norman rockwell

Norman Rockwell Mural Returned To Vermont State Capital

Filed under: Art

A piece of Vermont history, a photographic mural by artist Norman Rockwell is back in the state capital. The large black-and-white photograph, shown above, "Maple Sugaring in Vermont," was commissioned by Rockwell's friend Col. Henry Fairfax Ayres, who lent it to the state for display. The the 5-by-7-foot mural was made in 1947 and shows men, including Rockwell himself, tending sap buckets hanging on maple trees outside as the sugar house belches smoke into the sky.

The mural hung in the lobby of the state Agency of Agriculture building in Montpelier for years but in 1987, the state lent it to the Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont while the building underwent renovations. At the museum in Rutland, Vermont it become popular with visitors. Last year Vermont Agriculture Commissioner Roger Allbee (shown above), who was aware of the original loan, started to make inquiries. The museum was attached to the mural and had used it as the anchor of a collection. Eventually the grandson of Col. Ayres was contacted and he said it should go back to the state. While the issue of ownership may have been resolved it's likely that the mural will attract less eyes in its new home in a second-floor hallway of the Agency of Agriculture's office building, across the street from the Statehouse than at the Rockwell Museum.

Tags: norman rockwell, photography, Rockwell Museum of Western Art, vermont

Smithsonian Offers Behind-The-Scenes Event

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events, Art

A rare chance to go behind the scenes at the Smithsonian will be offered October 20-23. Smithsonian Journeys has announced the "Celebrate Smithsonian" event in which participants will meet Smithsonian curators and staff, explore Smithsonian collections not on public view, attend private demonstrations and the newest exhibitions and enjoy exclusive dinners with Smithsonian staff in museum galleries.

The program begins with a private gala reception and dinner at the Smithsonian "Castle" building. Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture, will welcome participants and give an overview of the Smithsonian's colorful past and present. The next two days will focus on Smithsonian collections in storage and on display. Museum staff will lead tours through the Museum Support Center, a high-tech home to more than 54 million artifacts, where scholars work on the research and conservation of some of the nation's treasures. At the National Museum of American History, curator of musical instruments Kenneth Slowik will how priceless instruments from the collection and demonstrate their rich tones.

Tags: Museum of Natural History, museum tours, norman rockwell, Smithsonian, washington, washington dc

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Steven Spielberg and George Lucas Partner For Rockwell Exhibition

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have more than great movies in common, they are also both collectors of Norman Rockwell art. The latest collaboration from the talented pair won't be a movie but the pooling of their collections of Rockwell art as part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. next year. "Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell From the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg" will be on exhibit from July 2, 2010 through Jan. 2, 2011 and will include more than 50 paintings and drawings from the movie moguls' collections.

The Washington Post reports that the exhibit will explore the connections linking the art and movies. It makes a certain sense that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are collectors of Norman Rockwell art. After all, both directors share a certain love of Americana, of heroism and storytelling things that are key features in Rockwell's work. The pair have taped interviews on their thoughts on Rockwell which will be shown as part of the exhibit.

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Tags: art, exhibit, george lucas, GeorgeLucas, museum, norman rockwell, NormanRockwell, smithsonian, steven spielberg, StevenSpielberg

Rockwell's Santa Should Bring Big Bucks

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

Perhaps the ultimate holiday decoration might be a piece of art going up for sale on November 29th as part of Christie's sale of American paintings, art and sculpture. The painting, Extra Good Boys and Girls, by Norman Rockwell, is one of Rockwell's Christmas pictures for the Saturday Evening Post. Santa is shown using pushpin flags to create a path with destinations across the Pacific and throughout the Americas. The map alludes to the spread of Christmas throughout the world and the holiday's power to bring together friends, families and people from diverse backgrounds. The painting is estimate to sell for up to $3.5 million.

Other lots includes works from Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper and both bronzes and paintings depicting the American West from Frederic Remington. The sale is expected to bring in more than $59 million.

UPDATE: Santa sold for $2.17 million.

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Tags: christie's, christmas, holidash, norman rockwell, santa