PHILADELPHIA – The Rosenbach Museum & Library explores the creative process of children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak in Pen to Publisher: The Life of Three Sendak Picture Books, on view through July 15. This two-gallery exhibition explores the life cycle of three Sendak books from inception to publication: The Sign on Rosie’s Door (1960), Outside Over There(1981) and Brundibar (2003). Covering more than 40 years, each of these books was inspired and produced in radically different ways, collectively revealing how Sendak pursued and preserved a core idea or character through his own artistic refinements and changing publishing techniques and technologies.
Every book has a life of its own: the flash of insight that inspired its creator; the negotiations among authors, publishers and printers to produce it; and the readers who cherish and critique it. Curated from the Rosenbach’s vast collection of works by the acclaimed author and illustrator, Pen to Publisher displays original Sendak artwork alongside production materials like color separations, layouts, press proofs and publicity materials to answer the simple question: How does an idea become a book?
The exhibition delves into the working relationships between Sendak and his revolving crew of authors, publishers, printers, calligraphers and designers, as they compromised, cooperated and sometimes conceded in order to produce a beautiful — and marketable — finished product.
In the Sendak Gallery on the Rosenbach’s first floor, viewers can investigate Sendak’s earliest creative impulses with each book through hastily scribbled notes and manuscripts to dummy books and sketches. In the second floor’s Gallery 1, the artist’s final work — and materials that detail how it was reproduced, corrected, printed, bound and publicized — will be on display. The Rosenbach invites visitors to follow each of the three books, from Sendak’s first expressions of a story, character or idea to the final signoff at the press.
About the books
The Sign on Rosie’s Door (1960) features the everyday adventures of Rosie, a character Sendak based on a real girl who lived in his Brooklyn neighborhood in the late 1940s. Sendak’s process for creating The Sign on Rosie’s Door involved more dummy books, or sets of pages used to approximate the size and appearance of a finished book, than any other project (four of these hand-made creations will be on display). In addition, Sendak’s color separations — in which he isolated images into single-color layers — are a fascinating example of full-color book production methods that seem antiquated by today’s standards. What stands out through every sketch, dummy book or separation is the brash, dramatic personality of Rosie herself.
Outside Over There (1981) also features a powerful Sendakian heroine, but the adventure here is more perilous, the style of artwork more inventive. Sendak’s final watercolors feature a subtle color palette evocative of the late 18th century, while the story is full of allusions to Romantic-era painters and musicians. This richly historicized book also tapped into dark memories from Sendak’s childhood and proved to be one of his most labor-intensive books to write and conceptualize.
Brundibar (2003) is the most recent and most collaborative creation of the three books comprising the exhibition. While The Sign on Rosie’s Door and Outside Over There were written and illustrated by Sendak, Brundibar is based on a Czech-language Holocaust-era children’s opera adapted in English by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner and accompanied by Sendak’s illustrations.
Sendak & The Rosenbach
Maurice Sendak chose the Rosenbach Museum & Library to be the repository for his work in the early 1970s thanks to shared literary and collecting interests. His collection of nearly 10,000 works of art, manuscripts, books and ephemera has been the subject of many exhibitions and has been enjoyed by visitors of all ages. One of the most celebrated creators of contemporary children’s books, Maurice Sendak has challenged the norms of children’s literature over time and his work continues to entrance both children and adults to this day. His innovative techniques and honest portrayal of childhood emotion are celebrated worldwide and have earned him many prestigious honors, including the Caldecott Medal (1964), the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal (1970), the National Medal of Arts (1996), a Library of Congress “Living Legend” medal (2000) and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature (2003). The Rosenbach regularly features Maurice Sendak-related exhibitions, programs and events.
VISITOR FACT SHEET
Pen to Publisher: The Life of Three Sendak Picture Books
Through July 15, 2012
Where:
The Rosenbach Museum & Library
2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Hours:
Tuesday: 12-5 p.m.; Wednesday & Thursday: 12-8 p.m.
Friday: 12-5 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday: 12-6 p.m.
Closed Mondays and National Holidays
Admission:
$10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students and free for children under 5.
Information:
215-732-1600or visit www.rosenbach.org.
Also on View:
Inquiring Minds: Rosenbach Researchers Report Back, through March 25, 2012
Titanic: The Rise of Rosenbach, February 15 – June 24, 2012
