Magician Steve Cohen and Renata Kadrnka with a painting by Kadrnka's husband, magician and artist Chan Canasta. Photo ©Herb's Magic On Sunday, Steve Cohen paid tribute to magician Chan Canasta by presenting a display of 40 of Canasta's paintings in the suite in the Waldorf Astoria hotel where Cohen performs his show Chamber Magic on Fridays and Saturdays. Canasta was known largely through his appearances on TV in Great Britain and the United States during the 1950s and 60s in which he performed effects that were primarily focused in the area of mentalism. In his later years Canasta largely withdrew from performing magic and focused on painting. He died in 1999. Although today Canasta's name is not as broadly recognized as some of his contemporaries in magic, he had a pronounced influence on numerous notable magicians of succeeding generations.
Invitations to the free event were sent to the mailing list for Cohen's show, and it was also announced on the Chamber Magic web site. Among the noteworthy guests in attendance was Canasta's wife, Renata Kadrnka who mingled with guests and reflected warmly on Canasta throughout the afternoon. Also in attendance were magician Doug McKenzie, a collector of Canasta's paintings who loaned several of the works displayed; as well as magician Peter DePaula; Tannen's Magic President Adam Blumenthal; Monday Night Magic Producer Michael Chaut; performer and author Ken Weber; and Belgian art dealer Igal Azuelos who also provided many of the displayed paintings.
"The whole idea for this event was simply to pay homage to Chan Canasta who has influenced me as a performer," said Cohen. "When I had a chance to meet his wife, Renata, I relaized the she didn’t know that her husband has left an important legacy to magicians today. Anyone who has watched Chan Canasta or studied Chan Canasta’s work as a magician realizes that he was far ahead of his time, and I wanted to show his wife that his style of performing and the nuances that he brought to mentalism and magic have a degree of importance that still lasts even after he has passed."
Periodically throughout the afternoon Cohen performed card tricks from Canasta's repertoire. Guests could also watch Canasta himself perform in video clips on a large screen at one end of the suite. Another magical aspect of the afternoon was the high tea provided which included a selection of elegant desserts.
Invitations to the free event were sent to the mailing list for Cohen's show, and it was also announced on the Chamber Magic web site. Among the noteworthy guests in attendance was Canasta's wife, Renata Kadrnka who mingled with guests and reflected warmly on Canasta throughout the afternoon. Also in attendance were magician Doug McKenzie, a collector of Canasta's paintings who loaned several of the works displayed; as well as magician Peter DePaula; Tannen's Magic President Adam Blumenthal; Monday Night Magic Producer Michael Chaut; performer and author Ken Weber; and Belgian art dealer Igal Azuelos who also provided many of the displayed paintings.
"The whole idea for this event was simply to pay homage to Chan Canasta who has influenced me as a performer," said Cohen. "When I had a chance to meet his wife, Renata, I relaized the she didn’t know that her husband has left an important legacy to magicians today. Anyone who has watched Chan Canasta or studied Chan Canasta’s work as a magician realizes that he was far ahead of his time, and I wanted to show his wife that his style of performing and the nuances that he brought to mentalism and magic have a degree of importance that still lasts even after he has passed."
Periodically throughout the afternoon Cohen performed card tricks from Canasta's repertoire. Guests could also watch Canasta himself perform in video clips on a large screen at one end of the suite. Another magical aspect of the afternoon was the high tea provided which included a selection of elegant desserts.
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