In The West Gallery
Creative Connections:
The Art of Eric Carle and Leo Lionni
February 3 - September 3, 2006
When Eric Carle returned to America in 1952,a meeting with Leo Lionni resulted in a friendship and a job lead. The rest, as they say, is history. Neither Eric Carle nor Leo Lionni ever imagined they later would create some of the most memorable picture books of our time. The similarities between these two artists are quite striking: their pictures are filled with animals and nature; they drew inspiration from their childhood experiences; and their early careers in graphic design can be seen in their bold simplicity and elegant sense of design.
The Museum is pleased to exhibit the work of Dutch born Lionni in conjunction with GoDutch! The exhibit will also feature some of Carle’s illustrations from The Hole in the Dike an adaptation of Mary Mapes Dodge's classic tale about a boy who saves Holland from a disastrous flood.
In The East Gallery
Dutch Treats: Contemporary Illustration from The Netherlands
March 28 - June 25, 2006
Continuing to delight American audiences with picture book art from around the world, the Eric Carle Museum is honored to present an exhibition of contemporary Dutch illustrations from the Netherlands. This exhibit will include Dutch favorites Dick Bruna (Miffy series), Max Velthuijs (Frog series) as well as introduce some new favorites!
This exhibition has been made possible in part by generous support from UBS and by a grant from the Mondriaan Foundation, Amsterdam. Additional support has been received from The Consulate General of The Netherlands in New York and the Foundation of Production and Translation of Dutch Literature. This exhibit is a part of GoDutch! a Pioneer Valley, MA-wide celebration of Dutch art and culture in the Spring/Summer 2006. (www.museums10.org)
Photo by Process Artists
In The Central Gallery
PROCESS: From Person to Pencil to Published
May 12 - December 10, 2006
Whether immediate and visceral, or detailed and sophisticated, every picture book illustration starts with thumbnail sketches, diagrams, and rough ideas. Even the simplest published page is the culmination of a vast amount of trial and error. This exhibit peels away the page to take a look at the inspirational material, failed ideas, and
sparks that are eventually harnessed to produce successful children’s illustrations. The show will focus on the work of four leading artist/illustrators. Kadir Nelson (He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands), Brian Selznick (Walt Whitman: Words for America), Mo Willems (Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale), and Betsy Lewin (Animal Snackers).
In The East Gallery
The Wonderful Art of Oz
July 11 - October 22, 2006
This summer, The Eric Carle Museum presents an unprecedented exhibition devoted to one of the world's most beloved tales of adventure and discovery. Organized in honor of the 150th anniversary of Oz series creator, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Art of Oz brings together the full range of artistic interpretations of Baum's most famous story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, from W.W. Denslow's original Art Nouveau illustrations for the first edition, to works by his successor, John R. Neill, and more recent versions by Barry Moser, Charles Santore, Lisbeth Zwerger, Robert Sabuda, Trina Schart Hyman, Chris Van Allsburg, Paul Zelinsky, and Eric Carle.
In The West Gallery
Selections from the Art of Eric Carle:
Beginning with Bears
September 15, 2006 - January 28, 2007
As one of the most acclaimed authors and illustrators of our time, Eric Carle’s work has world-wide appeal. Selections from the Art of Eric Carle: Beginning with Bears explores the evolution of Carle’s collage technique beginning with examples of works created to illustrate his first book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, written by Bill Martin, Jr. This exhibition will also feature examples of Carle’s non-book art as well as recent acquisitions from the Museum’s permanent collection.
In The East Gallery
Quentin Blake:
The Theater of the Page
November 7, 2006 - March 11, 2007
With hundreds of books to his name, Quentin Blake has become a “British Institution” and a global treasure, both for his own books and for his celebrated partnership with Roald Dahl, which began in 1978 with Blake’s illustrations for The Enormous Crocodile. Tracing the life and work of this master, The Carle’s exhibition explores many aspects of Blake’s style, process, and collaborations: from the high comedy of Mr. Magnolia and many of the Roald Dahl books, to the reflective, atmospheric mood that prevails in The Green Ship and Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. Reflecting Blake’s many artistic influences, works by Honoré Daumier, George Cruickshank, and Pablo Picasso are also included.
This exhibition has been generously underwritten by the Triad Foundation.