcome. Brian Lalor, printmaker and editor of The Encyclopedia of Ireland will open the exhibition.
The exhibition will run from Thurs 4 – Wed 10 November inclusive and will be open daily from 11–5.
Cor Klaasen: Jackets, Covers & Sleeves
Venue: Adifferentkettleoffishaltogether, 18 Ormond Quay Upper
Times: Daily 11 – 5pm. Thurs 4 – Wed 10 November inclusive
Opening: Wednesday 3 November, 2010, 6 – 8 pm. Guest Speaker: Brian Lalor
Sponsors: The Netherlands Embassy, Gill & Macmillan and Hudson Killeen.
Reader Comments (2)
Cor Klaasen- more of an institution
At Cor's exhibition in 2004,in the Print Museum,Beggars Bush, I bought one of his super Lino cuts,that now hangs proudly in my home.It means much,and far more than it obviously illustrates.
He was a tutor to many,but I was fortunate to go and work for him in Key Communications,after I left DLSAD in 1984.Much of his teaching methods were legendary,and even the banal techniques of the graphic workshop,were accompanied by stories of wartime europe and his own heritage.
His insightful letters to students,were as if from a soothsayer.
An infamous group trip to Paris,where Cor and his wife Tineke,were guest 'shaparons'.This was not the job,however,they came for. Cor had his manual wind-up 8mm movie camera,was well ahead of the posse,and captured many moments of a students first visit to an european cultural capital. He coined the phrase to describe a naive young art student from dublin as 'coming out of the clay' .
I worked at Cor's Key Communications on the 'strip' in Dublin,but only for relatively short period.
Cor's swift and agile ways cutting ruby lith,with a scalpel was something to behold.
I spent as a junior in the sauna of the re-pro room,hoping the result would not be what Cor would term 'urine prints'.
Later in another advertising agency,I heard other stories about him. He was a keen smoker,and rolled his own. He enjoyed the craft ,and made a neat job of his cigarettes. Apparently he liked to build up a supply,but was disciplined,and kept to his daily quota. One day however,he was agitated about something or other,(usually those horrible ads at the back of the evening herald for cinema listings)...and as a result,smoked tomorrows cigarette!
His humour was paramount,but non more so when I visited Tineke,his wife, and their home,just a few years ago.From the hall door it was step back into the world of Cor K,and all his interests outside of the world of commercial art. -Zeppelins,one of his favorite subjects, models of everything from detailed buildings to animals, lino prints and patterns,his own collection of favorite graphics.
Their home,an eclectic collection,an original atmosphere,and a legacy many aspire to,but few achieve.
I was glad to have crossed Cor's path,and his mark is as indelible as the print that's hangs over the mantlepiece.
LS
I attended the exhibition with my class from Ballyfermot college. To see Cor Klaasens work first hand added a great insight into his creations as well as a huge amount of respect and appreciation for the detail and skill that went into each piece. I really enjoyed the exhibition very much, also Niall done an excellent job telling our class about Cor Klaasens journey from Amsterdam to Ireland as well as the processes involved in making the various different pieces. Our whole class now have a project to complete inspired by the style of Mr. Cor klassen as a way to pay respect to his unique and powerful visual style.