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Public Invited to Tasha Tudor Exhibit Opening Oct. 8

Thu, 09/24/2015 - 04:20pm | By: Dawn Smith

The public is invited to the opening of the exhibit Tasha Tudor: Around the Year Thursday, Oct. 8 from 4 – 6 p.m. It will be presented by the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi and feature 130 original works of art by award winning illustrator, Tasha Tudor.

The exhibit will be on display from October through December at Oddfellows Gallery in downtown Hattiesburg. Items will be available for purchase at the opening.

Commemorating 100 years of Tasha Tudor, the exhibit will include original paintings, books, cards and calendars, studies, manuscripts, doll cards and letters, and ephemera, artifacts including hand-painted goose eggs and hand-decorated floral boxes. It illuminates the changing seasons and special celebrations with rarely seen examples of this beloved author and illustrator's original art for children's books and greeting cards highlighting the holidays, including Christmas, a favorite of Tudor's. The pieces are part of a traveling exhibit organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass.

Marjorie Tudor, Tasha Tudor's daughter-in-law, will be in attendance as well as notable Tudor scholars, John Hare and Jeanette Chandler Knazek, who co-curated the traveling exhibit. The de Grummond Collection has events scheduled throughout the exhibition that include a symposium in October, a luncheon in November, and a tea in conjunction with the Victorian Candlelight Christmas in downtown Hattiesburg.

“Rarely do we have a world class exhibit, such as Tasha Tudor: Around the Year, come to Hattiesburg,” said Ellen Ruffin, de Grummond Curator. “Through the generosity of the C.E. and S. Foundation and the Norman Rockwell Museum, we are able to recognize the centenary of one of America's most significant illustrators. Those who view the exhibit will have an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind Christmas cards as well as books and prints. We look forward to celebrating the work of Tasha Tudor.”

Tasha Tudor (August 28, 1915-June 18, 2008) is one of America's best-known and beloved illustrators. Her first little story, Pumpkin Moonshine, was published in 1938. She illustrated nearly 100 books, the last being the 2003 release, The Corgiville Christmas.  She received many awards and honors, including Caldecott Honors for Mother Goose and 1 is One. She also created thousands of Christmas cards, Advent calendars, valentines, posters, and other works throughout her 70-year career. 

For more information on the exhibit opening or the events scheduled, call the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at 601.266.4349 or visit www.lib.usm.edu/tashatudor.