As anyone who has spent time at the Norman Rockwell Museum knows, the quintessential American illustrator was a politically-minded man with a highly developed social conscience. Rockwell's spirit lives on not only in the museum's extraordinary permanent collection of his paintings, but also in the temporary exhibitions it mounts. On Saturday, November 8, the museum opens Over the Top: American Posters From World War I. These posters were the primary propaganda tool used to persuade citizens to purchase the war bonds which financed two-thirds of the cost of the war. What's more, in light of the recent $700 billion bailout legislation, they seem to suggest that Karl Marx was right when he said: "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. " “With our new exhibition, Over the Top, the Norman Rockwell Museum is honoring our military personnel and their families who are on active duty on two war fronts," says museum director and CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt. "This stirring exhibition of rare World War I posters from a private collection is a striking visual reminder of the sacrifice of millions of Americans since our nation’s founding to serve and defend our freedoms. During the two World Wars, artists were employed to create morale boosting illustrations for recruitment to military service and to raise money to support the war effort. These powerful artworks speak to heroic service and common cause as we give thanks to all our veterans and active duty military personnel this upcoming Veterans Day."
Over the Top: American Posters From World War INovember 8, 2008 - January 25, 2009 Norman Rockwell MuseumStockbridge; 413.298.4100 Monday - Friday 10 AM - 4 PM; holidays and weekend 10 AM - 5 PM Free Opening Reception for Members on November 8 from 6 to 8 PM; non-members $15Veteran's Day Gallery Talk by Rob Doane"Norman Rockwell and the American Homefront, 1917 -1919," which will explore Rockwell's stateside service in the Navy. Tuesday, November 11 at 1:30 PM Right: “Provide the Sinews of War,” Joseph Pennell, c. 1918
