Albright-Knox Gallery loaning Rockwell painting for exhibit

When “Norman Rockwell: An American Family,” opens Saturday, June 17 at 7 p.m. in the Rockefeller Arts Center Art Gallery, local audiences will enjoy 40 limited edition Rockwell lithographs from the private collection of MassMutual Financial Group depicting life in the 1950s and 1960s.

"Elderly Woman Varnishing Picture Frame"

Thanks to a special collaboration with the internationally renowned Albright-Knox Art Gallery of Buffalo, art lovers will also have an opportunity to see an original work by the legendary American artist. Albright-Knox Art Gallery will lend “My Favorite Painting (Elderly Woman Varnishing Picture Frame)” to the Rockefeller Arts Center Art Gallery for the one-week run of the “Norman Rockwell: An American Family” exhibition.

“It is a great privilege to present this magnificent collection of limited edition lithographs produced from original drawings commissioned by MassMutual and executed by Norman Rockwell,” said June Miller-Spann, director of the Rockefeller Arts Center Art-Gallery. “Additionally, we are most appreciative of Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo for lending us an original Rockwell painting to aid us in this fund-raising event.”

Opening Reception June 17

Tickets are now available for the “Norman Rockwell: The American Family” opening reception on Saturday, June 17 at 7 p.m. in the Rockefeller Arts Center Art Gallery Lobby. All attendees must be at least 21 years of age. Musical entertainment, refreshments and a raffle to win a framed and matted print of Norman Rockwell’s “Grandfather Painting Granddaughter” will be provided. Richard and Marianne Karslake of Chautauqua are the co-chairs of the event. Please call 716-673-4897 to purchase tickets to the opening reception.

Public exhibit opens Father's Day

“Norman Rockwell: The American Family” will be open to public viewing from Sunday, June 18 to Father’s Day, Sunday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be a display featuring information on the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, reputed to be the oldest known book club in America.

Presale tickets to the exhibition are available at the SUNY Fredonia Central Ticket Office or by calling 716-673-3501. Admission can also be paid at the door. Proceeds from the opening reception, raffle and exhibition will be used to create the first endowment for the Rockefeller Arts Center Art Gallery.

Albright-Knox waves fee

“My Favorite Painting (Elderly Woman Varnishing Picture Frame)” was created by Norman Rockwell in 1924. The oil on canvas painting measures 29 inches by 28 inches and was given to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in 1995 as a gift from the management, associates and shareholders of Pratt & Lambert United.  When approached by the Rockefeller Arts Center Art Gallery regarding the use of “My Favorite Painting,” the Albright-Knox Art Gallery agreed not only to loan the Rockwell original but to also waive the standard loan fee.

“We do make an effort to help the smaller galleries in the region,” said Cheryl Orlick of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. “When asked, we do our best to cooperate, particularly with schools and galleries in the SUNY system.” The Albright-Knox Art Gallery has provided support to regional exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Burchfield-Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College and other area galleries.

Framed by Artiques, print to be raffled

The Rockefeller Arts Center Art Gallery is grateful to Artiques, located at the Bayfront Gallery of Erie, Penn. in its planning for “Norman Rockwell: An American Family.” Artiques donated the framing and matting of a Rockwell print entitled “Grandfather Painting Granddaughter,” which will be raffled off during the course of the exhibition at $1 apiece. A winner will be drawn at the conclusion of the exhibition.

Other collaborators make Gallery fundraiser a reality

Additionally, the Norman Rockwell Museum of Stockbridge, Mass., has donated a video, “Norman Rockwell: An American Portrait,” that will play throughout the exhibition.

The willingness of other venues to cooperate with the Rockefeller Arts Center Art Gallery during this major exhibition marks only one aspect of the broad support that “Norman Rockwell: An American Family” has received. The exhibition is sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group on behalf of its agencies and Thomas Waring Financial, a Hamburg-based business operated by SUNY Fredonia Class of 1980 grad Thomas W. Waring Jr.

Additional support has been provided by the Chautauqua Institution, the CLSC Alumni Association, Howard Hanna Holt Real Estate, Johnson Estate Winery, The Norman Rockwell Museum, Spann and Spann Law Offices, Southpaw Printing, SUNY Fredonia and the Westfield Garden Club.