Charlie Kleiman

Charlie Kleiman passed away in an auto accident in March, 2016. Charlie truly loved working in stone. He loved that he could create soft, smooth, caress-able art from a rough stone. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Slattery.

A POEM FOR CHARLIE
Charlie
My stone carving friend
My fellow sculptor
My could-have-been mentor
Your smile has carved itself into my memory
Etched itself into my heart.

And when didn’t you have a smile?
Even acquaintances, friends-to-be, strangers, a passer-by
Were graced with your radiance
Your unwavering cheer.
Only when you were carving
Lost in your elemental dream
Did your smile dissolve
Into a dusty reverie;
Your soul spoke in stone.

Charlie  We shared a week
Adorned with safety goggles, dust masks, ear plugs,
Guiding pneumatic chisels and angle grinders
On their incessantly vociferous mission
Tapping, whirring and purring
A dance of hands, a chorus of tools
Dust and chips flying
Creating beauty out of randomness.

We shared a piece of Portuguese marble
Cut into two sparkling rock palettes
One for each of us
And we are still connected
By stone.

Charlie
You lived your stone-dusted dream
And we honor your journey
When we pick up our rasps, our chisels, our grinders
You are there
Helping, encouraging, smiling

Always.

Heidi Temko 2016

Charlie Kleiman