How Sweet The Sound

Visitors admire "Saying Grace" during its loan to
Norman Rockwell Museum. Photo by Jeremy Clowe for
Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Back in the 1950s, The Saturday Evening Post conducted a poll, asking readers to vote for their favorite Norman Rockwell cover— Saying Grace, created for the front of the magazine's November 24, 1951 issue, won hands down; I think it was one of my Dad's favorites as well, judging from all the prints and copy of the illustration I discovered, created in my father's own hand. 

Over 60 years later, Saying Grace just set a record for the most expensive American artwork ever sold ($46 million) during Sotheby's auction on December 4. Before that, the painting had been on long-term loan to Norman Rockwell Museum, where thousands of visitors shared the artist's beautifully rendered message of tolerance.

Needless to say, It's been an interesting year managing press for the Museum. Calls about the auction and a controversial new biography on Rockwell have kept me busy, and fielding questions I never thought I would be asked during my time representing the arts organization. In the past week alone, I have heard from such outlets as The Associated Press, National Geographic, The Boston Globe, and was interviewed by New England Public Radio and The Atlantic about the auction (the writer for the latter ended up misquoting me and using my words out of context, but what can you do... I still enjoy the magazine's in-depth news coverage).

Freedom of speech (as long as they get my quotes
right). Courtesy Business West.

Yesterday I worked with producers of a popular, nationally syndicated TV game show, who visited the Museum to film segments for an upcoming episode. It was a nice way to end a productive year, and especially satisfying for me, as it was my initial pitch to the show that made it all happen. More details to come.

In the meantime, I have a live radio interview about the Museum's current exhibitions and events scheduled for this Tuesday, December 17, 9 a.m. ET with the show Well Talk With Avi Dresner, and I just found this interview I conducted over the summer with BusinessWest magazine about the Museum's creative initiatives. 

Sure, interviews can be creative and I enjoy talking about the Museum and illustration art, but look forward to expressing more of my own artistic impulses in the coming year.

Related Links:

"Community Profile: Stockbridge," Business West, October 22, 2013

"Iconic Rockwell Painting Shows Ideal America," The News-Press, November 27, 2013

"Norman Rockwell Museum Hopes This $46 Million Painting Will Hang On Their Walls," Atlantic Wire, December 4, 2013