In this section, you'll find the most important news from Ohio's tourism attractions and visitors bureaus.
Rockwell's 'America' Opens Nov.1
Ohio Historical Center presents world's largest Rockwell exhibit
8/11/2008
CONTACT:
Kim Schuette
(614) 297-2314
kschuette@ohiohistory.org
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Aug. 11, 2008) - Step back in time and into the eyes of the famous American painter Norman Rockwell. Touch, feel and see how America lived in the early- to mid-1900s as you walk through three-dimensional recreations of his famous
Saturday Evening Post magazine covers.
The Ohio Historical Center in Columbus will present Rockwell's America, the world's largest Norman Rockwell exhibit, created by Baltimore-based The Becker Group, for four months. The exhibit opens Nov. 1 and continues through March 1, 2009.
Visitors will enjoy some of Rockwell's most famous art brought to life in 15 theatrical environments. Experience and learn about the changing times and technologies in America through life-sized, 3-dimensional versions of Rockwell's
Saturday Evening Post covers. These charming recreations feature scenes from America’s history, frozen in time allowing visitors to become part of the past.
Explore the artist's studio, travel to "Main Street" featuring the famous "The Gossips" illustration, pose next to "Rosie the Riveter" and sit in a WWII army jeep or go on your first date at "The Soda Jerk." Every theatrical scene is coupled with multimedia experiences, live character interpretation and is a family photo opportunity just waiting to happen. Rockwell's
America also contains a gallery of all 322 Norman Rockwell original
Saturday Evening Post covers.
Rockwell the Artist: At the age of 22, Rockwell sold his first cover painting in 1916 to America's oldest magazine,
The Saturday Evening Post, and ended up creating more than 300 additional covers for the magazine. Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Kennedy and Johnson sat for him for portraits, and he painted other world figures, including Nasser of Egypt and Nehru of India.
The weekly magazine was first published in 1728 by 22-year-old Benjamin Franklin and started as the
Pennsylvania Gazette, one of five regular publications in the colonies. Purchased in 1897 by Cyrus H. Curtis, the
Saturday Evening Post rose to the coveted status of "America’s Magazine" by showcasing the best American writers, artists and illustrators of the 20th Century.
Rockwell was tuned in to social change, which gave him a connection to people from other races and walks of life. In "Times of Change," the mood shifts toward the dramatic and serious where he confronts a changing world head on. "Rosie the Riveter" and the wartime adventures of Willy Gillis illustrate how the artist conveyed endurance, courage, hardship and hope. In this area of the exhibit, visitors come face-to-face with the Civil Rights movement in his landmark paintings, "The Problem We All Live With" and "The Four Freedoms."
In 1957, the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington cited him as a Great Living American, saying that..."Through the magic of your talent, the folks next door - their gentle sorrows, their modest joys - have enriched our own lives and given us new insight into our countrymen." He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in 1977.
Rockwell's
America begins Nov. 1 and is on exhibition through March 1, 2009. Admission is $11 for adults, $10 for seniors (60+), $7 for youth (6-12), $3 for Ohio Historical Society members and free for children 5 and under. Price includes standard museum admission plus Rockwell's
America. Parking is $4 and free for OHS members. For more information, call (800) 686-6124 or visit
www.ohiohistory.org.
Rockwell's
America is produced by the Becker Group under license by Curtis Publishing.
About The Becker Group
The Becker Group, a subsidiary of Viad Corp., is an experiential marketing company with more than 50 years of experience creating immersive, entertaining attractions and brand-based experiences for a wide variety of clients and venues including top consumer brands, movie studios, retail centers, television networks, theme parks, museums and casinos around the globe. The award-winning company is headquartered in Baltimore, and has offices in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Miami, Mexico City and Sao Paulo, Brazil. For additional information, visit
www.beckergroup.com.
About Curtis Publishing Company
Curtis Publishing Company is the exclusive licensor of the more than 4,000 cover illustrations by the Great American Illustrators that have appeared on the covers of
The Saturday Evening Post and
Country Gentleman magazines. For additional information, visit
www.curtispublishing.com.
About the Ohio Historical Center
The Ohio Historical Center is one of 58 sites administered by the Ohio Historical Society, a nonprofit organization that serves as the state's partner in preserving and interpreting Ohio's history, natural history and archaeology. For more information about programs and events, visit
www.ohiohistory.org or call (800) 686-6124.
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