The Carle Museum Welcomes Founder Eric Carle for Two July Events
June 15, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Carle Welcomes Founder Eric Carle for Two July Events
Amherst, Mass. (June 13, 2011) - The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is pleased to welcome its founder Eric Carle for a special sculpture unveiling event on Friday, July 15 and a book signing on Saturday, July 16 at the Museum’s 125 West Bay Road location in Amherst, MA. The book signing is sponsored in part by MEFA’s U.PLAN Prepaid Tuition Program.
Through the generosity of Leo Lionni’s family and friends, The Carle recently acquired a sculpture designed and created by author and artist Lionni (1910 – 1999). The large bronze sculpture, called Imaginary Garden, was completed in 1978. It will be unveiled on July 15 by Museum founder, Eric Carle. Carle, who considers Lionni his mentor, will also be joined on the Museum stage by Lionni’s granddaughter Annie Lionni for a conversation about Lionni’s life and his picture book legacy. A reception with Eric Carle will follow the presentation. Tickets for the 5:00 p.m. event are $25 (Members $15) and can be purchased in advance at the Museum Admissions Desk or by calling (413) 658-1126.
Eric Carle will sign books* and meet his fans on Saturday, July 16 at 10 a.m. at the Museum. Now living in Florida and North Carolina, Carle makes this annual visit to the Museum in the summer. The Museum will also premier Carle’s newly-updated film: Eric Carle: Picture Writer, The Art of Books.
About Eric Carle
Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar,has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 45 languages and sold over 30 million copies. Since the Caterpillar was published in 1969, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote, and more than 90 million copies of his books have sold around the world.
About The Museum
Together with his wife Barbara, Eric Carle, the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art as the first full-scale museum in this country devoted to national and international picture book art, conceived and built with the aim of celebrating the art that we are first exposed to as children. Through the exploration of images that are familiar and beloved, it is the Museum’s goal to provide an enriching, dynamic, and supportive context for the development of literacy and to foster in visitors of all ages and backgrounds the confidence to appreciate and enjoy art of every kind.
The Museum—which houses three galleries dedicated to rotating exhibitions of picture book art, a hands-on Art Studio, a Reading Library, an Auditorium, a Café, and a Museum Shop—is located at 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 4pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 12 noon to 5 pm. The Museum is open on Mondays in July and August starting July 11, 2011. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.
*Certain restrictions apply to the book signing. For specific event times, including a special early opening for museum members, Visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org/Programs_Events/Upcoming for a Q & A about the book signing,
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IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION
For additional press information and/or images,
please contact Sandy Soderberg, Marketing Manager
(413) 658-1105 sandys@carlemuseum.org