NORMAN ROCKWELL & THE ARLINGTON ARTISTS EXHIBIT
Summer 2018 - Canfield Gallery
Why Arlington?
Arlington, Vermont - an otherwise quaint and unassuming town nestled into the foothills of the Green Mountains in southern Vermont - was an unlikely home to a large number of some of America's most respected illustrators during the early to mid 20th century. From about 1920 to 1960, no less than a dozen artists, including authors, illustrators, painters, a sculptor, a composer, and a cartoonist, all of them nationally prominent in their respective fields, lived in or around Arlington.
The artists in Arlington were not a homogenous group; between them they encompassed a range of media and stylistic approaches. Despite their many differences, they were intimately connected with one another and with the small town they called home, serving one another as patrons, models, critics, and loyal friends. Their work touched the lives of hundreds of millions, then and now. Together this community of artistic neighbors played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of America.
MARTHA CANFIELD LIBRARY PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 2018
A major historical exhibition, profiling the community of famous artists, illustrators and writers gathered in Arlington during the middle of the 20th century opens Saturday, June 30th. From roughly 1920 to 1960, Arlington was home to an influential community of artists whose work shaped our image of America. Led by Norman Rockwell, these artists produced hundreds of illustrations for major magazines like The Saturday Evening Post, ads for major corporations and influential public service campaigns.
This historical exhibit chronicles these artists and their friendships as well as the the local residents who served as their models. In addition, reproductions of Norman Rockwell’s famous paintings of the Four Freedoms will be on display. These paintings were the centerpiece of a national campaign to support the cost of World War II through the sale of War Bonds. The exhibit explains how the Arlington residents who modeled for the paintings helped raise the equivalent of more than a billion dollars by touring the country promoting the sale of war bonds.
The exhibit was curated by Don Trachte Jr., a Rockwell model and son of Don Trachte, one of the Arlington artists who drew the famous Henry cartoon strip for more than 50 years. It runs from June 30th to August 15th, with an opening reception on Saturday, June 30th, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The gallery will also be open following a reunion of Rockwell models at Arlington Memorial High School on July 7th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. For more information, visit this link or call The Martha Canfield Library at 802-375-6153.