The American Spirit: Norman Rockwell’s Artworks Continue National Tour at Newark Museum

An important exhibition that explores Norman Rockwell’s unparalleled role as an American icon-maker and storyteller will be on view at the Newark Museum from February 28 through May 26. The exhibition American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell is organized by Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) painted the best of America, creating indelible images of the lives, hopes and dreams of Americans in the 20th century. Expertly weaving both narrative and painterly images, he was a consummate visual storyteller with a finely honed sense of what made an image successful in the new, rapidly changing era of mass media. Rockwell’s unique artistic legacy, established during 65 years of painting, offers a personal chronicle of 20th century life and aspirations that has both reflected and profoundly influenced American perceptions and ideals. All of the original works on view in American Chronicles are drawn from the permanent collection of the Norman Rockwell Museum, including such beloved and well-known images as “Triple Self-Portrait” (1960), “Girl at Mirror” (1954), “Going and Coming” (1947), and “Art Critic” (1955). The exhibition will include materials from the Norman Rockwell Museum’s archives demonstrating how Rockwell worked, proceeding from preliminary sketches, photographs, color studies and detailed drawings to the finished painting. American Chronicles has been made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, American Masterpieces Program. Publication support has been provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Media sponsorship has been provided by the Curtis Publishing Company and by the Norman Rockwell Family Agency. Conservation support has been provided by the Stockman Family Foundation. The Newark Museum presentation of this exhibition is made possible by Bank of America. This exhibition was made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For general information call 973-596-6550 or visit http://www.NewarkMuseum.org.