Love is in the Air

Love is in the air in Gowanus, Root Hill Cafe continues its ongoing series celebrating local art with a new exhibit by Brooklyn-based artist and architect Caleb Crawford. His collection of hand-drawn Valentine’s Day cards, saved over the past 10 years, began as a tribute to “the two women in his life,” his wife Annie, and 14-year-old daughter, Madeline. 

“The cards are a parallel to a series of drawings I variously call Form Poems, Autodidactic Drawings, and Useless Drawings,” Crawford said of his work. “These Valentines are confections. Their sole intent is delight.”  

Because they were gifts, the original drawings displayed are not for sale, but framed copies, as well as postcard sets of 10, are available for purchase at Root Hill through the end of February. Custom drawings can be commissioned for Valentine’s Day, birthdays and anniversaries.  

Caleb Crawford is a practicing artist and architect living and working in Brooklyn. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute and SCI-Arc in LA. To learn more about Caleb Crawford, or to commission his work, visit his  blog and website.  

Crawford’s wife of 18 years, renowned artist and designer Annie Coggan, recently displayed her own work as part of the RHC Arts Series in a 3D exhibit, "The Chair Show." Other local artists previously featured in the space include  Frank Ishman, Lourdes Sánchez and  Percy Aguayo.