It had been over 30 years since I last visited the Norman Rockwell Museum, which moved into its brand spanking new Robert A.M. Stern designed building on 36 acres in 1993. My father and I stopped in during one of the countless father and son art dealer road trips we took in our 32 years of working together. It was memorable then, and it still is, with the museum itself, grounds, and studio building coming together in a small but mighty must see art lover’s stop.
On an early Fall Saturday, I took the short 45 minute drive to Stockbridge from Hudson with a friend, and enjoyed a pleasant reacquaintance with a place and collection that holds many of the artist’s highlights. I recommend your first stop in the museum be the lower level room which houses all of his Saturday Evening Post covers, and a small theater that loops a 20 minute video which touches upon the artist’s life, art, and process.
Norman Rockwell was an incredibly hard working artistic “grinder” who doesn’t get as much credit as a skilled painter as I think he should. He wasn’t just an illustrator, he was an observer of life, humans, emotion, and that which connects us all. Kind of a rockstar, if you really think about it. Norman Rockwell was…
One very interesting aspect of the artist’s process was how he posed his characters, and utilized himself as a rubber faced modeler of expressions he wanted his live subjects to emulate as he took photographs, notes, sketches for every element pertinent to his desired end result.
The grounds with numerous walking trails are situated in the beautiful Housatonic River Valley, with glimpses of the river and lovely distant ridge lines from numerous vantage points. The separate studio building is open by appointment and special ticket, so plan accordingly should you anticipate a visit and wish to partake.
As I am fairly certain you can tell, I heartily recommend a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum, and afterwards all the restaurants and shops of Stockbridge will be at your service. Enjoy!
The Art of Dealing Art 