"Everyone Can Fly" Exhibition at the SAM

I am thrilled to be a part of the lovely group exhibition Everyone Can Fly at the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg, PA. The show opened on March 20th, and will be up through the end of May. If you find yourself in the Harrisburg area I hope you'll drop by the beautiful museum and enjoy a visit.

photo credit: Jonathan Bean

From the website:

Everyone Can Fly is an exhibition of original illustrations from a group of award-winning children’s books with a focus on literacy and its relevance for the youth of our region. The centerpiece of this collection will be all of the original artwork from Tar Beach by internationally renowned author/painter/quilter/lecturer Faith Ringgold. This magical story was the recipient of the 1991 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book choice. Another feature of this unique exhibition will be the addition of local and regional illustrators.
 

Artists on view: 

Amy Bates, Jonathan Bean, Lauren Castillo, Megan Lloyd-Thompson, Faith Ringgold, Shadra Strickland 

 

Friday, May 15- Free Family Evening! Join us to meet the illustrators, enjoy light refreshments, music, and hands-on activities. Free admission 5: 30 – 8:30pm.

 

The Original Art 2013

Great news! My new book CITY CAT was selected to be a part of this years Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. It's such an honor to have my art hanging in the exhibition, alongside THIS amazing roster of illustrators. Thanks so much to the awesome jury for including CITY CAT in the show. If you are in the NY area, please come join me at the opening reception this Thursday evening, October 24th. Details are here. Hope to see you!!

Let it Snow!

I'm really excited to be part of the group exhibition Let it Snow! at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT! The show is now open, and will run through most of the winter. If you are near Greenwich, stop by and check out the art and books. As a part of this exhibition, the museum will also be running programs for teachers, parents and kids between now and Feb. 24, 2013. Hooray for snow!

The Original Art 2012

I'm honored to have two of my books represented in this years Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. Thanks so much to the awesome jury for their selection of HAPPY LIKE SOCCER and THE READER! This Thursday evening, October 25th, is the opening reception -- probably my favorite industry event of the year. Here are the details if you'd like to attend. Hope to see you there!!

The Original Art 2011

I'm honored that two of my books are included in this years Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators! Many thanks to the jury for selecting CHRISTMAS IS HERE and MELVIN AND THE BOY. I look forward to seeing lots of lovely book folks at the opening reception next Thursday evening, October 27th. Here are the details if you'd like to join. Hope to see you there!

come join the party!

This Friday evening there is going to be a celebration of all that is good. You should come! There will be tons of artwork filling the walls of the party space, including this piece of mine. (click to enlarge—you'll see Melvin the turtle made it in to the scene!) Details are here. Don't miss it!

Weekend FULL of fun events!

So! This Saturday and Sunday are filled with fun book and art-related events that I'll be a part of: One in Brooklyn, one in Manhattan, and one in Baltimore! Below are the flyers for all three events (just click on each for all the details). Hope to see you at at least one of the following!

*Saturday: THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR:

*Saturday: BOOKS FOR ROMANIA--a holiday fundraiser party! (please please please come to this if you can!)

*Sunday: ILLUSTRATION NEXT; MICA alumni gallery exhibition:

Opening fun

The Original Art Show opening last week was a blast! The show is up at the Society Of Illustrators through November 24th. I hope if you're in the city you'll swing by—It's a great looking show! Here are a few photos from the evening:

The incredible Eric Carle accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award

Laurent Linn and Amy June Bates, this years' lovely Juror and Co-Juror

my ALFIE pieceFront: Paul Hoppe and Julia Denos;
Back: Brian Floca, me, Laurent Linn, Selina Alko, Sean Qualls, Chad Beckerman, Meghan McCarthy

30th Annual Original Art Show Opening

Tomorrow night is the 30th annual Original Art Show opening @ the Society of Illustrators! This show never disappoints, so hopefully if you're in the area you'll swing by and check it out! (click on the above image for details)
p.s. I was on the jury this year! Here's a link to the post about my experience back in August~
p.p.s. ALFIE is also represented in the show, if you want to see him up close and personal :)

This coming Saturday, October 16th, is the Illustrators Festival at the Brooklyn Public Library. It's one of the events connected to the DRAWN IN BROOKLYN exhibition. Over 30 illustrators will be present, doing readings, workshops, book signings, and there will even be some musical entertainment. I'll be signing three of my books: What Happens on Wednesdays, That's Papa's Way, and Alfie Runs Away. If you're in the area I hope you'll stop by. It should be a great time. Here are the details:

Family Day: Illustrators' Festival
Saturday, October 16th, 10:30am — 3pm

Plaza in front of the Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Opening reception success

Last Wednesday evening was the opening reception of the fabulous DRAWN IN BROOKLYN exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library, and it was an awesome turnout! Plenty of editors, art directors, designers, illustrators, friends and families all packed the auditorium of the BPL Central Branch Library. I love that the Children's Book publishing world feels like family. Warm and supportive of one another. Events like this remind me just how blessed I am to be part of such a wonderful community... I love my job :)

Here's a few photos from the night:

The Group! press photo, courtesy of Al PereiraIn the Grand Lobby~
My two "process" cases in the Youth Wing~Awesome illustrators + friends (Paul Hoppe, Selina Alko, Sean Qualls)

Thanks so much to everyone who was able to make it out. The show is up through January, so if you haven't had a chance to view it yet there's still plenty of time!

(Also, the show has been receiving some very nice coverage in the press. Here's an article from Time Out NY Kids. And another from Capital New York.)

DRAWN IN BROOKLYN

My work is included in the upcoming exhibition, DRAWN IN BROOKLYN, displayed at the Brooklyn Public Library's Central branch. The show runs from September 21, 2010 — January 23, 2011. (click on the above flyer to view details)

Here's the official description of the show:

'This exhibition of children's book illustrations, curated by John
Bemelmans Marciano, features the work of 34 illustrators who live and work
in Brooklyn, from the most exciting newcomers in publishing to the legends
of the business. View more than 100 pieces of art from books such as Duck
for President, The Curious Garden, Moonpowder and Madeline and the Cats of
Rome. Also, see the work of Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott Kind Award
winners Leo and Diane Dillon, Brian Selznick, Paul O. Zelinsky, Bryan
Collier, Pat Cummings and Brian Pinkney. Original picture book art is
displayed in the Grand Lobby. In the Youth Wing, find sketches, models,
tools and more that reveal the processes behind the works.'

I will be at the Opening Reception and the Illustrators' Festival.
Hope to see you at one or both of these fun events!

Opening Reception
Wednesday, September 22nd, 6 — 8pm
Dweck Center Lobby
Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Family Day: Illustrators' Festival
(features readings, workshops, book signings and music)
Saturday, October 16th, 10:30am — 3pm

Plaza in front of the Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238

~Jurying the 30th Annual Society of Illustrators Original Art Show~

Piles and piles of books to judge...554 to be exact! (photo courtesy of Chad Beckerman)

Monday was a very big day for me: I had the incredible honor of serving on the jury of the 30th Annual Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. About a month ago Laurent Linn, Chair of this years show, called me up to ask if I would be an alternate juror in the event that one of the others could not make it. I was honored to be asked, but doubted the fact that I'd actually be called in... Well, much to my surprise, I got the "you're in!" phone call on Sunday night. Wow. What a wonderful experience it was, and I am extremely thankful to both Laurent Linn (Chair) and Amy June Bates (Co-Chair) for having me on board! One of my fellow co-jurors, Chad Beckerman, did a great job of documenting the day over at his blog, if you'd like to see and hear a little bit about how it all went down (thanks for photographing, Chad!). This is going to be an awesome show--make sure to mark your calendars for the opening reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, October 21st!

Society of Illustrators Opening

In front of my piece (from That's Papa's Way). It was fun that Peter's piece was below mine, and Julia's piece was to the left of mine~ Goooo Team Rodeen!
A small part of the crowd, right before Chris Van Allsburg came up to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award. It was so wonderful to hear him speak, especially because his incredible books were part of what inspired me to work toward a career in this field!
SVA MFA unite! Taeeun Yoo, You Byun, me, Paul Hoppe, and Chris Butzer. Congrats to Tae and Chris, and to all my other friends who had their work on display (AND to all my other incredibly talented and hardworking friends who did not, and should have!). It was a great exhibit, and an event that I look forward to every year. The show is up through November 25th, so go check it out if you can!

S.I. Original Art Show

If you live in or around NYC, and have interest in the book arts, then The Society of Illustrators is the place you need to be next Thursday evening October 22nd! It is the opening reception of the 29th annual Original Art Show, and I promise the exhibit never disappoints. I feel honored to be part of the show this year, and look forward to celebrating the work of this lovely industry~

And P.S. A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Brian who won a Silver medal for Moonshot, his absolutely gorgeous book!

Night at the Society

Last night was the opening of the Original Art show @ the Society of Illustrators, and a good time was had by all! Thanks so much to everyone who came out! Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Me and my piece from What Happens on Wednesdays

My good friend TaeEun Yoo receiving her very well deserved Founders Award!

And a final toast to the evening!

The Original Art Show

I am very excited to be a part of this year's Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators! (I will have one piece up from WHAT HAPPENS ON WEDNESDAYS.) This is a fantastic show of many wonderful children's book illustrators, and I feel so honored to be a part of it. It is up Oct. 17th - Nov. 21st. If you are in New York, come check it out!