LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Mort Kunstler upon the occasion of his
designation for special recognition by the Oyster Bay Lions Club on
April 29, 2012

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Mort Kunstler has given not only of his time and energies but
also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has
been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Mort
Kunstler upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by
the Oyster Bay Lions Club on Sunday, April 29, 2012; and
WHEREAS, After studying art at Brooklyn College, UCLA, and Pratt
Institute, Mort Kunstler became a successful illustrator in New York
where he received assignments from book and magazine publishers; and
WHEREAS, Mort Kunstler has also done a great deal of work for adver-
tising, model kit box tops and movie posters; and
WHEREAS, An important part of Mort Kunstler's training resulted from
his affiliation with National Geographic Magazine in the 1960s; through
their assignments of historical subject matter he learned the value of
working with historians so that accuracy was firmly imbedded into his
concept; and
WHEREAS, After a major museum retrospective exhibition and a one-man
show at the prestigious Hammer Galleries in New York City, Mort Kunstler
became known as an important painter of historic subjects; and
WHEREAS, Since his first show in 1977, Mort Kunstler has had fourteen
more highly successful one-man shows at Hammer Galleries; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, Mort Kunstler was commissioned by CBS-TV to do a
painting for the mini-series, "The Blue and the Gray"; and
WHEREAS, Mort Kunstler devoted much time to making sure that his
painting, The High Water Mark, was meticulously correct; the painting,
which was unveiled at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum on
July 2, 1988, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the battle, is
considered the most accurate and exciting painting ever done of the
event; and
WHEREAS, Mort Kunstler's art has been the subject of 18 books; his
most recent, FOR US THE LIVING - THE ART OF MORT KUNSTLER, was published
by Sterling in 2010, with text by Dr. James Robertson, Jr. and Foreward
by Harold Holzer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and
WHEREAS, Mort Kunstler received substantial critical praise for his
recent painting, Washington's Crossing; the painting was unveiled at the
New York Historical Society on December 26, 2011, the 235th anniversary
of the actual event; and
WHEREAS, Considered America's greatest historical artist, Mort
Kunstler has become well known for the extraordinary authenticity and
drama of his work; and
WHEREAS, Mort Kunstler has created paintings that educate and enrich
the viewer's understanding of some of the most important events in Amer-
ican history; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Mort Kunstler upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by the Oyster Bay Lions Club; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mort Kunstler.