What is a Croctail?

David Sepulveda of the New Haven Independent recently wrote an eloquent article citing the brilliant artistic talents of New Haven’s own Robert S. Greenberg.  We were so impressed with Mr. Sepulveda’s words, and the accompanying illustrations that are the brain-child of Mr. Greenberg we are relating, in part, a short synopsis of the article.

Born in New Haven, Greenberg credits its public schools and the Educational Center for the Arts with preparing him for the creative paths he would later pursue. While a public school student, he won several citywide design contests, where his budding extraordinary talent was recognized at an early age.

Greenberg can often be seen in New Haven’s bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, and museums, from which he draws inspiration. With only a handful of markers and the Pilot razor-point pens he favors, Greenberg transforms his “canvases” — small 5” x 5” BevNap cocktail napkins — into crocodile-centric imagery, thus creating his famous ‘croctail’ art of people, places, and occasions that surround him. Greenberg said his personified croc characters are “a way of depicting life without infringing on any preconceived cultural, racial, or ethnic notions.”

At last count, this napkin-art series numbered in the thousands, even after Greenberg  gave, or traded away, many more illustrated napkins than he kept for his collection. Nevertheless, a long antique munitions box bulged with neat zip lock packets of his croc drawings, each one a time capsule with its own story. Greenberg’s up-to-the-minute musings of crocs with attitude have been lighting up social media of late, finding new fans and a global audience in a way that was impossible when he began the series three decades ago.

Three years ago, after leaving a successful twenty-six year career in New York City, he moved back to New Haven.  Greenberg has come full circle, embracing his hometown, its history, and a belief in its potential. Each day he can be found building an enduring artistic legacy with the most unique materials: his storytelling cocktail napkins.

To enjoy the original entire article and see copies of some of Mr. Greenberg’s artwork, visit http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/the_age_of_croctails/