Tacoma, WA – Fireflies, rubber ducks, and other creatures take over Tacoma Art Museum this fall in the exhibition The Art of Eric Carle.  More than fifty original works on paper by the famous children’s picture-book writer and artist – most well-known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar – are on view from October 7, 2006 through January 21, 2007.

“Eric Carle has captivated readers with picture books filled with vibrantly colored collage illustrations and innovative designs for almost four decades,” said Paula McArdle, curator of education for Tacoma Art Museum.  “His signature collage illustrations use bold colors, rich textures, and playful forms that are readily recognizable to viewers both young and old.”

Carle first illustrated Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? for author Bill Martin Jr. in 1967.  Since then, he has created more than seventy children’s picture books of his own that have been translated into over thirty languages.  He has sold more than 71 million copies of his books.  This exhibition features the original works on paper from such loved classic picture books as The Very Quiet Cricket; Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; A House for Hermit Crab; Where Are You Going? To See My Friend!; Mister Seahorse; From Head to Toe; and 10 Little Rubber Ducks.

Trained as a graphic artist, Carle originally used commercially available tissue papers in his collage illustrations, but he soon felt the colors were limited and not vibrant enough, and the textures flat.  He began painting his own tissue papers with acrylic paints and texturing them with sponges, his fingers, and the handle end of the paint brush.  He cuts the shapes from the tissue and assembles them to make up the forms and characters of his collages.

In addition to creating the collage illustrations, Carle is personally involved in every detail of his books – from layout to typography and format – in an effort to create “toys to read” and “books to play with.”  Although he did not invent the “book-as-toy,” he has greatly influenced and raised the artistic and literary level of this genre with many new and innovative variations.  The shortened pages, holes, overlays, flaps, lights, and sounds are playful elements that extend the text and give young readers something to hold and touch as they learn to love reading and books.

“We partnered with the Eric Carle Picture Book Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts to bring this enchanting exhibition to our community as we share the same goal, of opening the visual world to young and old,” said Director Stephanie A. Stebich.  “We especially want to encourage children to build their creativity and confidence to appreciate and enjoy art of every kind.”

ENCOURAGING LITERACY

“Parents appreciate Carle’s stories as much as their children do,” said McArdle. “This exhibition opens the door for parents to read aloud to their kids.  Studies show that reading to children encourages their intellectual growth and development.”

The installation at Tacoma Art Museum offers visitors the opportunity to see original illustrations, enjoy a reading area with custom-made, child-sized furniture, and view a video presentation that details the artist’s creative process.  The exhibition also provides parents, teachers, and librarians with the potential to transform learning through picture book art as well as to make connections between visual and text-based literacy. 

Visit : www.tacomaartmuseum.org/