Nunnawauk Meadows Residents Celebrate Norman Rockwell

By Nancy K. Crevier

The Nunnawauk Meadows Residents Association hosted “Norman Rockwell Day,” Wednesday, June 16, following the monthly meeting of the association.

“I just love Norman Rockwell’s art,” explained organizer Carole Lee Berlin, “and I knew that Gordon Williams is a fan, too, so I invited him to speak.”

Mr Williams is a former history teacher, and does enjoy the art of Norman Rockwell, he said, prior to his slide show and lecture.

As slides of Norman Rockwell and his paintings clicked one by one onto the screen set up in the Nunnawauk Meadows Community Room, Mr Williams gave a commentary on the life of Norman Rockwell, throwing in lesser known facts along with the more commonly known history of the artist from Stockbridge, Mass.

“He was dedicated to his work,” said Mr Williams. “So much so, in fact, that his wife made him promise never to paint more than half a day on Christmas Day.”

Norman Rockwell’s popularity during the 1930s, especially, can be somewhat attributed to the artist’s works being able to make people “chuckle, remember, and to be happy,” Mr Williams said. People of all generations are able to relate to the art of Norman Rockwell, who consistently painted scenes incorporating multiple generations — often a young child and parent or grandparent, or another important adult — and pets, particularly dogs.

“‘I do ordinary people in ordinary situations, and that’s about all I can do,’” Mr Williams quoted the artist, describing Rockwell as a modest, good-natured man well liked by his fellow Stockbridge community members.

Best known for the many covers he drew for the Saturday Evening Post, Norman Rockwell’s career began at the age of 14, Mr Williams told the gathering. “He was very successful right away,” he said, and by age 16 had earned his first commission, and at age 17 had illustrated a Kipling book. By the time Norman Rockwell was 18 years old, he was illustrating for magazines, the beginning of a long and creative career that endeared him to generations.

Also included in the celebration of “Norman Rockwell Day” was a display of memorabilia shared by members of the Nunnawauk community. Lining a long table along one wall were nearly two dozen Norman Rockwell decorative plates from the collection of Carole Lee Berlin. A small Hawthorne Company figurine scene of the Norman Rockwell residence and studio in Arlington, Vt., was on loan from Marie McLenithan, who noted that most people are unaware that the artist had a studio in Vermont.

Edna Pressman shared a large house flag imprinted with the famous “Merry Christmas” painting by Rockwell of the postman delivering holiday letters and packages, with a crowd of excited boys and girls swirling about him.

Barbara Wadleigh posted a display on the wall of several calendar pages of Norman Rockwell scenes, to add to the ambiance.

“There’s no real reason for the Norman Rockwell Day,” said Ms Berlin. “We just love his art.”