Ezra Jack Keats

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

The Jewish Museum in New York is responsible for putting together the first major exhibition celebrating the art of author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. His classic, Caldecott Award-winning picture book , The Snowy Day is considered a children's literature treasure, but his 20 year career yielded numerous amazing picture books.
Currently the exhibition, "The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats", curated by The Jewish Museum's Claudia J. Nahson, is at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA.
If you are scheduling a leaf peeping trip in western Massachusetts, you need to add this to your list of must-sees.

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

 Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

 Images: The Jewish Museum and carlemuseum.org

Making Art with Children

The Art Studio at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has a blog, Making Art with Children, that gives you a peek into what they have going on there at the museum's studio, but it is also a really cool resource for art project ideas you may want to try at home, in the classroom, at a birthday party etc..

The blog is searchable by medium and age group and also lists upcoming workshops and classes offered by the museum.
The art studio at the Carle holds museum hours and is open to all visitors who wish to "explore materials and techniques, ignite their imagination and discover their own visual language. With a commitment to education through art, our goal is to foster creative and intellectual development through making art. "
For those of us who don't live close enough to experience the museum and the studio in person, the blog is a great way to see what goes on at this wonderfully unique place.

All images courtesy of Making Art with Children

Inconceivable!

I don't ever wonder what it would be like to live on the West Coast, or more specifically, in Hollywood. I have some friends who would move there in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose. If the chance ever came around for me, I would most likely pass. However, things like the star-filled Live Read of The Princess Bride that Jason Reitman directed at LACMA this past December 15th would definitely make the move a consideration.

Can you imagine? Cary Elwes, the original Westley, read the role of Humperdink and Fred Savage reprised his role as the grandson. Add to that the presence of Paul Rudd, Mindy Kaling, Patton Oswalt and Rob Reiner and all for a ticket price of ten dollars- now that is why people live in L.A..

The next installment of the Live Read Series is tomorrow night- the film Shampoo.

Image courtesy of FilmIndependent

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats

 Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
from "Whistle for Willie" (1964)

Good news for lovers of Ezra Jack Keats! From September 9th to January 29th, the Jewish Museum in New York is holding the first major US exhibition of the children's book writer's gorgeous illustrations. I won't be going north for a bit so I'll miss this, but here's hoping this becomes a travel exhibition....

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
from "The Snowy Day" (1962)

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
from "Jennie Hat" (1966)

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
from "A Letter to Amy" (1968)

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
from "Hi, Cat!" (1970)

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
from "Over in the Meadow" (1971)

Reproduced with permission of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
from "The Trip" (1978)

{For more beautiful images, see"The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation" and"The Jewish Museum"}

quilts, quilts, and more quilts

I'm in New York for a few days to visit family, but I did get in some museum time too and was able to hit one of my favorites, the American Folk Art Museum, where they are having not one but two quilt shows! (1 and 2). Such lovely handiwork to admire especially when one needs a quiet and calm moment away from family (and New York) nuttiness.

all images via American Folk Art Museum

Holiday Images

Around this time every year, I wish that Norman Rockwell still created magazine covers. I think his artfully captured marriage of the exaggerated and the familiar is unparalleled. His depiction of expressions and, equally impressively, an overall spirit or emotion, are accomplishments that remain admirable and incredible decades after his pencils and paints touched the paper.

If you ever find yourself around Stockbridge, MA- there is no excuse- you have to drop by the Norman Rockwell Museum. It is home to 574 Rockwell works and celebrates his tremendous contribution to American illustration.

All images courtesy of google

a museum for nature's oddities (and beauties)

 "The Tanager genus is a testament to nature’s variety, with 50 colorful species found in North America and Australia." via wired.com

So I'm in Boston for about 10 days right now and each day is just packed to the gills. Lots of visiting with friends and family. Lots of talking about the wedding. But a lot of getting sh*t done too like finally getting my wedding dress (task accomplished with much gratitude to Lorelei for finding it on a crowded rack at Vows and for dealing with my hemming and hawing while I tried on 20 additional dresses before returning to the first).

But thank goodness there's also been some time for a little wandering too. For example, I finally made it to the Harvard Museum of Natural History and it was amazing. Owner of the world's largest egg, Vladimir Nabokov’s collection of butterfly genitalia, and the most gorgeous and intricately made collection of glass flowers you've ever seen, this museum is like nature's cabinet of curiosities. So glad I finally got to see it and if you can't make it to Cambridge, do check out the book about the museum, The Rarest of the Rare: Stories Behind the Treasures at the Harvard Museum of Natural History - with images like these - it's a coffee table must.

"As a research fellow at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology between 1942 and 1948, Nabokov specialized in the study of blue butterflies, which he classified by genitalia rather than wing patterns. His collection has been preserved intact, right down to the cigar boxes he used to store specimen vials." via wired.com

Goodnight Moon

Illustration courtesy of google

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is celebrating Margaret Wise Brown Day on May 15th. I think most parents would recognize Ms. Brown's name from the cover of the classic Goodnight Moon and, in addition to that forever favorite, she authored hundreds of children's books and stories. She is credited with changing literature for the youngest audiences by including a level of observation, wit, and warmth that had not been present in writing for children. She also championed for her illustrators to receive the same royalties she did at a time when the artists were certainly undervalued.

In their celebration of the centennial of Margaret Wise Brown the Carle Museum has a day of readings, presentations, and films planned, but if you are not in the area and are curious, the margaretwisebrown.com site has fascinating information about this revolutionary figure in children's literature.

Max and Ruby

Max and Ruby, the sibling bunnies created by Rosemary Wells, are turning thirty! If you are in the New England area, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is celebrating this milestone with Ms. Wells on November 22nd from 12-5.

Max and Ruby are darling no doubt, but author/illustrator Ms. Wells is quite fascinating herself. Over the years, she has re-released many of her picture book classics, such as Noisy Nora and Timothy Goes To School, with updated illustrations. As a fan of the originals, I always thought this was interesting, but given that decades later her books are still popular favorites, she knows what she is doing! Some Max and Ruby through the years for you .....

All images courtesy of Google

rare bird, indeed

via nytimes

When I'm up in Boston for the holidays, I really want to check out the special exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) called "Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel."

Iris Apfel is an 88 year old legendary style visionary (and, professionally, owner of a textile house). She's been dressing to the beat of her own drummer for 70 years - mixing vintage with designer, bright eye-catching colors with big and bright eye-catching jewelry, pattern with more pattern. I don't and may never dress like her, but I so admire the tenacity, individuality, and bravery of her style.

You know that slightly hokey poem, "Warning"? It starts with the lines:
"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves..."

That poem reminds me a little of how unconventional Apfel is and was long before she had the excuse of age to do and dress as she pleased. I think that she's a wonderful model for just enjoying what you are and what you like - no matter how left field it is (and no matter how much turquoise jewelry you end up swimming in...)

via exhibition at PEM

via past exhibition at Nassau County Museum

via past exhibition at Nassau County Museum

via poppyetunia

via clutch

Oh, and check the beautifully photographed book about her style:

Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel by Eric Boman