annual report 2oo8–2oo9 4o years illustration art 1 president’s letter After the fabulous recognition and its citizens. Following inspiring speeches achievements of 2008, including the from other elected officials, Laurie receipt of the National Humanities Norton Moffatt honored the vision and Medal at the White House, I really tenacity of our Founding Trustees (all anticipated a “breather” of sorts in women), who represent both our proud 2009. Fortunately, as has become heritage and great potential. From Corner the tradition of Norman Rockwell House to New England Meeting House, Museum, new highs become the Norman Rockwell Museum has assumed launching pad for new possibilities, its rightful position among our nation’s and 2009 was no exception! most visited cultural monuments. 2009 was indeed a watershed year The gathering of three generations for the Museum as we celebrated of the Rockwell family was a source our 40th anniversary. This milestone of great excitement for the Governor, captured in all its glory the hard work, our Founding Trustees, and all of us. We vision, and involvement of multiple were privileged to enjoy the sculptures generations of staff, benefactors, of Peter Rockwell, Rockwell’s youngest friends, and neighbors. son, which were prominently displayed across our bucolic campus and within Celebrating our 40th anniversary was our galleries. It was an evening to be not confined to our birthday gala on July remembered. 9th, but that gathering certainly was its epicenter. With hundreds of Museum american MUSEUMS UNDER Siege members, supporters, staff, and well- Like the darkening Berkshire Hills wishers in attendance, Governor Deval silhouetting the hot-air balloons that Patrick welcomed us all and lauded the provided such spectacular views contributions our Museum has made to during our 40th celebration, this year’s the social and cultural landscape of the economic realities are a stark backdrop state of Massachusetts and the lives of for all museums and cultural centers Annual Report, 2008-09 Audrey Manring, Editor Toni Kenny, Graphic Design Jeremy Clowe, Editorial Assistant Published by Norman Rockwell Museum. © 2009 Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved. 2 3 president’s letter continued director’s report Norman Rockwell Museum’s much feted Governor Deval and First Lady Diane 40th anniversary year in 2009 was filled Patrick, State Representative William with gratitude, abundance, scarcity, “Smitty” Pignatelli (a Norman Rockwell excitement, and change. Leaders and model), Stockbridge Selectmen Deb friends from every era of the Museum’s McMenamy and George Shippey, 40 years came together to celebrate the Rockwell family members, and many Museum. There is much to be grateful cherished friends. for over our 40 years of serving as caretakers of one of the nation’s most In all, five hundred guests gathered treasured art collections. on a splendid summer evening to cel- ebrate the generations of people who across our nation. Most museums, works of Norman Rockwell and the On the eve of our 40th anniversary have made this remarkable Museum including Norman Rockwell Museum, ideals they embody are too important year in November 2008, the National in the beautiful village of Stockbridge depend on the generosity and support of to be preserved only; they must be Humanities Medal was unexpectedly Norman Rockwell’s lasting home. We hundreds of benefactors and members disseminated and shared widely. bestowed on Norman Rockwell shared reminiscences of four exciting whose contributions make our mission Museum, making us the first museum decades and remembered the con- and successful programs possible. The continued presence on our ever to receive the nation’s highest tributions of so many: Stockbridge’s campus and within our membership honor in the field of the humanities. citizens; Rockwell’s models; our art- Visitors and guests marvel at the ranks of people from far and wide The award ceremony at the White ists, educators, collectors, art donors, pristine conditions of our buildings reminds us that Norman Rockwell is House was an exhilarating backdrop patrons, and past presidents; and our and grounds, perhaps without fully not a regional or even national artist. to the launch of our 40th year. government leaders. Seven of our 11 recognizing the expenses and staff His works are admired across the Board Presidents were on hand to toast the Museum: Norma Ogden, William involved in maintenance. Our leadership globe—as evidenced by international A Year of GratitUde and Selke, Brian Quinn, Lila Berle, David staff and Trustees expend great visitors to our campus and our Web Celebration energy and creativity in seeking out the site, a steady stream of inquiries and Klausmeyer, Lee Williams, and current resources needed to ensure and protect interest from around the world, and The Museum’s 40th anniversary President Dan Cain. Rockwell’s cultural legacy. Competition media coverage abroad. celebration was a festive family for financial support has never been reunion. The capstone event in July Four significant chapters of the more acute as foundations, individuals, The first 40 years are always the 2009 honored the Museum’s founders Museum’s 40-year history were and public agencies contend with dire hardest. If life begins at 40, we can’t from all its eras. Norma Ogden, Jane honored: financial conditions not experienced wait to be celebrating again in 2019. Fitzpatrick, and Lila Berle were feted at • Nonagenarian Norma Ogden and in many decades. Each of us must do Thank you to all who made this the 40th anniversary party. Joining our her Old Corner House co-founders, what we can for Norman Rockwell anniversary successful. honorees, founders, and Trustees were Rosamond Sherwood and Pat Deely Museum and other vital community organizations that sustain our society. Respectfully, In spite of the economic challenges Norman Rockwell Museum and its peers continue to face in protecting our Daniel M. Cain shared cultural heritage, the Trustees President and staff are confident we will not only September 2009 prevail but will flourish. The iconic 4 5 director’s report continued (her daughters Cathy and Pam Deely summer the great-granddaughter of Sculptor’s Retrospective, a showcase of are Museum leaders today), whose Norman Rockwell, Thea Rockwell, the enchanting work of Peter Rockwell, civic leadership saved one of our Town’s learning about the heritage of her which opened this spring at the Butler architectural gems and serendipitously influential great-grandfather. Institute of American Art started a national museum • Jane Fitzpatrick and the amazing The Museum presented hallmark A YEAR OF ABUndance AND Fitzpatrick family, whose selfless exhibitions to celebrate its 40th year, Scarcity generosity to Stockbridge and the including: Fiscal year 2009 was a year of immense Berkshires have made our region • Raw Nerve! The Political Art of Steve abundance—of good news and public one of the most caring, vibrant, and Brodner, a timely look at the art relations coverage of the Museum’s beautiful communities anywhere in journalism of this leading illustrator major programs and events—as well the world and political satirist as a year of unanticipated scarcity, as • President emerita Lila Berle, whose • Over the Top: American Posters from the worldwide recession that began in bold leadership and courageous vision World War I, from the collection of 2008 settled in with earnest in 2009. inspired and ensured the future of this Thomas Leffingwell Pulling and his Museum on the gorgeous Linwood son Edward Leffingwell Pulling Undeterred by the economic downturn, Estate with its park-like grounds, • Artists in Their Studios, a traveling the Museum announced and launched a anniversary announcements appeared landmark historic buildings, and exhibition from the Smithsonian’s series of major initiatives, including: in dozens of journals and media outlets. Robert A. M. Stern gallery building Archives of American Art featuring • The Rockwell Center for American • Norman Rockwell’s family, without fascinating portraits of artists at work Visual Studies, the nation’s first The Museum continued the national whose generous gift of Norman and rest in their studios scholarly research institute devoted tour of its collection, sending American Rockwell’s art, studio, and archive • A Day in the Life, our first-ever to illustration art Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell to there would be no Museum. Rockwell reinterpretation of Rockwell’s • The formation of the nationwide two more venues, the Chrysler Museum family members traveled from Stockbridge studio to reflect the Illustration Partnership Network of Art and the Detroit Institute of Arts. afar—from Alberta, Canada; Rome, pivotal year of 1960, which set the • The hiring of Joyce K. Schiller as We also brought the exhibition home to Italy; and California—to join in the direction for the important Civil Rights Curator of the Rockwell Center Stockbridge for exhibition over our 40th Museum’s festivities and to honor paintings the artist was to create • The next phase of ProjectNORMAN, anniversary summer. A glowing review Peter Rockwell at the opening of his during that decade involving preparations for online public of American Chronicles in the Boston exhibition, The Fantastical Faces of Peter • Special exhibitions drawn from the access to the Museum’s digital archives Globe noted Rockwell’s “utter brilliance Rockwell: A Sculptor’s Retrospective. We Museum’s archive, including Norman • The public phase of the