May 24, 2021
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Norman Rockwell Museum Announces Summer Season featuring Special Exhibition Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration
On View June 12 – October 31, 2021
Tyler Jacobson, Red Dragon, 2014, © Wizards of the Coast
STOCKBRIDGE, MA – Norman Rockwell Museum is pleased to announce a lively summer season both online and in-person, indoors and out. Programs, discussions, and workshops will highlight artists whose artwork is featured in Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration. Spanning more than 1,900 years, visitors will take a deep dive into the evolution of fantasy art through the ages.
“We invite you to enjoy a summer of fun at Norman Rockwell Museum. An enchanting exhibition and programs are sure to entrance all ages. We offer an art-filled escape in the galleries, on the grounds, and virtually, into fantasy realms where dragons, fairies, and magic reign supreme to delight our imagination and rekindle our spirits” says Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt.
The Curator of the exhibition, Jesse Kowalski remarks “After years of working on this summer’s fantasy illustration exhibition, which was due to open last year, I am thrilled to finally see these extraordinary works on display. It was a tremendous undertaking by our Museum team to prepare an exhibit of 140 artworks by over 100 artists, created between 100 CE and 2021, some never-before-seen.”
On View
Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration • June 12 – October 31, 2021
Explore the most comprehensive exhibition of fantasy illustration featuring paintings, etchings, drawings, and digital art. Journey from the Middle Ages through ancient mythology, fairy tales, and heroes and villains to contemporary artwork from Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. Marvel at 140+ works of art created by more than 100 artists over five centuries.
Exhibition Silver Sponsor: Heritage Auctions
Media Sponsor: Berkshire Magazine
Real and Imagined: Fantastical Rockwell • June 12 – October 31, 2021
A perceptive observer, Norman Rockwell was a persuasive visual commentator whose realist paintings inspired belief of millions in the innate goodness of humanity and the achievability of the American dream. Rockwell also inspired our love of fantasy in ways that he may not have fully perceived. This installation will explore his artworks for The Saturday Evening Post and other magazines and for twentieth century advertisers and products. Works spanning Rockwell’s career, including his 1934 Land of Enchantment, on loan from the New Rochelle Public Library; as well as Art Critic, Mermaid, Just Married, Magic Football, and others will be on view.
Land of Enchantment: Fantastical Sculptures • July 10 – October 31, 2021
A new juried show featuring 25 sculptures of fantastical creatures by regional artists appear across Museum grounds. Imaginative original works of varied materials are inspired by the featured exhibition’s themes of classical and contemporary fantasy illustrations.
Spring Gala
Enchanted Gala (In-Person)
Saturday, June 12, 2021 • 6 – 9 p.m.
The Enchanted Gala is the NRM annual fundraising party of the year. Visitors will participate in a memorable outdoor quest and step into the world of fantasy art and live exciting experiences, dreams, and be part of fantastical worlds. More information available here.
Exhibition Opening
Land of Enchantment Family Opening (In-Person)
Saturday, July 10 • 2 – 4 p.m.
Discover original sculptures by regional contemporary artists inspired by the special exhibition Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration. At the opening celebration visitors of all ages can meet the sculptors, find the fairies in the Yellowwood tree, and make a dragon egg. Guests will vote on their favorite sculptures between 2 – 3 p.m. Awards include Best in Show, People’s Choice, and Kids Choice, winners to be announced at 3:30 p.m. Free with Admission, Free for Members, children & teens.
Summer Programs
For more information and descriptions please visit NRM.org. Advance registration is required for all programs; online, in-person, and hybrid. The Museum follows all State Covid guidelines.
Spring Symposium (Virtual)
Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies Spring Symposium
Enchanted: Epic Adventures in Fantasy Illustration
Friday, June 18 • 7 – 8:30 p.m. & Saturday, June 19 • 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
$20/$15 Members or Pay what you choose. Includes both sessions.
Explore the art and history of fantasy illustration and the mythical, mystical, folkloric artworks by masterful artists who are leading the way in this popular genre. The field’s historical underpinnings and inspirations will be the subject of conversation by exhibition curator Jesse Kowalski as well as prominent practitioners whose art is featured in Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration. Sara Frazetta of Frazetta Girls and seven noted artists, including Julie Bell, Boris Vallejo, Anthony Palumbo, David Palumbo, Alessandra Pisano, Donato Giancola, and Gregory Manchess, will discuss their art, process, and inspirations.
Friday Keynote:
A History of Modern Fantasy Illustration, with Jesse Kowalski, Exhibition Curator
Saturday Opening Remarks:
Commentary by Sara Frazetta, Frazetta Girls
Artist Panel I:
The Frazetta Legacy in Contemporary Fantasy Illustration: A Family of Artists with Julie Bell, Boris Vallejo, Anthony Palumbo, and David Palumbo
Artist Panel II:
The Epic Fantasy Adventure with Allesandra Pisano, Donato Giancola, Gregory Manchess
Garden of Easels: Outdoor Art Workshops (In-Person)
Adults & Teens
From Hobbits to Hulks, Creating Characters for Stories with James Warhola
Saturday, July 24 • 2 – 4 p.m.
For drawing enthusiasts, this session will explore techniques for creating characters for stories, with artist James Warhola. The nephew of Andy Warhol, James has illustrated over two dozen children’s books. Bring pencils and sketchbook.
Class limited to 20 people. $85/$65 Members
The Magic of Trees, Plein Air with Ruth Sanderson
Saturday, August 7 • 1 – 4 p.m.
In this plein air workshop, Ruth Sanderson will demonstrate painting one of the many great trees on the Museum’s grounds and incorporate a fantasy element into the painting, such as tree spirits, fairies, or other imagined creatures. Participants will then create their own fantasy painting. An award winning artist, Ruth is an accomplished educator and has illustrated many children’s picturebooks. Basic oil paints are included; participants may bring favorite colors if desired. Visit NRM.org for a full supply list.
Class limited to 12 people. $125/$95 Members (includes some supplies)
Plein Air Landscape Painting with Dan Howe
Saturday, August 21 • 1 – 4 p.m.
Accomplished artist Dan Howe will present plein air landscape painting techniques in oils, and guide participants in the creation of their own artworks on the Museum’s grounds. Participants are invited to add fantasy elements, inspired by the Enchanted exhibitions, to their paintings. An accomplished painter and illustrator, Dan will explore classical approaches to drawing and painting. Light, color, form, and line will be discussed in this session designed to help students of all levels of ability enhance their skills.
Class limited to 20 people; supply list provided. $85/$65 Members
Meet the Artist • Tuesday Night Series (In-Person and Virtual)
Meet the international artists featured exhibition Held in person and online, participants can engage with these world class illustrators and learn about their inspirations, their current work, and future aspirations. Q&A to follow.
Meet the international artists featured exhibition Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration. Held in person and online, participants can engage with these world class illustrators and learn about their inspirations, their current work, and future aspirations. Q&A to follow.
Artists will be streaming in from their studios – join in person via a large digital screen on the Museum’s scenic terrace, which is now offering beer, wine, cider, and an a la carte menu. The program can also be enjoyed online with the NRM global community; virtual participants will receive a cocktail recipe to make at home.
Access to the online stream at the Museum is free with regular admission, cash bar.
Online participants:
Free for members
$5 non-members
Brom
Tuesday, July 6 • 5:30 p.m.
One of the most highly regarded artists of his generation, Brom received the prestigious Grand Master award at the 2013 Spectrum Fantastic Art annual.
Thomas Blackshear
Tuesday, July 13 • 5:30 p.m.
Over the past four decades, Thomas Blackshear has painted artworks for magazines, movie studios, and postage stamps, including a portfolio titled The African American Tradition: Heroes of Our Heritages, which featured Rosa Parks, Dorothy Height, Ida B. Wells, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others noted figures.
Tyler Jacobson
Tuesday, July 20 • 5:30 p.m.
Tyler Jacobson’s art has been featured in publications by Wizards of the Coast, Simon & Schuster, TOR. Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Texas Monthly, Men’s Journal, Runner’s World, The Weekly Standard, and Scientific American. Magic: The Gathering trading card game cards, package art, and promotional materials, as well as character design and game art for Dungeons & Dragons, are among his many fantasy commissions.
Scott Gustafson
Tuesday, July 27 • 5:30 p.m.
Scott Gustafson’s delightful style of illustrating fairy tales bring characters come to life as they are imagined, without reference to previous iterations. He has illustrated many classic stories, including Peter Pan, Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Lion and the Mouse, and Jack and the Beanstalk, among others.
Anna Dittmann
Tuesday, August 3 • 5:30 p.m.
Anna Dittmann is a digital illustrator with a passion for figurative art. Her love for nature and portraiture are recurring themes throughout her work, which emphasizes movement, organic shapes and natural elements. Her work is featured on book covers, comic covers, magazines, advertisements, posters, tattoos, and in galleries worldwide.
Bob Eggleton
Tuesday, August 10 • 5:30 p.m.
Bob Eggleton is a noted American science fiction And fantasy artist. His drawings and paintings depict space ships, alien worlds and inhabitants, dragons, vampires, and other fantasy creatures. The artist’s fascination with dragons originated with his childhood interest of dinosaurs, which can be seen in the book Greetings From Earth. He has also illustrated cards for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game.
Julie Bell
Tuesday, August 17 • 5:30 p.m.
Julie Bell is an award-winning painter, illustrator, photographer, and bodybuilder. She focuses on heroic fantasy and fantastic realism genres; she has won numerous Chesley Awards and was the designer of the Dragons of Destiny series. Bell was the first woman to illustrate Conan the Barbarian for Marvel Comics.
Gary Gianni
Tuesday, August 24 • 5:30 p.m.
Gary Gianni follows in the footsteps of artists like N.C. Wyeth and Hal Foster, illustrating the comic strip Prince Valiant, classic tales such as Moby Dick and Kidnapped, and the latest book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (now the blockbuster TV show Game of Thrones) series.
The Art of Brewing Festival (In-Person)
Saturday, August 21
Ticket Price TBD
Spend an afternoon sampling some of the best local brews and local food. Be inspired by illustration art in the galleries and on the beer cans. Visitors can purchase food from some of the best local food truck vendors or the Runaway Cafe, view current and past label art from the brewers.
Fall Symposium (Virtual)
Rockwell Center For American Visual Studies Fall Symposium
Enchanted: Mythology and Fairy Tales
Friday, October 22 • 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. & Saturday, October 23 • 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
$20/$15 Members or Pay what you choose. Includes both sessions.
Explore the history and meaning of mythology and fairy tales in our lives, and the mythic characters and stories reflecting the inevitable conflict between the forces of good and evil – both real and imagined. Art historian and catalogue essayist Alice A. Carter will offer a keynote focusing on fantasy in the age of discovery. Rockwell’s own flights of fantasy will be explored by Chief Curator Stephanie Plunkett, and panelists Annie Stegg Gerard, Ruth Sanderson, Charles Vess, Victo Ngai, Justin Gerard, and Ian McCaig will discuss their inspirations and the presence of myths and fairy tales in their art.
Friday Keynote:
On the Side of the Angels: Fantasy in an Age of Discovery, with Alice A. Carter, Author and Illustration Historian
Saturday Opening Remarks:
Real and Imagined: Fantastical Rockwell, with Stephanie Haboush Plunkett, Deputy Director/Chief Curator
Artist Panel I:
The Fairy Tale in Fantasy Art, with Annie Stegg Gerard, Ruth Sanderson, Charles Vess
Artist Panel II:
The Making of Myths, with Victo Ngai, Justin Gerard, Ian McCaig