Fins and Feathers: Original Children’s Book Illustrations from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

November 7, 2010–January 30, 2011

Eric Carle, Green Frog, Green Frog, What do you see?, 1984, from Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Henry Holt, 1967, 1984), written by Bill Martin Jr., tissue paper on Bainbridge board, 12 ¼ x 17 ¾ in., Collection of Eric and Barbara Carle, courtesy of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, © 1967, 1984 Eric Carle More images Husband birds Parade Into Fishes

Do you remember your favorite illustrated books from childhood? Perhaps you were awed by swirling colors, fantastical creatures, and detailed vignettes that brought stories to life. The world of children’s book illustrations is a lush, imaginative arena for artistic exploration that can last a lifetime, and it is often a child’s first aesthetic experience. Relive the fantasy and fun for yourself—or introduce your family to old favorites—with Fins and Feathers: Original Children’s Book Illustrations from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Fins and Feathers, opening in November 2010, features original illustrations for children’s books from the late 1960s through today, including illustrations by Leo Lionni, Eric Carle, and Petra Mathers.

The fanciful illustrations in Fins and Feathers are drawn from the collection of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass. Established by artist and author Eric Carle in 2002, the museum is the first of its kind, devoted exclusively to original picture book art from American and international illustrators. Fins and Feathers highlights some of the best works from this collection, including a number of works by Arnold Lobel, who illustrated classic stories in The Random House Book of Poetry for Children and The Random House Book of Mother Goose. Also highlighted are works by Ashley Bryan, the much-praised and award-winning author and illustrator of Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum. This book, a collection of Nigerian folktales, is just one of his works to have won a prestigious Coretta Scott King Award, which honors African American authors and outstanding works of literature for children or young adults.

Fins and Feathers features daydreaming fish, stately egrets, day-tripping chickens, and one very mixed-up chameleon. By turns humorous and elegant, the illustrations sparkle with bright colors and even brighter original imagery. This family-friendly exhibition is the perfect attraction for children and children- at-heart.

With a commitment to serve the younger citizens of our state, the North Carolina Museum of Art presents Fins and Feathers in concert with four other exhibitions in fall 2010. Families will find a natural connection between the children’s picture book biography Into the Woods: John James Audubon Lives His Dream and the exhibition of the newly restored folios of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America in a new nearby gallery. Fins and Feathers also provides an interesting counterpoint to American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell, where children and their families can enjoy examining and comparing different styles of illustration for books and print media.

Organized by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, Mass. In Raleigh support is provided by Rex Healthcare. This exhibition is also made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.