There was something monumental about Michael Kane who died on Friday. You’d have thought he’d live forever.
Since 1972 his artwork has graced the covers of Gallery books. First his woodcuts, etchings and linocuts became a signature of our design. More recently paintings adorned several covers. In all, his work appeared on almost 100 titles. His illustrations featured in several limited edition chapbooks by Derek Mahon, one of the many authors who admired his art and individual brilliance. In 1984 I had a brainwave and commissioned a woodcut alphabet. (Later I had to return to him and request a set of numerals, Later again, a set of quotation marks!) We use the alphabet on the titles of all of our books – a hallmark of Gallery Press publications and a signal of our intention that his art, at least, will live on forever.
It was fitting that Michael Kane was one of two artists accorded special place in our Cover Versions exhibition in the RHA two or three years ago. That spontaneous applause erupted when I spoke about him at the opening — about him, the perennial outsider, in that historically august but now admirably inclusive organization — said everything about people’s regard for him.
To his beloved Shelley, Oisín and Aoife we send our most sincere sympathy. May he rest in peace.
