William Steig: Love (5 Laughter June 12 Through October 31, 2010 by Step Hanie Haboush Plunkett, Deputy Director/Chief Curator, Norman Rockwell Museum

NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM

William Steig: Love (5 Laughter June 12 through October 31, 2010 by Step hanie Haboush Plunkett, Deputy Director/Chief Curator, Norman Rockwell Museum

As a child, William Steig (1907-2003) wished that he could run away to sea; and if the Great D epress ion hadn' t intervened, the acclaimed "King of Cartoons" may have done just that. Renowned for his uproarious comic art, best-selling illustrated novels, and picture books, wh ich kept America laughing through thick and thin for more than 70 years, this master illustrator contin ues to inspire in an exciting new exhibition at th e Norman Rockwell Museum. William Steig: Love 6 Laughter explores th e richness of the arti st's imagery from his 1930S Small Fry seri es, recalling the color ful Bronx neighborhood of his yo uth; New Yorker covers and gag cartoons; to beloved picture books like Shrek!, (the inspiration for the blockbuster DreamWorks an im ated films) and Alph.a Beta Chowder, written by his wife and fellow artist, Jeanne Steig.

(lW,lliamSte'8 Allrightsfeserved Norman Rockwell Museum, a g,ft of Jeilnne Steig Love, laughter, and everyday life-recur- ring subjects of the artist's fa scination with life-emerge in extraordinary, intuitive drawings, in which friends are giving and cou ples are loving, "just not every sin gle minute." An as tute observer of the world around him, Steig "remembered his childhood like it were yesterd ay," sa id Jeanne Steig; and children and anim als always capti va ted his attention. A deep affection for cats, dogs, and every manner of creature is evident in hil arious scenarios inspired by his ongoing speculati ons about what th ey might be thinking and what they would say or do, if only given the chance. earl y 300 ori gin al Steig drawings are accompanied by the vibrant dimensional sculptures and assemblages ofJeanne Steig, a gifted artist and accomplished author, and Steig's wife of 35 years. Inspired to make art by her husband, Jeanne creates compelling artworks made almos t exclusively from unique street find s and other di scarded objects; from rusted pieces of metal and weathered scraps of wood to colorful cloth, buttons, and stones. Starting out during the earl y yea rs of their relationship, "I protested my lack of skill and training, but the truth was that I had always wa nted to make things, and somehow he figured that out." The in stall ation reveals the joys of their creative co-habitation and the emergence of themes in both arti sts' work which speak to th eir shared vision.

continue 011 right il1side pal1el FROM THE DIRECTOR programs <5 events June - October 2010

SUNDAY DOOR DUTY about relati onships, family life, O n a recent Sunday after and marital relations, Steig for children (5 falnilies noon, I delighted in chatting was a keen and gifted observer with some of our visitors; of human nature. Play Ball! An All-American Festival while awaiting thc arrival of We are deeply grateful Saturday, July 3, 72 - 4 p.m. friends, I sat in the front lobby to receive the largest gift of Ce lebrate America's favorite pastime and the art and pcrsonall y welcomed art the Museum has ever of Norman Rockwe ll. Meet Lin da Ruth Tosetti, each guest who came through received, with more th an Babe Ruth's grand aughter; learn about the Major Leagues from Bria n Daubach, former Red Sox first 8 00 images by William Steig the doors. baseman; explore the art of baseball with illustra We had visitors of all ages gifted to the Museum by the tor Graig Kreindler; take a live ly look at the history that day-from fa milies with artist's widow. of the sport with Anna Wade, Director of Edu ca energetic toddlers, to an elderl y couple BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEWS tion at the National Base ball Hall of Fame; toss the who were happy to borrow a Museum Norman Rockwell Museum is proud ba ll with the Pittsfi eld Colonials (bring your mitt!); create a baseba ll -inspired work of art with 3- D to announce the new leadership team of wheelchair. A photo grapher came to artist Charles Fazzino; and try the fa st pitch booth view Behind the Camera , and remarked Thomas L. Pulling (Board Chairman) with the Tri City Valley Cats. Fuel up with an all on Rockwell 's meti culous working and Annc H . Morgan (Board Presid ent) American gri ll on the Museum's terra ce. Program process directing each scene. Three to its Board ofTrustces; the leadcrs were free with M use um admission. yo ung women were thrilled to learn sworn in during the Museum's recent they could use their coll ege IDs for Board of Trustees meeting, held on discounted adm iss ion . March 19,2010. New board members My most poignant encounter was Richard J. Kelly and Murray Tinkelman wi th a woman wh o asked me for di were also elected to three-year terms at recti ons back to the hi ghway. "I don' t thc Museum's Annual Board of Trustees usuall y drive," she sa id . "My husband meeti ng held on September 25, 2009. always did the driving. He has less than Off-going trustees inelude Cath arine a month to li ve, and I wanted him to D eely, C larke Bail ey, and D an C ain, see the Museum. I'm so glad we came," who served as Board President from 2006 she remarked. I was moved deeply by to 2010. We are grateful for the outstand this overwhelming life moment to have ing service from our pas t trustees, and orman Rockwell M useum mean so look forward to working with our newest much to them . board members in th e future. Through th e hour I welcomed I hope you will pl an a vi sit to FESTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES gues ts, I istened to stori es, chatted Norman Rockwell Museum this summer. Cartoon Network Presents: Move It! about the art, and marveled at the Wheth er the Museum is in your back Friday, July 9, 77 a.m. - 3 p.m. dive rsity of visitors from near and far. ya rd and you can enjoy the beautiful Cartoon Network, Time Warn er, and Norman Rockwell Museum, are bri nging the brand new Norman Rockwell's art touched many grounds, Ro ckwell 's studio, lunch on MOVE IT MOVEMENT to Stockbridge! Action li ves that day as it does every day here the terrace, and our changing exhibi packed activity and learn ing stations include a in Stockbridge and around the globe, ti ons, on a regular bas is; or you arc Skate Park Cha llenge, NBA/ WNBA Fit Activity whether visiting one of the Museum's m aking a yearl y pilgrimage, your fir st Zone, Crayola Outdoor Challenge, NFL PLAY 60, traveling exhibitions or viewing our or last visit of a lifetime, the Museum Soccer Shootout Cha ll enge, CNN Fit Nation Kiosk, and Cartoon Network Ch ill Zone. Walk the Mu website. T he common thread was the is a magical pl ace fill ed with memory seum's scen ic site as an added chal lenge! Celebrate pl easure and delight they sharcd in and meaning. active and hea lthy living. Free! Museum admission community with his art. I look for ward to opening the door for adults is additional. T hat vibrant sense of community for yo u . comes alive on the wa ll s of the Museum Warmly, '- this summer with the hilarious artwork of William Steig, cartoonist and cover arti st for The New Yorker. His work, to gether with that of his wife Jeanne Steig, will be on view in William Steig: Love Laurie Norton Moffatt 6 Laughter. Best known for his cartoons Director/CEO William Steig: Love 6 Laughter continued (rom cover

Born in Brookl yn, New York on became a regular feature in the magazine, works by the arti st to the Museum's per ovember 14, 1907, William Steig was and we re subsequently published in a num manent coll ecti on of illustrati on art. This the son of Eastern European Jewish immi ber of popular cartoon collections. generous gift, spanning the artist's seven grants, a family of arti sts who nurtured In 1939, Steig released the First of a col decade career, is made possibl e by Jeanne his creati ve gifts from an early age. As a lecti on of "symbolic Steig, who wishes to child, he dabbled in painting and drawing, drawings" inspired by I think 1 feel a little differently share her husband's art and was an av id reader of literature. After psychoanalys is and than other people do. For some though ongoin g public attending high sc hool, he spent two yea rs modern art, which access and preserva at C ity Coll ege in New York, three years pushed the boundar reason I've never felt grown up. ti on. We are thrilled to at the National Academy of D esign, and ies of cartoon art. T he - William Steig become th e custodi ans a mere Fi ve days at Yale School of Fine illustrator continued of this important col Arts. To support his fa mily during the to experiment with artisti c style and subj ect lecti on by a true visionary in the Ficld of G reat Depression, Steig began showing matter, becomi ng a highly influential visual illustration, and are grateful to Ms. Steig his drawin gs to publishers, and eventually commentator on the joys and chall enges for sharing her husband's great gift with found work at The Ne w Yorker; hi s Small of everyday life and matters of the heart. us; "William Steig made me laugh too," Fry cartoons depict During his lifetime, Steig created more she refl ected. "I-li s drawings- which he ing children in than 1600 drawings andu7 covers for The sometimes referred to as doodles- offered extraord i nary New Yorker, and authored and illustrated an endless, tender commentary on life in situati ons, more th an 40 children's pi cture books, the city. T hey will m ake a perfect pairing often with an existential bent. Bursting with th e work of Norman Rockwell with promise throughout his equall y tender and observa nt- of life in life time, the artist has left an a sma 11 town." unforge ttable legacy. William Steig: Love 6 Lall ghter will We are honored th at be on view at Norman Rockwell M useum W illiam Steig's legacy will from June 12 th rough O ctober 31, 2010. We li ve on at Norman Rockwell hope that you will enj oy th e exhibition and M useum, with the donati on pa rticipate in the many exciting programs of an outstanding coll ecti on inspi red by the vibrant imagery crea ted by of more than 800 original this distingui shed Ameri can artist. Rockwell and the Movies July 3 through October 31, 2010

by Joyce K. Schiller, Ph .D, Curator, Ro ckwell Center for American Vi sual Studies

In 1948 Rockwell roughed out an id ea After servin g for a Post cover as a parody of an English as a model for murder mys tery called, Who-Dun-It . ot Rockwell's Who long after, Rockwell was in Los Angeles and Dun-It in 1948, he asked T\ventieth Century-Fox if they later that yea r could help him arrange for movie stars to Linda D arnell se rve as models for th e picture. Since the requested to scene was intended to be set in a castl e with meet a nd study an old lady owner, they suggested E thel pa inting with Barrymore to pose as the lady. T he sinister Rockwell through chef character was pl ayed by Bori s Karl off. the Institute of

A scandalous but glamorous actress was Commercial Murrkr Mystery (Who· Dun-It) (study), 1948 Proposed Soturday Reference photo of linda Darnell for Norman Rockwell's Murder Mysctery Evening Post cover. Oil on board. Norman Rockwell Museum (Who-Dun-It), 1948. Norman Rockwell Musuem Archival Collection, pl ayed by Linda D arnell. Loretta Young Art in ew York, Collection, NRM.1997.17 ST1976.6623. licensed by Norman Rockwell Licl!:nsin& Nlles.IL posed as the demure upstairs maid . Ri chard also known as T he Widmark posed as a wastrel. C lifton Webb Fa mous Artist School. With Rockwell's as seen in thi s photograph. played the part of the haughty butlers, and agreement, she traveled to Ad ington, Unfortunately The Post was not inter Lassie was the model fo r the dog. Rockwell Ve rmont late in August, 1948 for priva te ested in this for a cover. T he objection was also needed a body to serve as the corpse. painting lessons. D arnell had painted that the " . . . movie stars [would] kill it. For th at, the studio prov ided Va n Johnso n, since her high school days in Texas. While T he readers will be so bus)' recogn izing even th ough only his legs would be visible in Rockwell 's studio she also posed for the stars that they'll m iss the whole point in th e picture. some study photos for his Murder Mystery, of the cover." SuperSteig Day! Festivities for Families children's art workshops Saturday, July 24, 1 -4 p.m. mell1ber's opening night Join us for a trash-to-treasures art workshop with Summer Sketch Club dance party Jeanne Steig, and storytelling by actress Ann Tuesdays, July and August Undeland, who brings William Steig's children's 70 a.m. - 12 p.rn. books to life. Jeanne Steig, whose dimensional For ages 7 and up creations assembled from found objects are on Enjoy these on-location drawing and painting view, will inspire and delight. Kids free to age 18! classes which encourage self-expression and ex Adults free with Museum admission. perimentation. Bring a sketchbook or drawing pad; other art supplies are provided. Class is outdoors, weather permitting; bring bottled water, insect repellent, hats, and sunscreen. Take one class or take them all! $6, $4 members.

Creating Together: A Parent-Child Experience Wednesdays, July and August William Steig: Love & Laughter 70 - 11:30 a.m. For parents and children ages 4 and up Saturday, June 12, 7 - 70 p.m. .------..,...,- Children and their Expect to laugh, and dance! parents/guardians are invited to explore the Join us for the opening celebration of the uproarious comic art and best-selling Laugh Out Loud! Festivities for Families galleries together during these interactive art ex illustrated books of William Steig, featuring Saturday, August 14, 1 - 4 p.m. periences. A lively look the dimensional assemblages of Jeanne Steig, Laugh together during this Shrekalicious family the artist's wife and creative collaborator. at the works on view day filled with music, storytelling, and art-making will inspire personal Music by Wanda Houston, Charlie Tokarz inspired by the art of William Steig. At 2 p.m., artworks created with and Friends. Rockalicious performs rock n' roll classics for kids. a variety of materials Kids free to age 18 1 Adults free with Museum Free for members; $25 guests. and techniques. Take admission. one class or take them all! $6 per person, BOY SCOUTS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS! $4 members. art workshop for adults Norman Rockwell and the Art of Scouting Saturday, October 23, 12 - 4 p.m. The Luminous Watercolor Enjoy talks on art workshop for teens with Dennis Nolan Norman Rockwell's Monday through Friday, July 26 - 30, 70 a.rn. - 4 p.m. art for the Boy Got Ink? Drawing Comics and Explore the richness of watercolor painting with Scouts of America Graphic Novels award-winning artist, author, and educator Dennis and the opportu Nolan. Techniques for creating dynamic, show Monday through Friday, July 12 - 16, 70 a.m. - 3 p.m. nity to earn your stopping images will be explored through engaging for ages 13 and up Rockwell Award exercises, resulting in a full-scale finished painting Patch . Beloved Boy Delve into the world of comics! This hands-on by week's end. Dennis Nolan is Associate Profes Scout illustrator Joe exploration of the art of comics and graphic novels sor at Hartford Art School and has illustrated many Csatari and his son, is not to be missed. Gifted educators/graphic acclaimed books for children. Pre-registration is Men 's Health editor novelists Andrew Wales and Tim Callahan will required. $250, $210 members. Jeff Csatari, will join teach students about the art of visual storytelling, us to discuss their effective layouts and character drawings, and the recent book Norman fundamentals of creating exciting, effective com Rockwell's Boy Scouts ics. Full week: $125, $100 members; Daily: $25 or of America. Book $20 members. All materials provided. Please bring signing will follow. lunch, we'll provide beverages and snacks.

Halloween Bash! Sunday, October 31,2 - 4 p.m. for ages 6 and up Celebrate William Steig's cast of extraordinary characters, from the villains of Rotten Island to friends from Shrek, Dr. DeSoto, and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Mary Jo Maichack's Halloween tales will be sure to delight with just the right amount of fright. Art activities and seasonal treats! $6, $5 members.

DennIS Nolan All rights re~ programs for adults american storytellers a lecture and performance series HISTORIC PROPERTY TOUR Time Travel Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Join us for inspiring conversations and performances ce lebrating the art of visua l storytelling and the contributions June, July and August of noted American illustrators-from Norman Rockwell to William Steig-who insp ire us to see the world in new 2:30 p.m. and exciting ways. All programs are free with Museum admiss ion. Explore the rich history of the region and Lin wood, July 8 our 1859 Berkshire cot Uncommon Treasures: An Evening with Jeanne Steig tage. Curat or of Educa A lIondf.1 of Dea., Meet Jeanne Steig, a se lf-taught visua l artist working almost exclusively in street finds and ..J...-,.·u.~" J_s..'S_ ~w 'WUI,_5 ..., tion Tom Daly w ill lea d discarded materials. The author of severa l books including Alpha Beta Chowder, A Handful an invigorating wa lk and and A Ms. Steig is the w id ow of noted il talk on the Museum's of Beans, Gift from Zeus: Sixteen Favorite Myths, lustrator William Steig and her latest book, The Lost Art William Ste ig , will be published bucolic grounds. Free with of PERFORMANCES by Harry N. Abrams next year. Museum ad mission. Pneuma Brass Quintet July 15 GALLERY TALK Thursday, July 1, 5:30 p.m. Norman Rockwell's Art for the Movies: An Evening with Curator Joyce K. Schiller Meet Rockwell's Models Enjoy this Independence Day-inspired musica l Step behind-the-scenes with Curator Joyce K. Schiller, Ph.D. for a li ve ly look at Rockwell's many brushes with Wednesday, July 7 and August 4, 3 p.m. performance, which ki cks off an exciting ail-Ameri ca n weekend at the Muse um. Free w ith Muse um fame which he encountered during the creation of artworks for posters advertising the class ic feature length Find out w hat it was like to pose for America's admiss ion. films of his day. favorite illustrator from Rockwell's own models, who share their persona l experiences. Free w ith Berkshire Choral Festival July 22 Museum admission. Wednesdays, Ju ly 14, 21, 28 and August 4 Music and the Movies: An A Cappella Evening with Quintessential 2:30p.m. Enjoy an even ing of songs from the sil ver screen with Quintessential, a Berkshire based ensemble of a cappella singers w hich includes tenors AI Thorp, Jay Wise Enjoy these in spired short performances of Ameri and Jim McMenamy, and bass/baritones John Miner and David Anderegg, whose ca n music by the gifted sin gers of the Berkshire performances feature an engaging blend of wit and whimsy. Choral Festival. Free with Muse um admission.

July 29 The Stockbridge Sinfonia Saturday, August 21,2 p.m. Classic Folk: An Evening with The Berkshire Ramblers Join Roselle and Alan Chartock, Joe Brody and friends, for a li ve ly evening of classic folk music. These gifted En joy an afternoon of music with an outstanding regional musicians have been sharing their love for this time-honored American art form for well over 40 years. co mmunity orchestra which ce lebrates the ta lents of deve loping musicians and seasoned performers. August 5 Free. Muse um admiss ion add itional. Mystery and Mayhem: An Evening with New York Times Columnist Carol Kino PERFORMANCE & BRUNCH Join writer Carol Kino for a behind-the-scenes preview of her latest breaking story. Carol Kin o, To Rockwell, With Love: Fan Mail & whose incisive articl es on art and cu lture have appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic The Saturday Evening Post Monthly, Art & Antiques, Artforum, and other noted publications, will offer a first-hand glimpse Reference into the exciting life of an arts journalist photo for Norman Rockwell's TIle Sunday, July 11, 11 a.m. RUrl(lwoy, 1958 Photographer Experience the outpouring of reader reaction to tJ(1,den\lhedLi August 12 cen5edby Normlffi Norman Ro ckwell's art during his 47 years with Rockwell licensing. Comic Genius: An Evening with Cartoonist Liza Donnelly Nlles,IL ...... '-'- _ .. Th e Saturday Evening Post. Jeffrey Borak, arts and Explore the art of The New Yorker through the eyes of one of its most ingenious comic creators. entertainment ed itor for Th e Berkshire Eagle, and A cartoonist for the magazine for more than 25 years, Liza Donnelly will share her best illustrated actress/designer Hope Aaron will perform a An Afternoon with Rockwell's Models jokes, gag cartoons, and sli ce-of-life drawings, offering a rare first-hand glimpse of the creative dramatic rea ding of these hea rtfelt letters from Saturday, September 18, 12 - 4 p.m. process. Her latest book, When Do They Serve the Wine, w ill be available for signing at a recep around the world. Archivist Jessika Drmacich will Runaway models Dick Clemens, Eddie Locke and t ion following the program. offer cu ltural perspectives. A deli cious brunch is fellow Rockwell models share stories about their included I $20, $16 members. experiences posing for America's favorite il lustrator. August 19 Specia l ga ll ery talks and print signings offer first The Naked Cartoonist: An Evening with Cartoonist Robert Mankoff hand perspectives on Rockwell's creative process. Join New Yorker cartoon editor Robert Mankoff for an uproarious look at the art of humor. One Free with Museum admission. of the nation's lead ing comic commentators, Mr. Mankoff originated The Cartoon Bank and the Cartoon Caption Contest, and is the creator of the magazine's best-loved comic images. POETRY READING AND BOOKSIGNING He is also the author of The Naked Cartoonist: A New Way to Enhance Your Creativity and many Nostalgia's Thread: Ten Poems on other cartoon co ll ections. A book-signing and reception w il l follow the program. Norman Rockwell's Paintings Saturday, October 9, 1 p.m. August 26 Author Randall R. Freisinger will read from his Open Mic Night! recent volume of poems inspired by Norman Share the stories of your life through music and word at our first ann ual open mic night. Secure a performance Rockwe ll 's art, with a booksigning to follow. slot during the evening's roster by contacting Melinda Georgeson at [email protected]. A reception will Free with Museum admission. ' follow the program. Pholographattnbuted to Louie lamone always something new to see!

Norman Rockwell's 323 Saturday William Steig: Love & Laughter Evening Post Covers June 12 through October 31 opening May 29 A laugh-out-Ioud exh ibition on the art of William An exciting look back at the Saturday Evening Post, Steig, featuring the artist's brilliant covers, car featuring everyone of Norman Rockwell 's cover toons, and drawings for The New Yorker, original illustration tearsheets for the noted American illustrations for beloved novels and picture publication, created over the course of 47 years books, and the eloquent art of Jeanne Steig. from 1916 to 1963. Norman Rockwell : A Life in Art A Day in the Life: Norman Rockwell 's through June 20 Stockbridge Studio An intimate exhibition featuring artworks span seasonal from May through October ning Norman Rockwell's entire career, and unique personal mementos from the Norman Rockwell An engaging historical installation that brings Archives-from the artist's infant-wear, to his visitors back to October 1960, when Norman custom-designed vertical bi-focals. Rockwell was at work on one of his most famous Saturday Evening Post covers, The Golden Rule . Rockwell and the Movies Norman Rockwell's Art of Scouting July 3 through October 31 opening May 29 through November 27 Original paintings, vintage posters, lobby cards, and portraits created by Rockwell for such fea An insightful look at Norman Rockwell 's extensive ture length films as The Magnificent Ambersons body of work for The Boy Scouts of America (1941), The Song of Bernadette (1943), Along Came through original tearsheets, personal mementos, Jones (1945), The Razor's Edge (1946), Cinder and props. fella (1960) and the 1966 remake of the classic, Stagecoach .

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