The world continues to recognize the talents of Sandy Gleichmann (Thompson) whose drawings and cartoons spiced the Class of ’57 yearbook. She was one of our two art editors. Her achievements since then fill a book, but the latest recognition comes from the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group (www.IBPPG.com) which recently announced that Sandy’s new book, of her own paintings, Palm Beach: A Retrospective has been listed among the four finalists in the Best Overall Design category.

Besides its good design this book has several other strengths, including very nice pictures of Sandy—fine photos of the artist at work and at home as well as a couple of self-portraits that distill Sandy’s cheerfulness and playfulness. The paintings themselves range from wildly crowded fresh caricatures to a ballerina inspired by her dancing grandniece Kaitlyn to impressionist pieces and bright semi-tropical celebrations of Palm Beach’s flora and architecture. 

The story of Sandy’s career follows 93 rich and finely printed reproductions of her work. When Eileen McNamara took her drama class to Manhattan to see Jason Robards in Long Day’s Journey into Night, “It was a seminal moment that inspired so much of what would form my cultural palette.” The family in O’Neill’s play struggles with the misery of alcoholism and drugs. Their story helped Sandy understand her own troubled family and provided a durable inspiration for her writing.

Never bragging and always unselfish, Sandy’s story celebrates the many gifts life has given her from the creative liberties of childhood in Sea Cliff to marrying WWII veteran David Thompson with whom she settled happily in Palm Beach. From paintings to autobiography this is a bright book of joy and thanksgiving. I give thanks every time I sit down and travel through its transformations of life and art.

FINALISTS [Overall Design]:

Palm Beach A Retrospective: The Art Of Sandra Thompson, by Sandra Thompson (Star Group International) (ISBN 978-1884886942)

Put the Needle on the Record, by Matthew Chojnacki (Schiffer Publishing) (ISBN 978-0764338311)

Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat, by Melissa Joulwan (David Humphreys) (978-0615572260)

Wild in Arizona: Photographing Arizona's Wildflowers, A Guide to When, Where, and How, by Paul Gill and Colleen Miniuk-Sperry (Analemma Press) (ISBN 978-0983380405)