Arnold David Clapman  

recent work

It was the year 2009 in Santa Cruz California and I just turned 70. The state was suffering through an economic slump.. The funding for my outreach programs was cut and I could no longer afford to live there. My 3rd marriage of 17 years ended and one by one the last of the friends who were my age passed away. Santa Cruz no longer felt like home..

Baltimore, where I grew up, beckoned with ample health benefits for seniors so I relocated to Pikesville and moved into the Weinberg House, an independent living facility for senior citizens.

Word of my arrival reached visiting Israeli folk singer Oneg Shemesh who was excited that I had played with Ritchie Havens. We played a one night gig at a local synagogue which brought me to the attention of the orthodox Jewish community.. With "Rockin" Rabbi Avram Rosenblum, I founded the former renown 7 piece band "The Brisket Brothers". (see Facebook).

On June 19, 2015 the Baltimore Jewish Times ran a four page cover story entitled " the Many Lives of Arnold Clapman". It won a National Jewish Journalism award for best profile story of the year.

In the last few months of 2022 Luigi, the owner of Pizza Blitz, a local upscale pizza parlor invited me to exhibit my paintings in his gallery area. My 60's painting "Trees" sold promptly. I will be hanging at least 3 new canvasses on what is becoming my wall space. I hope the public likes the artwork of this aging painter and I am grateful to be creating again.

Also in November of 2022, three of my drawings won Honorable Mention in the Baltimore Department of Aging Power of Age Senior Expo art contest. 

Just for the record, the development of water mixable oils and acrylic paints has enabled me to resume painting in my small studio without being subjected to toxic fumes from turpentine and other volatile mediums. Another gift derived from technological advances. You have to love it.