Meet Christian Brechneff, author with Tim Lovejoy of “The Greek House: The Story of a Painter’s Love Affair with the Island of Sifnos” at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, December 12 at 6:00 pm. Refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase and signing.
In his book, Mr. Brechneff presents a funny, touching narrative about his relationship to the island, writing with warmth about its unforgettable residents and the house he bought in a hilltop village thirty years ago. “The Greek House” is a celebration of place and an honest account of self-discovery. Richard Horan of The Christian Science Monitor wrote, "Swiss painter Christian Brechneff’s story—a beguiling mix of genres, from travelogue to art guide—is the next best thing to actually going to a Greek island."
Born in the Belgian Congo in 1950, Christian Brechneff was educated in Switzerland and the United States (St. Olaf College). In 1975 he received his Master of Arts degree from the Royal College of Art in London. He has exhibited in Switzerland, Spain, England, Germany, Sri Lanka, and the United States, and his paintings appear in public and private collections all over the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Mr. Brechneff is also the author of "Homage: Encounters with the East," a book of travel drawings published in 2007. He lives in Hadlyme, Connecticut.
Carol Haggas wrote in Booklist “Some people are born to love a location and never leave, deeming it the perfect spot for their senses and sensibilities. Others have to travel the world before they discover a place they can truly call home. So it was for artist Brechneff, who stumbled off the ferry onto the Greek island of Sifnos and fell into a sheltering oasis . . . Describing his 30-year love affair with the island and its people, Brechneff paints a portrait as vivid and captivating as anything he ever committed to canvas.”
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
