Brom, The Night Mare, 2017
Opening this Saturday, June 12th, at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge Massachusetts is a wonderful historical survey of Fantasy art curated by Jesse Kowalski. Featuring over a hundred works of art, it is an understatement how eagerly so many of us in the genre have waited for this show to finally open.
Never before has there been a chance to view so many historical works of fantastical illustration exhibited not only to bring together contemporary masterpieces, but to weave the threads of this narrative art form back through century upon century of art history.
From manuscript illumination, to book jackets, to comics, to Dungeons and Dragons manual cover art, the scope of this exhibition could easily broaden to fill scores of museum galleries!
Gary Gianni, Daenerys Targaryen, 2019
From the Norman Rockwell Museum website:
Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration explores fantasy archetypes from the Middle Ages to today. The exhibition will present the immutable concepts of mythology, fairy tales, fables, good versus evil, and heroes and villains through paintings, etchings, drawings, and digital art created by artists from long ago to illustrators working today. Mythology explores the adventures of Apollo and Thor, Perseus rescuing Andromeda with the head of Medusa, and the labours of Hercules; fairy tales depict the worlds of elves, fairies, and mermaids, and conjure dreams of Little Nemo in Slumberland, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella; heroes and villains follow the exploits of Arthurian legends, Prince Valiant, Conan the Barbarian, and The Lord of the Rings; and haunting images of sorcerers and witches, and battles between angels and demons embody the struggle between good and evil.
Tony Diterlizzi, Common House Boggart, The Spiderwick Chronicles, 2005
I will be attending the Artist/Donor’s opening event on Friday night (closed to public), but will return for the main Museum Fundraiser on Saturday night which is open to the public with a special event ticket purchase. If you are visiting the museum on Saturday, you may likely bump elbows with scores of other artists who will be there taking in the show! Details are below:
Yoann Lossel, Grendel’s Mother, 2017
Also throughout the following weeks during the summer long exhibition, the Museum will be hosting numerous events online for those of you who may not get the chance to travel and take in the show first hand. The first of these begin with the Virtual Symposia the weekend of June 19th and 20th, when I will be one of the featured guests along with a handful of other talents,
VIRTUAL SYMPOSIA via Zoom
Enchanted: Epic Adventures in Fantasy Illustration (June 19 & 20)
&
Enchanted: Mythology and Fairy Tales (October 22 & 23)
I hope to see you at the museum or at another event soon!
NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM
Enchanted – A History of Fantasy Illustration
June 12 – October 31, 2021
Thomas Blackshear, Beauty and the Beast, 1994
Tyler Jacobson, Red Dragon, 2014
Ruth Sanderson, The Princess Hurried down a Lamp-Lit Path, 1990
I had bought tix to this for last year, for a birthday event (Go Geminis) – but it was postponed. Alas I wish I could have come this year to see these in person (and many of the makers).
I’ve gotta say: That red dragon leaves me speechless, every time I see it. That is a modern classic.