Garden Gates Exhibit Opens at the Norman Rockwell Museum

Besides having an incredible collection of iconic paintings, the Norman Rockwell Museum has an incomparable park-like setting. On Thursday July 10, the museum had a fund-raising garden party to celebrate the installation of two-dozen fantastical garden gates designed by artists for "In Full Bloom," which is spread across the lush landscape. Several guests wisely brought their children who seemed enchanted by the astonishing variety of gates (many of which are for sale.) On July 12, from 3 - 5 PM, the museum will host another reception where the public can meet the participating artists.

Parker and Anne Oppermann, who worked as Norman Rockwell's secretary, pose with Bugged, a garden gate by Susan Manspeizer ($9,000)

Norman Rockwell Museum director Laurie Norton Moffatt poses with Flowergate by Peter Murkett ($8,500)

Michel Kimball and Don Trachte pose with Sun, Rain and Gardener by John Garret Thew ($1,000)

Margit Hotchkiss and Debbie Greene; Bonnie Stevens of Shakespeare & Company and Susan Bronson of Austen Riggs.

Lise Dubé-Scherr poses by Pearly Gates a mod stainless-steel sculpture by John R. Elling ($26,000), which seems to match her dress.

Maryjo Engels, a museum board member, with her granddaughter Noelle Reboul and Birds in a Tree by Jon Riedeman ($6,000)

Musuem volunteers Bernie and Judy Shaw flank Gate of Branches by designer Olwen Dowling and artisan Jeff Driesbach ($5,500)

New York artist Seth Michael Forman and Bennett Capers with Tre Occhi ($7,000) by Ann Getsinger.

Jack, Sam and Jake Lyons play with Garden Gate by Michael Filmus