THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 30, 1996 TAG: 9605250173
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 43 lines
After three years of planning and research, on Sunday the Chrysler Museum will unveil an exhibit of some 250 original drawings and paintings chronicling 100 years of American children's book illustrations.
Among the works on display will be pieces by Maurice Sendak, Dr. Seuss, Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth. The works come from such beloved children's classics as ``Cinderella,'' ``Peter Pan,'' ``Little Women,'' ``Gulliver's Travels,'' ``Horton Hatches the Egg'' and ``Curious George.''
The exhibit is titled, ``Myth, Magic and Mystery: One Hundred Years of American Children's Book Illustration.'' It will continue through Sept. 8. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children, with those under 5 free.
According to museum officials, the exhibit is one of the Chrysler's ``most exciting, colorful and art-historically significant offerings in the museum's history.''
Several events will be held in conjunction with the exhibit's grand opening Sunday. At 2 p.m. the Norfolk-based children's theatrical group, the Hurrah Players, will present its production of ``Jack and the Beanstalk.'' Children and adults are encouraged to attend dressed as their favorite storybook characters.
At 3:15 p.m., a hands-on arts workshop for children will be conducted by Jerry Tompkins, a Norfolk schools art history specialist. Participants will design and create three-dimensional portraits of their favorite storybook character using a variety of materials to create bookmarks. The workshop will be held in the museum's Huber Court.
Throughout the summer, each Wednesday at 2 p.m. a celebrity will read a classic children's book for young audiences. Jim Kincaid, anchor for WVEC-TV, will be the first reader June 5. Other readers will include JoAnn Falleta of the Virginia Symphony, Old Dominion University women's basketball coach Wendy Larry, Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, Lane Dare of WHRO-TV and Charlie Hensley of the Virginia Stage Company.
As part of the exhibit, an original, full-color illustrated catalog has been published by the museum and Roberts Rinehart Publishers. It is available in the Chrysler's gift shop in both hardcover and paperback editions.
After its Norfolk premiere, the exhibition will travel to The Memphis Brooks Museum in Tennessee and to The Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington. by CNB