Natalie Ascensios
Cathie Bleck
Yvonne Buchanan
Elizabeth Buttler
Alice Carter
Cora Lynn Deibler
Kinuko Y. Craft
Elaine Duillo
Jane Dyer
Teresa Fasolino
Mary GrandPre'
Susan Jeffers
Frances Jetter
Maira Kalman
Anita Kunz
Barbara Nessim
Lynn Pauley
Ruth Sanderson
Whitney Sherman
Cathleen Toelke
Contemporary Visions and Voices. The women represented in the exhibition create art that is a part of daily lifefrom product designs, children's books and book covers of best sellers, to illustrations for the nation's top magazines and newspapers. Their work defines and illuminates society, is emotionally moving, challenges perspectives, and profoundly influences American culture.
Contemporary Visions and Voices
In the image: Kinuko Y. Craft, 'Cupid's Visit to Psyche', 1996.
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. The work of 20 of today's most highly regarded illustrators
will be featured in a new group exhibition, "Women in Illustration: Contemporary
Visions and Voices," to be held at the Norman Rockwell Museum from March 6 to
May 31, 2004.
The exhibition encompasses a wide range of artistic styles--from the
illustrations for the blockbuster Harry Potter books to the Breast Cancer
Research Stamp that has raised over $37 million for research--and presents a
unique look at the work and creative process of some of the nation's leading
female artists. The women represented in the exhibition create art that is a
part of daily lifefrom product designs, children's books and book covers of
best sellers, to illustrations for the nation's top magazines and newspapers.
Their work defines and illuminates society, is emotionally moving, challenges
perspectives, and profoundly influences American culture.
"We are very excited to present this eloquent and diverse collection of recent
works by these extraordinary women," says Norman Rockwell Museum Director Laurie
Norton Moffatt. "One hundred years separates today's top female illustrators
from the three pioneering illustrators, The Red Rose Girls, whose artworks are
currently on view at the Norman Rockwell Museum. It is fascinating to view these
exhibitions in tandem, and to consider how much has changed for women in the
illustration field during the last century, from subject matter to style, and
how much remains the same."
The artists represented in the exhibition are:
Natalie Ascensios is a Brooklyn, New York-based commercial illustrator since
1994, who works almost exclusively in oil on canvas. Her work is lush and
painterly, inspired by Diego Velasquez, Edouard Manet, Arshile Gorky, Willem
DeKooning and Jackson Pollack. Her work has appeared in "The New Yorker," "LA
Magazine," "Entertainment Weekly" and "GQ."
Cathie Bleck of Cleveland, Ohio, has produced work for magazines and newspapers
such as "National Geographic Adventure," "Martha Stewart Living," "Time,"
"Atlantic Monthly," and "The New York Times." One of her most recent projects is
illustrating the icon headers for the "Wall Street Journal" redesign. Ms. Bleck
works on scratchboard that she coats with India Ink, and scrapes the ink off
with razor-sharp tools to create each image, an effect that resembles wood
engraving.
Yvonne Buchanan's political editorial work has appeared in many publications,
such as "The New York Times," "Newsday," "The Washington Post," and "The
Nation." She has a keen interest in visual anthropology and is particularly
interested in subjects that address social injustice. Ms Buchanan, who has
recently completed her fifth children's book, is an Assistant Professor of
Illustration at Syracuse University.
Elizabeth Buttler, based in Great Barrington, Mass., is an animator and
illustrator whose clients have included Nickelodeon Television, "Peewee's
Playhouse," and the California Raisin Board. Most of her current work is for
the children's market, ranging from illustration for educational and trade book
publishers to storyboards and character design for animation projects. Ms.
Buttler's most recent picture book, "Yankee Doodle Riddles: American History
Fun," was published in October 2003.
Alice Carter is a professor in the School of Art and Design at San Jose State
University. Her clients include Lucasfilm, for whom she created a game cover
illustration for "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," and an advertising
illustration for "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." She is also the author of
several books on the history of illustration, including "The Red Rose Girls: An
Uncommon Story of Art and Love," and is the curator of an exhibition of the same
title that is currently on view at the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Kinuko Y. Craft is one of the most well known illustrator/fantasy artists in the
United States. She has been an award-winning illustrator for nearly 40 years and
creates children's picture books, paintings for the book covers of many popular
authors, and her art is widely licensed on posters, greeting cards and other
consumer goods. Renowned for her artistry, craftsmanship and meticulous
attention to detail, she carefully researches each subject to create images that
are simultaneously classic and modern. Ms. Craft's original paintings are in
private and public collections, including The National Geographic Society and
The Museum of American Illustration. She is a member of the first Illustrators
Advisory Board of the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Cora Lynn Deibler has operated a freelance illustration studio for the past 12
years that specializes in editorial, institutional, children's, and children's
educational illustration. Ms. Deibler coordinates the illustration program at
the University of Connecticut. Her drawings are executed in ink on paper, and
pigment is applied with watercolor. Text is hand lettered. Her influences
include Al Hirschfeld, Ed Sorel, and "MAD" magazine illustrator Jack Davis. Ms
Deibler's clients have included "The Washington Post," "E/The Environmental
Magazine," Toyota America, "The San Francisco Bay Guardian," and others.
Elaine Duillo has, for more than four decades, had assignments from every major
publishing company in the United States and abroad and her paintings are in
numerous private collections. Her earliest illustrations appeared in men's
adventure magazines and paperback westerns at a time when the work of women
artists was not always welcome in the publishing industry and she signed her
first commissions with male pen names. Ms. Duillo was the first important
female book cover artist and revolutionized the look of book covers for the
romance, mystery and gothic genres. Ms. Duillo has extraordinary skill as a
realist painter who is able create a sense of fantasy. She uses layer upon layer
of transparent acrylic washes to achieve a luminous effect.
Jane Dyer is the creator of the best-selling "Animal Crackers" as well as the
illustrator of numerous other picture books. After teaching, writing and
illustrating textbooks for many years, she began illustrating children's books
full time. Images of family and home dominate her paintings. Her work ranges
from the intricate detail and gentle humor of the "Piggins" series to the lush,
impressionistic style of "My Father," to the classic paintings for "Time for
Bed." She has illustrated over 25 books for children and is the recipient of
numerous awards and honors. She lives in Northampton, Mass.
Teresa Fasolino lives in New York City and has worked for clients such as The
United Nations Postal Service, Milton Glaser, "The New York Times Magazine,"
Penguin Putnam Publishing, Warner Books, Harcourt, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals,
Nabisco, Grand Union and the U.S. Postal Service. Ms. Fasolino's 1991
illustration of the 50 state flowers for The New York Times immediately became
the newspaper's most popular art feature ever published. Because of the favored
status of this elegant still life, painted in the classical Dutch tradition, it
was reprinted by the "Times" in November 2003. Her paintings have been exhibited
numerous times and her work is included in many private and public collections,
including The Smithsonian. She is a member of the first Illustrators Advisory
Board of the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Mary GrandPré was recently featured on the cover of "Time" for her illustration
work for the American editions of J.K.Rowling's legendary series of books about
a young wizard name Harry Potter. Ms.GrandPré's interest in light, color,
drawing and design and her experimentation with materials and techniques have
lead her to create evocative pastel paintings in a style she has termed "soft
geometry." She is at work on her seventh children's book and has also worked in
the environment/scenery development department for the Dreamworks animated film
"Antz." Her corporate advertising and editorial clients include Ogilvy & Mather,
BBD&O, "Atlantic Monthly," and the major publishing houses.
Susan Jeffers lives in Westchester County, New York, and has been writing and
illustrating childrens' books since 1970, including the best seller, "Brother
Eagle, Sister Sky." She has received numerous awards, including the Caldecott
Honor, and her work has been exhibited in many group shows, including the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Throughout her career, Ms. Jeffers has chosen to
illustrate classic works with themes of resourcefulness, heroism and hope.
Frances Jetter is on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts, NY, and been a
working illustrator for 30 years. Her work has illustrated social and political
commentary in such publications as "The New York Times," "The Washington Post,"
"Time," "The Village Voice," "The Nation," and "The Progressive." Her work has
been exhibited in many group shows and is in a number of public collections,
including the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. Ms. Jetter is a member of
the Illustrators Advisory Board of the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Maira Kalman is the author-illustrator of a number of groundbreaking children's
books, including the celebrated series about Max Stravinsky, the poet dog. Her
work frequently appears on the cover of "The New Yorker" and she is a regular
contributor to "The New York Times" and "Atlantic Monthly." She has designed
fabrics for Isaac Mizrahi, mannequins for Ralph Pucci, set designs for Mark
Morris and a variety of products distributed by The Museum of Modern Art. A
permanent exhibit of her work is housed in the Children's Museum of Manhattan.
Ms. Kalman also runs M&Co, a multidisciplinary design studio, based in New York
City.
Anita Kunz's illustrations have been on the covers of "Time," "Newsweek," "The
New Yorker," "Rolling Stone," "Sports Illustrated," "Atlantic Monthly," and "The
New York Times Magazine." Her 23-year career in illustration has included
political satire, portraiture and social themes. She works in a sophisticated,
multi-layered technique, laying glazes of watercolor and gouache over pencil
drawings on illustration board on paper. Ms. Kunz lives in Toronto and New York
City and is the first Canadian artist to be honored with a solo exhibition of
her work at the Swann Gallery for Caricature and Cartoon at The Library of
Congress in Washington, D.C.
Barbara Nessim's paintings and drawings are part of numerous public and private
collections and have been shown in museums and galleries worldwide. She is
Chairperson of the Illustration Department at Parsons School of Design in New
York. She has also taught in the MFA Computer Arts Program at the School of
Visual Arts. A forerunner in the field of electronic art, Ms. Nessim has been
creating computer art since 1980 and has lectured widely on the subject. Ms.
Nessim is based in New York City and is a member of the Illustrators Advisory
Board of the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Lynn Pauley has worked in the New York City area since 1992. Her work has
appeared in such publications as "The New York Times," "The New Yorker,"
"Print," and "Sports Illustrated." Corporate installations include large-scale
commissions for the Orlando Convention Center, McGraw Hill Publications and Dean
& Deluca of New York City.
Ruth Sanderson, based in western Massachusetts, has been illustrating books for
children of all ages since 1974. Since 1989 she has illustrated and retold
numerous fairytales and has written and illustrated a number of original books
for children. Currently working on a Mother Goose collection, Ms. Sanderson's
paintings have been included in a number of museum exhibitions. Her work has
appeared on collector's plates, greeting cards, fantasy book covers, and in
magazine and advertising venues. Ms. Sanderson is a member of the Illustrators
Advisory Board of the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Whitney Sherman's work is commissioned by "The New York Times," "Business Week,"
"Forbes," and other national publications, as well as for such design firms as
Tolleson Design and Pentagram and national institutions including the Ad Council
and the American Red Cross. Her work is consistently represented in design
publications and has appeared in numerous exhibitions. Ms. Sherman is the Chair
of Illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Cathleen Toelke is a freelance illustrator based in Rhinebeck, New York. After a
short career in teaching, she set out to discover what an illustrator was and
how to be one. Her paintings are used by advertising and editorial clients and
can be seen on the covers of books by Oscar Hijuelos, Laura Esquivel, and the
Nobel prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Cathleen has lectured and
served on illustration juries in several cities and is a member of the IPA and
Graphic Artists Guild.
Norman Rockwell Museum is open daily. General public admission is $12 for
adults, $7 for students, and free for visitors 18 and under (four per adult).
Kids Free Every Day is a gift to families from Country Curtains and the Red Lion
Inn. On Wednesdays from November to May, senior citizens are admitted at
half-price. The Museum is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May through
October; from November through April, weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and
weekend/holiday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gallery tours are available daily,
beginning on the hour. Antenna Audio Tour of select paintings from the Museum's
permanent Norman Rockwell collection is available. Rockwell's original
Stockbridge studio, located on the Museum grounds, is open May through October.
Press Preview: Friday, March 5, 2004 at 11 a.m.
For more information, the public is invited to call 413-298-4100, ext. 220.
The Norman Rockwell Museum
Route 183
Stockbridge