It sometimes seems that every resident of Stockbridge over the age of 40 has an anecdote about posing for Norman Rockwell, which may be why the Norman Rockwell Museum's supporters feel such a deep bond with the place. Hundreds of them of all ages showed up on Thursday, July 9 to celebrate the museum's 40th anniversary, pay homage to the three women who founded the museum—trustees emereti Lila W. Berle, Jane P. Fitzpatrick and Norma G. Ogden—and congratulate Peter Rockwell, the illustrator's youngest son, on the opening of Fantastical Faces of Peter Rockwell: A Sculptor's Retrospective. Some of Norman Rockwell's great-grandchildren were at the party, and so was Governor Deval Patrick who gave a speech honoring the founders. There were tethered hot-air balloon rides for the adventuresome and several people claim to have seen flying nuns.
The sculptor Peter Rockwell, who lives in Rome, is flanked by Sister Jadwiga, Mother Praxedes (who has carved stone with Rockwell in Italy), and Mother Lioba, who live, work and pray at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT.
Nova and Jarvis Rockwell; Shirley Jenks and her daugthers, Eleanore & Helen.
Martha Selke and Linda Frelinghuysen; Betsy & Dave McKearnan, who live in Sante Fe and serve on the museum's national council.
Tom Frelinghuysen with Thea & Peter Rockwell, Norman Rockwell's great-granchildren.
Millerton wine merchant Andrew Gates and Rosina Rand; George Smith and Eugenie Warner.
Maisie Deely and Kate Morris; Allen Blagden with his sister Irene Blagden.
Jamie Williamson, a museum trustee, with Great Barrington lawyer Ray Jacoub, and Catherine Williamson.
Realtor Nancy Kalodner with Doug Shufelt; Robert Edson and Victoria Starr, who's been friends with Peter Rockwell since college.
Massage therapist Daniel Flach and Jessika Dramacich, the Norman Rockwell Museum's archivist; MASS MoCA director of marketing and public relations Katherine Meyers with Kris Ronald Anderson and Nicole Garzino.
The Women of Vision: Norma G. Ogden, Jane P. Fitzpatrick, and Lila W. Berle, who founded the museum 40 years ago, were saluted by Governor Deval Patrick.
The flying nuns wait for their turn to be airborne.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
