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The Portfolio The Portfolio Volume 11, No.1 Spring 1994 T he Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge Celebrating a Century of Norman Rockwell LaurieNorton Moffatt, Directorolthe Museum One-hundred years after Norman Rockwell's birth and sixteen years since his death, the artist's popular­ ity has never been greater. By every measure-museum visitors, public inquiries, requests for exhibitions, international interest, art-auction sales, press reviews and Norman Rockwell in bis critical acclaim-his work is West Arlillgton, Verlllont studio, circa 19-1-5. enjoying record appeal. The values Copyright © NRrr of community, family and good­ will expressed in his paintings are imbued with a sense of humor and 1978 at the age of eighty-four, he followed by the Pittsfield Home­ gentle bonhomie tllat have a timeless left us his interpretation of an town Fourth ofJul y Parade, which quality, which is gaining apprecia­ exu'aordinary century-a legacy will be dedicated to Rockwell and tion as the century draws to a close. that will prove more valuable and televised on PBS. That same Norman Rockwell was born in important over time. There is no weekend the exhibit Howard Pyle Manhattan in 1894, and at painted presentation of twentieth­ and Norman Rockwell-Lasting a young age started painting the century America quite like the one Legacies will open with a members' people and sights around him. Norman Rockwell recorded. reception, Friday evening, July 1st. Stories read aloud as the family To celebrate tile lOOth anniver­ Throughout the year, artists and gatllered around the table in tile sary of Rockwell, the museum has illustrators will present art pro­ evenings triggered the young planned an array of activities for all grams for adults and c1uldren, from artist's imagination, and he painted ages and interests. On February beginners to the more experienced. Dickensian scenes as he listened to 3rd, a quiet birthday party was held Two exhibitions will take a look at his fatller read David Copperfield. in Stockbridge with his friends, Rockwell's place in illustration, and From tlus early pastime, neighbors and family members. present a reu'ospective of his career he began his career creating Over tile J ul y 4th weekend, the that wiJI feature artwork drawn adventure scenes of the "Wild entire nation will celebrate Norman largely from private collections. West" for children's magazines. Rockwell as the United States If you haven't yet had a chance to Throughout his life, he never lost Postal Service releases five com­ visit the museum in its splendid his childlike delight and rich memorative stamps in his honor. new quarters, please mark a date in imagination even as he confronted The stamps will feature the Four your calendar for a trip during the the world around llim and saw the Freedoms and Triple Self Portrait. centennial. If you have visited, difficult social issues of war, racism, First-Day Issues will be made from return, as there will be much to see poverty, and fear. When he died in the museum over tllat weekend, and do in this exciting year. 2 Artists Inspiring Artists J ul ie Seh wartz, Visitor Services Assistant What do a London photographer, a through June of 1994. Prominent individual who helped her at the South Dakota prison inmate, and a guest artists are here to lecture, beginning of her career. "The most prominent cartoonist have in teach, and carryon Rockwell's important thing I learned ... was tllat common? All three are artists who commitment to art education and we have to help each otl1er... I cite Norman Rockwell as a major appreciation. Five noted artists and never forget that when Someone influence on their careers. NOrnlatl illustrators will conduct a work­ who wants to illustrate calls me." Rockwell's work reached a broad shop one Saturday each montll. Peter Rockwell winds up the spectrum of people. His influence All of tlle artists featured in the series in June. Rockwell, a sculptor was as widespread as the circulation Artists Inspiring Artists series have a and son of the illustrator, is the of the Saturday Evening Post. special connection to the program. resident artist in May, June, Sept­ Norman Rockwell was a strong Tom Patti, an internationally ember and October. As an art supporter of art education. Al­ renowned sculptor, began the series historian, Rockwell explains that the though he did not teach formal in February. As a young student, complexities of Velazquez and the classes, he consistently was Patti was befriended and encour­ subtleties of Rembrandt were involved with aiding other artists. aged by NOl1l1an Rockwell. Patti's in.fluences on his father-"Although From guest lectures at the Art dual interests in architecture and an artist who worked outside of Student's League to advising the environment are brought modernism, he was not unquestion­ correspondence students through together in his work. ing about tlle nature of his own the Famous Artists School, to N ick Meglin, guest lecturer in work. Artists of simple pictures arc classes at tlle Los Angeles County the month of March, is the senior not necessarily simple people." Art Institute in 1949, Rockwell editor of Mad Magazine. An continually shared his talents witll illustration historian and author of students. It is the spirit of this The Art oj Humorous Illustration, devotion to education that has Meglin corresponded witll T he Norman Rockwell Museum Board of Trustees produced Artists Inspiring Artists, a Rockwell during the preparation of Lila W. Berlc President museum program from February the book. Meglin believes that the David L. Klausmeycr Vice- President Paul W. Ivo rl' Second V ice- President Rockwell legacy to illustrators is Mark Selkowitz Third Vice-President "his heart, his mind and his hand," Wiliiam J . Napolitano Treasurer meaning that Rockwell combined J ane P. Fitzpatrick Clerk Brian J. Q uinn Legal Counsel his heart-felt emotions with his intellect and his craft. I larry W. Albright, J r. Robert F. McDermott John T. Batty III Linn Cary Mehta Jim Schantz, guest for tlle April Bobbie Crosby Thomas Patti workshop, is a painter currently Patricia J. Deely Perri Petricca Daniel Du Bois Jean Rousseau focusing on Berkshire landscapes. .l oan SerVaas Durham Steven Spielberg Schantz has taught at several local Theodore 1-1. Evans Ronald Staffieri schools and colleges, and sees Wi lliam Goessel Douglas Trumhull II. Chet )(rentzman Laughran S. Vaber Rockwell's legacy in the new David Macaulay Ri chard Wilcox generation of painters through tlle J JOl1orary Board Members recent resurgence of the figurative John ,,,I. Deeiy, J r. Norma G. Ogden tradition and interest in realism. Lau ri c Norron Moffatt, Director Studio prol~I"{//l/s inspire artists oft/II ages. Pat Cummings, the May C ris Raymond, Guest I;:ditor Photo by Rob}" Sbitltls A'omp< lecturer, is an illustrator and autl10r The Portfolio is published four times a year of several books including Clean by T he Norman Rockwel l Museum at Stockbridge, Inc., and is sent free to all mcmbcl's. Your Room, Har·vey Moon! and Talking With Artists. In discussing Copy right 1994 The N orma n Rockwell J'duscum at Stockb ridge. Drawings used by perm iss i.)1l of her work, Cummings recalls an the Norman Rockwel l Fam il y Trust. 3 Curator's Corner Maureen Hart Hennessey, Curator Norman Rockwell considered the for cover illustrations, Rockwell The Norman Rockwell Museum development of an idea for a cover usually developed his own story is very pleased to announce the story as probably the most impor­ theme. By his own admission, he recent donation from Joy Edgerton tant element of an illustration, and accepted only four contributed Freisatz and Robert Freisatz of an coming up with fresh ideas was one suggestions in forty-three years. oil study for Saying Grace. The of the hardest parts of his work. One of those suggestions, however, Edgertons were Rockwell neigh­ Although readers sent suggestions became responsible for Saying Grace, bors in Arlington, Vermont, and the Saturday Evening Post cover that Joy Edgerton Freisatz was given the a popularity poll conducted among study by Norman Rockwell when Saying Grace-oil on photograpbic paper, J 951, Post readers voted the most popular she returned home from college by Norman Rockwell. Nonnan Rockwell cover ever. over Christmas vacation 1951. Copy,ight ©J9SJ He Ci".t~ I'II"'isbillgCo. Basic idea for most popular cover I The painting has hung in the ever did was given me by a woman from F reisatz's home and was enjoyed Philadelphia. She'd seen a Mennonite and loved by them for many family saying grace in an automat. years. They now have decided to Starting witb that, I painted my share this wonderful study with Thanksgiving cover of an old woman the museum's many visitors. The and a little boy saying grace in a Norman Rockwell Musewn at railroad cafeteria, watcbed by tbepeople Stockbridge is most grateful for around them .... their generosity. Donations of Artwork According to Joy Edgerton museum open to the public. Over Freisatz, the decision to donate an the years, the museum has been the original sketch of Post cover Saying beneficiary of a variety of pieces Grace to The Norman Rockwell ranging from finished works to Musewn at Stockbridge was sketches and studies. Also, the simple, "Very few people were musewn's archi ves has been given seeing it in our home and my scrapbooks, Rockwell correspon­ husband and J wanted it shared dence, and many other objects with other people. A donation to related to the artist's career. the museum seemed like the right Donors of artwork enjoy thing to do.
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