A Sandra Boynton Christmas At AMP: "Cows And Holly" With Live Performances
The American Mural Project hosts acclaimed the artist/songwriter for a holiday show featuring her new album of original songs.
Celebrate the holiday season early with an evening of music, storytelling, and laughter as cartoonist, writer and songwriter (and Berkshires resident) Sandra Boynton debuts her newest project, "Cows and Holly" at the American Mural Project (AMP) in Winsted, Connecticut, for A Sandra Boynton Christmas. The event, on Saturday, December 7, at 7 p.m. brings Boynton’s signature wit and charm to life with live performances, exclusive music video screenings, and a candid conversation with her longtime friend, AMP founder Ellen Griesedieck.
"Cows and Holly," Boynton’s seventh musical collaboration with composer Michael Ford, is a collection of Christmas songs featuring a star-studded lineup of talent, including Zooey Deschanel, Yo-Yo Ma, Patti LuPone, and Lyle Lovett. The songs range from Broadway-style showstoppers to lush, orchestral arrangements, all with a classic holiday feel. At the event, Boynton’s friends and family will perform selections from the album, blending sincerity with her trademark humor.
“Sandi is such a brilliant woman and hugely talented,” said Griesediek. “It’s one thing to have the artistic career she has with her art and cards and books, but what she does with her music is amazing."
Screenings of music videos created for the album, showcasing Boynton’s animation, will also be played, giving the audience a taste of her signature style and to let them hear the voices of celebrities not in attendance. Exclusive signed copies of "Cows and Holly" will be available for purchase, with special tickets offering reserved signed editions.
Born in New Jersey and raised in Philadelphia, Boynton [photo, above] attended Germantown Friends School, where her father’s teaching shaped her love of language and storytelling. While studying English at Yale, Boynton launched her career in an unlikely way — designing greeting cards that would go on to sell millions, including the iconic “Hippo Birdie Two Ewes.”
Her career expanded into books, music, and more, selling 90 million copies of beloved titles like "Barnyard Dance!" and earning Grammy nominations. Whether writing the satirical “Pigorian Chant” or collaborating with stars like “Weird Al” Yankovic and Kristen Bell, Boynton’s eclectic artistry defies categorization.
AMP: A Monument to Collaboration
The event’s host, AMP, is fitting backdrop for Boynton’s celebration of collaboration. AMP houses the world’s largest indoor collaborative artwork, a 120-foot-long mural honoring the spirit of American workers. Founded by Griesedieck in 1999, AMP also serves as a hub for educational programs that inspire creativity and teamwork. Over 15,000 participants from across the U.S. have contributed to the mural and other AMP projects.
Griesedieck’s decades-long friendship with Boynton adds a personal touch to the evening. Reflecting on the collaboration, Boynton said, “I’m thrilled that the amazing Ellen invited us to debut my wild and quirky music project. No one knows better than she does the alchemy and rewards — and also the challenges — of collaboration. We can’t wait!”
A Sandra Boynton Christmas at AMP
Saturday, December 7 at 7 p.m.
American Mural Project
90 Whiting Street, Winsted, CT
(860) 379-3006
Boynton will also presenting the album/songbook alongside Michael Ford in conversation with WAMC's Joe Donahue at The Mahiwe Performing Arts Center on December 19 at 7 p.m.
