Karel Appel

Appel helped form CoBrA with Constant, Jorn, Alechinsky, Noiret and Dotremont, Dotremont remaining a close friend. Francis lent him a New York studio (Noguchi a neighbour) – Davis and Basie came to have portraits painted. De Kooning and Kline were met during a summer on Long Island. He collaborated with his friend Ginsberg and with the choreographer Tanaka (the composer Dao also working with Appel on one production). He also worked with Baker, and with his friend Gillespie. Ginsberg and Corso helped him celebrate his 70th birthday, across the street from Corso’s methadone clinic. A projected collaboration with Bacon never materialised.