New exhibition at the Brandywine reimagines three well-known and beloved fairy tales, on view October 5, 2019-January 5, 2020
Brian Pinkney (b. 1961), What a grand entrance Cendrillon made!, 1998, oil on scratchboard. Collection of the artist. Illustration for Cendrillon, A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998)
Chadds Ford, PA, September 19, 2019— For centuries, fairy tales have enchanted children and adults alike. These age-old stories, endlessly told and reconfigured over time and place, spark our imaginations, teach life lessons, and touch on dark fears and basic truths. Organized by the Brandywine River Museum of Art, Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined will explore the enduring stories of Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, presenting a wide array of illustrations created through time and across cultures.
Guest curated by H. Nichols B. Clark, Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined includes more than 100 drawings from books illustrated by 35 artists, revealing both cultural and stylistic diversity. The work of 19th and early 20th-century masters such as Walter Crane and L. Leslie Brooke provide examples of classic styles and Western interpretations of the three featured fairy tales, which influenced numerous artists in the exhibition including Marcia Brown, Paul Galdone, Barbara McClintock and Jerry Pinkney. Rich multicultural visualizations, such as those from China (Ed Young), the Spice Islands of Indonesia (Reynold Ruffins), the Caribbean (Brian Pinkney) and Mexico (Tomie dePaola), underscore the notion that these treasured stories live visually in many different forms and lend themselves to surprisingly diverse interpretation. Juxtaposed alongside more traditional retellings, contemporary versions with drawings that upend familiar narratives include the experimental and edgy visions imagined by Etienne Delessert, Steven Guarnaccia, Lane Smith, William Wegman, David Wiesner and Mo Willems.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art is the exclusive venue for Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined, on view October 5, 2019 to January 5, 2020. The artists featured are Mary Blair; L. Leslie Brooke; Marcia Brown; Kinuko Y. Craft; Walter Crane; Etienne Delessert; Tomie dePaola; Edmund DuLac; Jane Dyer; Paul Galdone; Steven Guarnaccia; John Hassall; Susan Jeffers; Steven Kellogg; James Marshall; Barbara McClintock; Beni Montresor; Brian Pinkney; Jerry Pinkney; Beatrix Potter; Arthur Rackham; Reynold Ruffins; Charles Santore; Lane Smith; Jessie Willcox Smith; Gennady Spirin; John Steptoe; Brinton Turkle; Walt Disney Studios; William Wegman; Leonard Weisgard; David Wiesner; Mo Willems; Ed Young; and Margot Zemach. Guest curator H. Nichols B. Clark is the Founding Director and Chief Curator of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Emeritus; in 2016, he curated Get the Picture: Recent Children’s Book Illustration for the Brandywine.
Special exhibition-themed programs and events include:
Children's Read-Aloud Tours
Thursdays, October 3 through November 14, 10:30 a.m.
$5 per child, with one adult admitted free per child and free for members.
Young children and their grown-ups hear a story, interact with art in the Museum and make their own creative works in this fun family program. Online registration is requested. The Read-Aloud Program has been made possible by Joseph and Diane Packer in memory of Emily Grace Koenig.
First Sunday for Families: Fairy Tale Fun
Sunday, October 6, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Free admission
Awaken possibilities with innovative art activities inspired by Brandywine’s Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined exhibition. Award-winning artist and illustrator Jerry Pinkney will discuss his work and sign books. Also featured will be a lively performance by the Academy of International Ballet performing a variety of classical and contemporary works, as well as excerpts from the Nutcracker Ballet.
Discussion and Book Signing with Jerry Pinkney
Sunday, October 6, 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
Free admission
Cinderella & Co. exhibition artist Jerry Pinkney will discuss his creative process and distinguished career as an artist and illustrator. Prior to his talk, Pinkney will sign copies of his books, which will be available for purchase in the Museum Shop. Artist Jerry Pinkney has illustrated over 100 children’s books and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Caldecott Medal, five Caldecott Honors and five New York Times “Best Illustrated Books.” He has received five Coretta Scott King Awards and four Coretta Scott King Honor Awards.
Reimagined Fairy Tales: A Conversation with H. Nichols B. Clark and Steven Guarnaccia
Thursday, October 24, 6 p.m.
$15 members, $20 non-members
Shake up what you know about fairy tales in this conversation with guest curator H. Nichols B. Clark and illustrator Steven Guarnaccia, whose creative interpretations of classic tales inspired the exhibition, Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined. In Guarnaccia’s inventive versions, Cinderella’s apparel comes from some of the most famous fashion designers of the 20th and 21st century; the three bears are mid-20th-century hipsters living with high-end 20th-century furniture; and the three little pigs are noted architects Philip Johnson, Frank Gehry and Frank Lloyd Wright. A book signing and reception will follow. Titles by Guarnaccia will be available for purchase in the Museum shop.
Stroller Tours: Cinderella and Co.
Tuesday, November 12, 10:30 a.m.
Free with Museum admission
Enjoy a relaxed morning out with your little one while engaging with art in the Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined exhibition. This guided tour is designed especially for adults accompanied by babies. Stroller Tours are offered once a month, each with a different theme.
Creative Escape: Paper Quilled Snowflakes
Wednesday, November 13, 6–8 p.m.
$20 members; $25 non-members
Come to the Brandywine River Museum of Art to unwind, mingle and make art! Designed for adults who want to awaken their inner artists, this program will include a hands-on paper quilling activity led by professional artist Ann Martin. Participants will be introduced to the basic tools and techniques of paper quilling and will create a one-of-a-kind snowflake that can be used as an ornament or to embellish a gift this holiday season. The evening will also include an opportunity to view Brandywine’s special exhibition Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined. No experience is necessary. Program fee includes art materials and light refreshments. BYOB!
Illustrating for a Changing World
Wednesday, November 20, 6–8 p.m.
$15 members and teachers with school ID; $20 non-members
To gain notice in an ever-changing world, books must keep up with the times. Join three-time Caldecott-winning illustrator, David Wiesner, as he discusses his strategy for staying current. Featured works will include Wiesner’s creative version of The Three Little Pigs; Spot, a story that is also a computer app; and the graphic novel Fish Girl. A book signing and reception will follow. Titles by Wiesner will be available for purchase in the Museum shop.
Listen, Move and Create with Barbara McClintock
Saturday, November 23, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
$10 members; $15 non-members
Families are invited to join award-winning author and illustrator Barbara McClintock—whose work is currently on view as part of Cinderella & Co.—as she shares her love of books and illustrating during a fun and interactive reading of her book, The Five Forms. Afterwards, Barbara will lead a creative craft influenced by the Chinese woodblock prints which inspired the illustrations in her book. Best for children ages 3-8 accompanied by an adult.
Cinderella & Co.—Three Fairy Tales Reimagined is made possible by the generosity of Otto’s BMW & Mini. Additional support for the exhibition has been provided by donors to the Brandywine River Museum of Art’s Exhibition Fund, including the Davenport Family Foundation, William C. and Laura Buck, Mr. and Mrs. Anson McC. Beard Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Matz, Dr. and Mrs. John Fawcett, and Mr. Alan P. Slack.
About the Brandywine River Museum of Art:
The Brandywine River Museum of Art features an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century mill building with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine. Known for its holdings of the Wyeth family of artists, the Museum contains the largest collection of N. C. Wyeth's artwork, and features galleries dedicated to the work of N. C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth and Jamie Wyeth. The Museum’s outstanding Heritage Collection presents a cross-section of American art with a special focus on artistic practice in the Brandywine Valley.
The Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day), and is located on Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and over, $6 for students and children ages 6 and up; free for children 5 and younger and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art members. Guided tours of the N. C. Wyeth House & Studio, Andrew Wyeth Studio, and Kuerner Farm—all National Historic Landmarks—are available daily (for an additional fee) from April 4 through November 18; advance reservations are recommended. For more information, call 610.388.2700 or visit brandywine.org/museum. The Museum is one of the two programs of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
About the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art:
The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites, and important artists. The Conservancy protects the lands throughout the Brandywine Valley, developing new conservation approaches and assuring access to majestic open spaces and dependable water supplies for generations to come. The Museum of Art presents and collects historic and contemporary works of American art, engaging and exciting visitors of all ages through an array of exhibitions and programs. The Brandywine unites the inspiring experiences of art and nature, enhancing the quality of life in its community and among its diverse audiences.
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