Arts & Entertainment

Harvey Pekar Statue Dedication Ceremony Set for Oct. 14

The statue will be installed in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library's main branch on Lee Road, "Harvey's first love and second home."

Harvey Pekar's widow Joyce Brabner called the Pekar's "first love and second home."

So it's fitting that a statue in his honor will be installed at the main branch of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library next month.

A dedication ceremony for the statue is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 at the Lee Road Library.

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The acclaimed American Splendor comic book creator and Cleveland Heights resident died in 2010.

After he passed, Brabner launched a Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $38,000 for the statue, created by sculptor Justin Coulter.

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The library will also install a plaque proclaiming it a "Literary Landmark," designated by the Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundation, according to a press release from the Heights Libraries about the event. 

The event, “Harvey Pekar: A Literary, Library Life,” will feature a presentation by JT Waldman, the illustrator who collaborated with Pekar on his posthumously published graphic novel, Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me.

"Pekar’s relationship with the library is a big part of Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me ... Waldman met Pekar in 2005 and gave him a copy of his first graphic novel, Megillat Esther, a retelling of the biblical story of Esther," the library wrote. "Pekar liked the book so much he invited Waldman to illustrate Not the Israel. The collaboration began in 2008 and included trips to the Lee Road branch of Heights Libraries, which is featured in the book."

The Philadelphia-based artist includes his favorite excerpt from the graphic novel, which was released July 3, on his website.

"It’s a bittersweet time that also marks two years since Harvey’s passing, so it’s a strange mix of pride and sadness. I hope that he would be happy with the final book. My favorite part of the book is the car interlude with Harvey and I cruising around Cleveland," Waldman wrote above the excerpt, which features the Guardians of Transportation and other Cleveland landmarks.

The library will provide light refreshments at the free event, and copies of the book will be for sale. For more information, visit the Heights Libraries website.


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