Year of the monkey completes stamp set
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Clarence Lee practiced his childhood artwork on waxy, pink butcher paper that his father, an immigrant from China, brought home from his butcher shop in McCully.
USPS Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Decades later, Lee's intricate, paper-cut designs of the animals of the Chinese lunar calendar would be showcased on a series of U.S. stamps that have become popular around the world.
On Jan. 13, the Postal Service will issue its Year of the Monkey stamp, created by Clarence Lee.
Clarence Lee, right, and Postmaster General John Potter yesterday unveiled Lee's souvenir sheet at an East-West Center reception.
Last night, during a ceremony at the East-West Center at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, Lee and Postmaster General John E. Potter unveiled the 2005 Lunar New Year Commemorative stamps: the "Souvenir Sheet," a full set of all 12 of Lee's lunar calendar creations.
More than 200 people, many of them carefully fingering the evening's program, ready to spring from their seats in anticipation of a Lee autograph, attended the program and reception.
The Souvenir Sheet won't go on sale until 2005. But each of Lee's animal stamps have been sold annually at the beginning of each lunar year since the series began in 1992 with the Year of the Rooster, and 2004 won't be any different. The Year of The Monkey stamp will be issued Jan. 13.
"I had to wait through 11 stamps to get to the best one," said Charles Morrison, president of the East-West Center, who was born in the Year of the Monkey.
Lee said he considered the stamps a tribute not only to his father and other Chinese immigrants, but to immigrants of all nationalities who built the country and gave it its diverse character.
He also took the opportunity to thank his parents, who supported him in his pursuit of his art from childhood through college, even though most of his peers were encouraged to pursue more "serious" occupations.
"It was very uncommon for a Chinese immigrant's son to pursue a career in art," he said. "I think that helped when I was chosen for this project. There are very few Chinese artists in my generation."
Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
