The Art Scene is Gobblers Galore
November 15, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
The Art Scene is Gobblers Galore
By Darla McCammon-
This week we will look at another of America’s favorite artists, Norman Rockwell, who created numerous paintings with a Thanksgiving theme.
Rockwell painted for several magazines and periodicals other than the most famous Saturday Evening Post. One of those was The Country Gentleman. In this series of covers Rockwell, known for his ability to depict all the foibles of human nature, created a character called “Cousin Reginald” who was a city kid unaccustomed to the rough and tumble lives of his country cousins.
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Cousin Reginald was the scapegoat for over 15 covers in this magazine, almost all to the entertainment of his rugged cousins, who seldom rescued him from his predicament, but evolved into riotous laughter over each escapade.
One of the more famous covers was titled “Cousin Reginald Catches the Thanksgiving Turkey.” As you can see, quite the reverse is true as Reginald runs for his life. This cover painting appeared in The Country Gentleman on Dec. 1, 1917. Note the unsympathetic cousins giggling safely in the background as Reginald runs.
Rockwell was born in 1894 and began successfully painting at 14 years of age – a true prodigy. In his life he created over 4,000 original works and also illustrated some very famous books (over 40 of them), including Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
He had a great affinity and partnership with the Boy Scouts of America and created their annual calendar (now highly prized by collectors) over the astounding period of 50 years, beginning in 1925.
Critics were often unkind to Rockwell’s art, calling it “banal,” but the American public embraced it, and in later years most critics came around, particularly when he put his sharp wit and excellent artistic execution skills to work on such evocative pieces as “The Problem We All Live With,” a painting showing a young Ruby Bridges being escorted to school by federal marshals.
Sometimes those who can’t create themselves become savage critics. Rockwell’s work has been elevated in spite of those narrow-minded critics and commands high prices at auction today.
Upcoming and Current Events
• Lakeland Art Association member show exhibit continues. Open Wednesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 302 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw.
• Through Dec. 28, photography by Florida artist Darlene Romano (includes her version of some of Audubon’s depictions of our American shorebirds). Warsaw City Hall Gallery is at 102 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw.
City hall is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Online views of more work by this artist can be found at www.darleneromano.com.
• Gallery at Rua, through Jan. 12, art featuring Nate and Jeanie Skages and their “Resurrexi-Making Medieval Modern” exhibit. A reception is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 108 E. Market St. This is an amazing use of technology and printmaking techniques.
For more information on topics in this column, contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or 574-527-4044. Darla’s website is at www.darlamc.com.
This week we will look at another of America’s favorite artists, Norman Rockwell, who created numerous paintings with a Thanksgiving theme.
Rockwell painted for several magazines and periodicals other than the most famous Saturday Evening Post. One of those was The Country Gentleman. In this series of covers Rockwell, known for his ability to depict all the foibles of human nature, created a character called “Cousin Reginald” who was a city kid unaccustomed to the rough and tumble lives of his country cousins.
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Cousin Reginald was the scapegoat for over 15 covers in this magazine, almost all to the entertainment of his rugged cousins, who seldom rescued him from his predicament, but evolved into riotous laughter over each escapade.
One of the more famous covers was titled “Cousin Reginald Catches the Thanksgiving Turkey.” As you can see, quite the reverse is true as Reginald runs for his life. This cover painting appeared in The Country Gentleman on Dec. 1, 1917. Note the unsympathetic cousins giggling safely in the background as Reginald runs.
Rockwell was born in 1894 and began successfully painting at 14 years of age – a true prodigy. In his life he created over 4,000 original works and also illustrated some very famous books (over 40 of them), including Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
He had a great affinity and partnership with the Boy Scouts of America and created their annual calendar (now highly prized by collectors) over the astounding period of 50 years, beginning in 1925.
Critics were often unkind to Rockwell’s art, calling it “banal,” but the American public embraced it, and in later years most critics came around, particularly when he put his sharp wit and excellent artistic execution skills to work on such evocative pieces as “The Problem We All Live With,” a painting showing a young Ruby Bridges being escorted to school by federal marshals.
Sometimes those who can’t create themselves become savage critics. Rockwell’s work has been elevated in spite of those narrow-minded critics and commands high prices at auction today.
Upcoming and Current Events
• Lakeland Art Association member show exhibit continues. Open Wednesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 302 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw.
• Through Dec. 28, photography by Florida artist Darlene Romano (includes her version of some of Audubon’s depictions of our American shorebirds). Warsaw City Hall Gallery is at 102 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw.
City hall is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Online views of more work by this artist can be found at www.darleneromano.com.
• Gallery at Rua, through Jan. 12, art featuring Nate and Jeanie Skages and their “Resurrexi-Making Medieval Modern” exhibit. A reception is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 108 E. Market St. This is an amazing use of technology and printmaking techniques.
For more information on topics in this column, contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or 574-527-4044. Darla’s website is at www.darlamc.com.
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