V I S U A L A R T S C E N T E R
For Immediate Release Contact: Ellen Killough
Date: June 17, 2009 Phone: 850-769-4451
In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America
VISUAL ARTS CENTER HOSTS NATIONAL DEBUT OF NORMAN ROCKWELL
ORIGINALS ALONGSIDE WORK OF PHOTOJOURNALIST KEVIN RIVOLI
The Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida, Panama City, is pleased to announce In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America, a groundbreaking exhibition that pairs the work of American icon Norman Rockwell with images by award-winning photojournalist Kevin Rivoli. In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America is on view at The Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida from June 13 through August 9, 2009.
Unprecedented in concept, this exhibition features a selection of 35 black and white photographs alongside original Rockwell paintings, drawings and lithographs of similar imagery, forming a captivating, comparison exhibition of 70 works. Included in the exhibition is the never-before-published painting The Golfer, a rare subject for Rockwell and one of his earlier works.
Kevin Rivoli began taking “slices of life” photographs 20 years ago while working as a photojournalist – images of family, community, patriotism, milestones, and people enjoying simple pleasures. It was not until many years later that he realized their similarity to Rockwell’s work, not only in mood and subject, but often in composition as well.
Rockwell, who was and remains immensely popular in the U.S., was often dismissed by critics who claimed his work was too idealistic, sentimental and nostalgic. One critic alleged that Rockwell created “an America that never was and never will be.” Rockwell disagreed, saying he showed “the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.”
Rivoli’s photographs disprove critics’ claims that Rockwell created imaginary scenes. In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America shows us the same world Rockwell painted –- an America that is still alive and well. Rivoli’s photographs are of spontaneously occurring moments of everyday life—most subjects were completely unaware that they were being photographed. These photos are true to Rockwell’s form—storytelling in a single, spontaneous frame that captures a complete picture and celebrates the ordinary.
In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America introduces Norman Rockwell and his work to a new generation, while providing his existing fans an opportunity to reconnect with this American icon. By pairing these celebrated, familiar works of art to photographs of real people, the exhibition reminds us to look for those moments of happiness, pride, mischief, courage and patriotism that Rockwell captured and became known as “Rockwell’s America.”
The two year tour is comprised of many loans from major institutions and private collections. Norman Rockwell paintings, prints and drawings are on loan from Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY; Midwest Museum of American Art, Elkhart, IN; National Scouting Museum, Irving, TX; United States Golf Association Museum, Far Hills, NJ; and Ingrid Bond Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM.
The companion book for the national tour, published by Simon & Schuster and also titled In Search of Rockwell’s America, includes inspiring quotes and anecdotes of Rockwell’s’ paintings and Rivoli’s photographs.
In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America is organized by Kevin and Michele Rivoli in collaboration with International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.
Scheduled tour dates for In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America are as follows: Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida, Panama City, FL (June – August 2009); Midwest Museum of American Art, Elkhart, IN (August – November 2009); Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI ( November 2009 – January 2010); John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, FL (February – April 2010); Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX (May – June 2011)
In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America
Kevin Rivoli is an award-winning photojournalist who has photographed everyone from professional sports stars to presidents. But his favorite subjects have always been ordinary people doing ordinary things. When he’s not working for one of several national media outlets, he continues to pursue and develop personal endeavors that include several soon-to-be published works as well as a line of licensed products that feature his images. To learn more about Kevin and his work, visit www.kevinrivoli.com
International Arts & Artists in Washington, DC, is a non-profit arts service organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally, through exhibitions, programs and services to artists, arts institutions and the public. Visit www.artsandartists.org
The Visual Arts Center has seen strong ticket sales in advance of the exhibit. Visitors enjoy having this type of access to national and international traveling exhibitions during their stay in the popular beach destination. www.vac.org.cn. The Visual Arts Center is a non-profit museum with a 20 year history in Panama City, FL.
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