PORTRAITS - THE MANY FACES OF HARI |
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PORTRAITS - THE MANY FACES OF HARI |
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The wide eyed Hari looks at you as though he is visualizing another subject for one of the literally hundreds of faces who have graced his canvases. He never takes his eyes off you, even while bubbling over with anecdotes about the famous - and not-so-famous - people who have become a part of his life through his art. 
Many of his subjects are household names. from the worlds of art, comedy, fashion, law, music, science, sports, writing - you name it! Some of those who have posed for Hari - who was born in Perth Amboy 46 years ago, and still lives on Sherman Street - are listed here, many with links to articles, photos or the portraits themselves. In a rare exclusive interview with The Beacon, Hari spoke of one of his most famous subjects, actor Dustin Hoffman.
"I knew Dustin quite well," he said. "I grew up in Fairfax, CA. I lived on Vista Street, and he lived on Beechwood Drive. We both went to Fairfax High. He wasn't in my class, though. Fairfax is part of what's known as 'West Hollywood.' His father was a cabinetmaker, I remember." I met Dustin later in New York," Hari continued. "He called me because he never had a portrait done. He lives now in Roxbury, CT. He told me that it's the only portrait he'll ever have done. We talked about the craziness of growing up in California. It was a great reunion." In another interview, this time with The Home News & Tribune, Hari recalled calling actor/dancer Gene Kelly for a bit of advice after he was asked to become a television talk show host. "Do what you do well and are trained to do," Kelly said. Hari turned down the offer. In addition to painting, one thing Hari does well is put his subjects at ease. "I don't know why I'm telling you all of these things," his subjects often will say as they are holding a pose. "It's like a confessional," Hari says of the sittings. Showing the humorous side of some of the sittings, Hari recalled that designer Bill Blass "asked me what to wear! Imagine that! He should be telling me!" Recalling a sitting with Katherine Ann Porter, the writer of "Ship of Fools", Hari mentioned that she kept the coffin that she was going to be buried in inside one of her rooms. As a gag, we stood up in it, and somehow a picture appeared in the papers." On a more serious side, many of the people Hari has drawn are gone. These include the Metuchen poet John Ciardi and Isaac Asimov, the scence fiction writer. And poet W. H. Auden, who Hari knew in New York and who was a father figure. He also knew and did a portrait of playwright Tennessee Williams, whom he called by his original name, "Tom." But, if he is losing friends, he is gaining others as he paints. At 47, he's got miles to go before he sleeps. When asked what he thought of his life so far, Hari replied "It's great, I love it. Can I get another one?" |
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