Bob Clem

Robert Verity Clem

 
Bob Clem passed away on the weekend at his home in Chatham. It was a pleasure to meet Bob, and spend a little time with an artist of uncommon sensitivity and grace, with an unassuming nature.

For those who are not familiar with Bob's work, find a copy of The Shorebirds of North America (Stout, Matthiessen, Clem and Palmer, 1967, Viking Press) and feast your eyes on work by the man who was one of the greatest wildlife painters of our time. Beg, borrow, or steal to order a copy if you don't have on - you need to indulge yourself with this book.

The photo above, wickedly used without permission, is of an Eskimo Curlew, the first plate in the book. I shot is with my iPhone in the harsh florescent light of my office, and it is still beautiful. There is a verse by William Beebe as a caption to the photo, and at the risk of being sentimental I'll put that in too - 

"The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconcieved, though its first material espression be destroyed;

a vanished harmony may yet again inspire a composer;

but when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another heaven and earth must pass before such a one can be again." 

 

 

Comments

[Brian Harrington]

Sept 13 2010. This was the last time I saw Bob Clem before he died (the next week) He was at the ‘Wasteland’ with his video camera nearby to flocks of BBPL at the waterline on this especially high tide. When he had finished, and returned to his boat, I paddled over and we had a very pleasant chat about the shorebirds, the peregrine, the migration this year, the bar-tailed godwit that is around and others he had seen, about his old boat engine, and some other topics. As we were readying to part he asked that I wait until he started his engine, and then offered to tow me in. I declined, saying that I wanted to try my new kayak sail. We agreed to ‘race’. I last saw Bob far ahead, in the channel heading to Stage Harbor inlet at Hardings beach. The traditional image of him – traditional boat, hat, long shirt and pants, heading into the lowering afternoon sun. He clearly had had a very enjoyable afternoon at South beach. What finer parting image could there be! Brian