The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Announces 10th Anniversary Celebration

The Carle, which opened its doors November 22, 2002, has become a major cultural resource in its young life, drawing more than a half million visitors from around the world and engaging audiences of all ages in picture books.

"Our founders, Eric and Barbara Carle, dreamed of creating a museum that would celebrate picture books and inspire a love of art and reading," says Alexandra Kennedy, executive director. "We're very proud of the many ways the Museum has fulfilled that mission. In just ten years The Carle has become a vital center for artists, writers, teachers, librarians, scholars, and families — a place where important conversations about the future of art, books, and education happen every day."

On November 10, 2012 the Museum will host its anniversary launch party, inviting back the many renowned artists who have exhibited their work in its galleries. The evening will include tours of Iconic Images: Ten Years of Collecting, the first major exhibition drawing on the Carle's permanent collection of more than 10,000 illustrations. Guests will have a chance to view works by William Steig, Ludwig Bemelmans, Maurice Sendak, and many more. The other special exhibitions on view will be Eric Carle's Independent Art — a look beyond his famous book illustration — and an exhibition of the work of British artist Lucy Cousins and her beloved Maisy character. Other exhibitions slated for the anniversary year include Garth Williams’s rarely viewed original drawings from Charlotte's Web and a major exhibition of work by Mo Willems.

The night's event will include the debut of a bronze Very Hungry Caterpillar commemorative maquette created by renowned sculptor Nancy Schön. Best known for her "Make Way for Ducklings" sculpture at the Boston Public Garden, Schön is offering the maquettes for sale throughout the Museum's anniversary year and contributing all profits to The Carle.

All events are in the planning stage and dates are subject to change:

June 9, 2012: Children's Family Book Festival: Baseball Bonanza and press announcement for the year of anniversary events

October 2012: Educator Night with Speaker Howard Gardner, plus anniversary year information for attending teachers and librarians

November 10, 2012: Anniversary Kick-off Party with Eric Carle and Friends, including tours of two new exhibitions, Beyond Books: The Independent Art of Eric Carle and Iconic Images: 10 Years of Collecting

December 11, 2012: Some Book! Some Art!: Selected Drawings by Garth Williams for Charlotte's Web exhibition opens

March 2013: Study Tour of the Early Childhood Centers of Pistoia, Italy with Museum Educators

March 12, 2013: Latino Folk Tales: Cuentos Populares – Art by Latino Artists

June 8, 2013: Children's Book Festival celebrating The Carle's 10th anniversary and its community of artists

June 22, 2013: Seriously Silly: A Decade of Art & Whimsy by Mo Willems exhibition opens

October 2013: Educator Night

November 2013: Anniversary closing ceremony

Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during MA school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.

Photo credit: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art