Contact:
Dan Carpenter
(325) 673-4587
Marketing@thegracemuseum.org

Grace to host BSA exhibit of Rockwell paintings

Abilene, TX (August 16, 2007) - For three brief weeks beginning August 30, The Grace Museum will host a unique exhibit organized by the Boy Scouts of America entitled Trail to Eagle.

Twenty paintings from the BSA collection will be on display, including eight works by Norman Rockwell painted for the Boy Scouts between 1925 and 1973.

The very name Norman Rockwell evokes an image of Americana . Many Americans recall the Rockwell illustrations that graced the covers of the Saturday Evening Post with great affection. Very few are aware, however, of the famous artist's 64-year affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America. Rockwell held his first and only salaried position with the Scouts from 1913 to 1916. Even after he officially retired as illustrator for the organization, he continued to produce works for the Scouts on commission. Rockwell's paintings reproduced on Brown & Bigelow calendars are probably the most familiar of his BSA paintings.

Also included in the exhibit are paintings by Joseph Csatari, who took over the annual calendar commission when Rockwell retired in 1976. Csatari created more than two dozen paintings for the Boy Scouts. In 1973, he became art director for Boys' Life magazine.

Paintings by George Rodrigue, RS Kemp, Joseph Christian Leyendecker, Remington Schuyler, and Ted Summers are also included in the exhibit, including several that appeared as Saturday Evening Post covers.

All Scouts and Scout leaders will receive free admission to the Grace when in uniform or by presenting their membership card. Normal admission will apply to family who are not Scout members.

The Grace Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is free Thursday evening after 5 p.m. For more information, call 325-673-4587.

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