THE ~~~fjI ' PORTFOLIO THE NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM AT STOCKBRIDGE, STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETIS VOL. 9, NO. 2 SUMMER 1992 MUSEUM GATHERS ROCKWELL RECOLLECTIONS AS PART OF HOMECOMING YEAR CELEBRATION Elaine Gunn 1960s, the door bell rang. Upon open­ wrote to the ing it, I came face to face with museum Norman Rockwell. He greeted me, then about her experiences introduced himself. For a few seconds, with I was totally without words. He said he Norman was told that I had a daughter ofan Rockwell. age that he was looking for to model in Here,she poses in one of his illustrations. I told him that front of A nita would be home from school The shortly, whereupon he asked if he Problem We could wait. I invited Mr. Rockwell in ... , AU LIve Shortly, A nita came in from school With with her cousin carrying her violin. I introduced her to Linda, who Mr. Rockwell, whereupon he asked her mode1edfor ifshe would like to earn some money the paint­ to pay for her violin lessons by model­ ing. ingfor him. Anita didn't hesitate a moment; she was delighted. At that pOint, Mr. Rockwell said "Oh, I like the ver the past nine months, dress you're wearing, but I'd like it in white." He offered to take care of the THREE NEW MUSEUM museum staff gathered firs t­ expense of having two white dresses GAllERIES NAMED! O hand remembrances from made, one for Anita and one for her people who knew Norman Rockwell. cousin, Linda, whom he had also The Kay-Bee Toy Stores Gallery These recollections from members, asked to model.. Mr. Rockwell then Gift of Kay-Bee Toy Stores of friends, and visitors range from mem­ invited my husband, Anita, and me to Pittsfield, Massachusetts ories of chance encounters with his studio for photos as soon as the Rockwell to reminiscences· about mod­ dresses were completed. Rockwell greet­ The Mead Corporation eling for him. These stories celebrate ed us at his studio on the appointed Foundation Gallery morning. He offered each of us a Coke, Gift of Mead Corporation Foundation Rockwell 's personality and influence of Dayton, Ohio and offer a way to say good-bye to and then the photographer proceeded our home. Please "come home" and to take the photos. The little white dress worn by the girl in The Problem We all see Rockwell 's paintings one last time, Live With was created from the pattern The Norman Rockwell as they hang in The Old Corner House Family Gallery made from the blue dress worn by on Main Street in Stockbridge. The fol­ Anita. Anita's dress was worn years Gift of The Bradford Exchange/ lowing is a sampling of the memories Norman Rockwell Gallery later by Tracey, our youngest daugh­ of Niles, Illinois in honor of people have shared with us.These ter, when she modeledforMoving Day. Norman Rockwell's family. (edited) thoughts appear in color Eventually, Mr. Rockwell chose to use throughout this issue of the Portfolio. Linda Gunn as the model for The With these major donations and the Problem We All Live With. proceeds from the July 11 gala, the An Unexpected Guest museum has received more than While waitingfor my daughter to Elaine S. Gunn $500,000 in new gifts and pledges come home from school in the early Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1992. ing to Stockbridge are aspects so cen­ eling exhibitions of Norman DIRECTOR'S tral and unchanging that they have, in Rockwell's art; and the sustained mar­ fact, helped define the museum. ket growth of Rockwell art in the auc­ PREFACE Yet, this has never been a stagnant tion and dealer world are examples of organization, and there are obvious Rockwell-related phenomena that have manifestations of growth and touched the museum from outside its change-a name change, the death of walls. Norman Rockwell and his wife, an For me personally, it has been a fas­ expanded collection, a new site, a new cinating, fulfilling, enriching, and chal­ building, a studio moved, increased lenging 15 years, as I watched the attendance, an enlarged board of museum emerge as a national cultural trustees, an expanded physical plant, treasure. It is testimony to Rockwell's fundraising efforts, and enormous su p­ popularity that though this change in Laurie Norton MoffaU port. stature is in part the result of the efforts DIRECTOR OF TIlE MUSEUM There have also been internal and of our leaders and planners, it is large­ external shifts that have altered the ly due to the never-ebbing public complexion of the museum in more demand for Rockwell's images. I look Having spent the last 15 years of my subtle ways and have made the 1993 forward to seeing the museum meet career at The Norman Rockwell opening of the new museum possible. this demand for the next 15 years and Museum, beginning as a summer tour Internally, our mission has broadened beyond. guide and serving today as director, I as we interpret and present Rockwell's was inspired by our Homecoming Year art via new educational initiatives and to reflect on change and continuity, programs to an ever more diverse the threads which time has woven audience. We have also developed a BOARD OF TRUSTEES together to form the fabric of a very professional, highly trained staff and THE NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM special museum. have diversified and enlarged our The museum is on the brink of an board of trustees. Lila W. Berle President David L. Klausmeyer Vice-President important trans­ Paul W. Ivory Second Vice-President formation. In less Mark Selkowitz Third Vice-President than a year, we William]. Napolitano Treasurer Jane P. Fitzpatrick Clerk will leave the his­ Brian J. Quinn Legal Counsel toric house that has been our Hany W. Albright,]r Linn Cary Mehta John T. Batty III Perri Pelricca home for the Bobbie Crosby Jean Rousseau entirety of our 25- Linda Day Charles Schu lze year history and Patricia]. Deely Beurt R. SerVaas Theodore H. Evans Steven Spielberg move to a new William Goessel Ronald Staffieri building designed Henry Holt Douglas TrumbuU especially for the H. Chet Krentzman Richard Wilcox collections and David Macaulay our visitors. As HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS the museum John M. Deely, Jr. builds its future, Norma G. Ogden the challenge will laurie Norton Moffatt Director I.EFf Museum Director laurie Norton Moffatt at the 1986 party cele­ Janet Silverman Tobin Editor be to preserve the brating the publishing of Norman RockweU' A DefinUlve Catalogue, best of the past which she authored. and remain faith- External trends have strengthened The Portfolio is published three times a year ful to the man and work that are Rockwell's position in the art world by The Norman Rockwell Museum, Inc. and is sent free to all members. Questions or responsible for the organization's suc­ and added to his popularity and acces­ comments may be directed to Portfolio cess and growth. sibility and have also affected the Editor, The Norman Rockwell Museum, Box There are elements of the museum museum indirectly through increased 308, Stockbridge, MA 01262. which have been constants. Guided visitation and attention. The media's Phone (413) 298-4239 tours; intimate exhibitions; our old tendency to use the name Norman ©1992 The Norman Rockwell Museum at house; our single-artist focus; the vil­ Rockwell as a generic term (to evoke a Stockbridge lage of Stockbridge; the powerful, time, place, mood, or image); the With the exception of the sketch with New enduring images Rockwell painted; emergence of major national collectors Gallery News, the small line drawings that loyal friends; members, trustees, staff, and museum collections of Norman appear with standing fearures are by Norman Rockwell. Drawings used by permission of The and volunteers; the neighbors and Rockwell's art; increased critical inter­ Norman Rockwell Family Trust. people Norman Rockwell painted; and est internationally in illustration as an visitors from all over the country flock- art form and in Norman Rockwell; trav- 2 ARTYFACTS Kim Conley MUSEUM ASSISTANf "You know," Norman Rockwell used to say, "A painter's legs go first, just became the site of our new museum, Why not join us for our next one? See like a ballplayer's. Bicycling is my way each day. Photographer Louie Lamone the calendar for details. to stay active." remembers Rockwell's mid-day ritual, It is not known exactly when "Every day, about 11 :30, if the weather Rockwell became a cycling enthusiast, was right, Rockwell would lake a bike MUSEUM RECEIVES but in his autobiography he recounts a ride with me or Doug McGregor and BIKE RACK bike riding adventure that took place his wife or whoever was around for when he was but a preteen, about a five-mile ride, " he said. Years back, Norman Rockwell appar­ " .. the metal ently admired a wooden bicycle rack [was) biting for sale at Stockbridge's 7 Arts into my Norman Rockwell's Stockbridge Bike Route Antiques shop. Owner Harriet Sossner insteps as I either sold or gave Rockwell one of the stood up to six identical racks she had at the shop. pump harder Unfortunately, the rack was later stolen on the hill." from the illustrator's home. Now, one c. .... This may have __ ' N_."~ ... ~...tI . """'T ..' of the racks has come home to The _ s. ............. ~.... been the .................. 1..0 ....... Norman Rockwell Museum through beginning of the generosity of Mr. and Mrs . Thomas what became B. Haver of Montclair, New Jersey. Mr. a life-long Haver, who is Harriet Sossner's son, passion for found the bike rack, which was in very Rockwell, poor condition.