Eric Carle: Animals and Friends

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - July 8, 2015 - PRLog -- Beginning September 13, 2015, the Montclair Art Museum will host an exhibition of over 60 original works by the acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle (b. 1929). Eric Carle: Animals and Friends highlights the artist’s meticulous preparatory process and key childhood themes of animals and friendship. The exhibition will be on view through January 3, 2016.

The featured work includes original collages, studies, and book dummies/mock ups. Especially noteworthy will be Carle’s unique, colorful, hand-painted tissue paper collages, which form the basis of his illustrations. In addition to finished collages, there will be preliminary works including pencil studies that underscore Carle’s meticulous care for his subject. All the works in this exhibition address the subjects of two recent publications by Carle: his love of color and use of imagination expressed in The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (2011) and the celebration of friendship and childhood from Friends (2013).

Carle’s love of nature is legendary. To recognize this passion, the exhibition includes selected work from The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (2011) as well as other publications exploring his interest in animals. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse was inspired by the bright, unconventional animal paintings of the German artist Franz Marc (1880–1916). Marc’s Blue Horse I (1911) and other works were admired by the young Eric Carle, who spent his boyhood in Germany when the Nazi regime prohibited the creation or display of modern art. His art teacher secretly showed the teenager examples of the forbidden art. Carle recently observed, “My green lion, polka-dotted donkey and other animals painted in the ‘wrong’ colors were really born that day seventy years ago.”

Carle's newest picture book, Friends, published in November 2013, is a celebration of friendship and childhood expressed in colorful tissue paper collage illustrations and the poetic story of an imaginary journey of the child at play. Inspired by Carle's memories of early friendships he had as a young child as well as friendships in his adult life, Friends is a testament to the importance of friendship for children and to the lasting bonds that remain through every stage in life.

Since his best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote. The characteristic themes of friendship and nature will be further explored in additional works from Carle’s vast repertoire, including Do You Want to Be My Friend? (1971), The Rooster Who Set Out to See the World (1972), Do Bears Have Mothers Too? (1973), Animals Animals (1989), and Where Are You Going? To See My Friend (2001).

Eric Carle: Animals and Friends was organized in conjunction with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, Massachusetts.

Interactive Spaces
The exhibition features two interactive, family-friendly spaces included with Museum admission.

Family Learning Lab
3rd Floor Elevator Lobby
Drop by the Lab for an interactive exploration Eric Carle's artistic process. Draw, collage, and build your own Eric Carle-inspired creation!

Reading Nook
Weston Gallery
Cozy up and further explore the art of Eric Carle with one of his iconic books.

Public Programs
Public and family programs accompanying the exhibition will provide fun, education, and inspiration for all ages. Visit montclairartmuseum.org for updates and to purchase tickets. Highlights include:

MAM Lawn Party
September 12, 12– 5 p.m.
Free

To kick off the exhibition, MAM will present a daylong community celebration featuring a special Parents Who Rock 10th Anniversary Benefit Concert. Over 20 bands will perform, food vendors will provide a variety of delicious fare, and activities will spread throughout the grounds. Members are invited to an exhibition preview before the community event.

29th Annual Julia Norton Babson Memorial Lecture: The Illustrator’s Eye, Real and Imagined
Jerry Pinkney
Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m.
$12 members/$15 nonmembers

Jerry Pinkney, award-winning American illustrator, will discuss the decisions leading up to developing a book project, the ways in which he finds his own vision, and how he develops a fuller understanding of his subjects.

Eric Carle Family Day
November 15, 1–4 p.m.
Free member family; $10 nonmember family (up to 6 people)

Participate in a day of exploration with many dynamic Museum-wide art activities. Enjoy an Eric Carle Reading Marathon, a toy workshop featuring toy collector/author Dorothée Charles, and art projects inspired by the current exhibition Eric Carle: Animals and Friends.

Group and School Tours

Group and school tours may be booked by calling 973-259-5136 or emailing tours@montclairartmuseum.org.

Exhibition Website

The Museum will maintain a site dedicated to the exhibition for journalists seeking further information, including a checklist, images, and related events and programs. Please visit montclairartmuseum.org/press (https://www.montclairartmuseum.org/press/press-room).

Exhibition Sponsorship

Eric Carle: Animals and Friends was organized in conjunction with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, Massachusetts.

Generous support at the Montclair Art Museum provided by Rosemary and Al Iversen, Leslie Larson and Don Katz, and Ivonne and Jon Ruggles. Special thanks to the Scholastic Reading Club and Penguin Young Readers.