Tacoma Art Museum Docents Blog TAM Docents Blog: TAM Docents: Public tour updates

Hello Docents-

I though you might enjoy seeing how the public tours are moving along. I am so impressed by your descriptions and relative speed getting me what I need to get this advertised. You are certainly going above and beyond with this added component of touring. I have also included your topic sign-ups below in case you needed a refresher for who was doing which tour in case you are still in need of getting back with me. Please let me know if I have any dates or times down wrong. Also, if you see a description of a tour that you are signed up to give and you want to tweak a description, let me know. Finally, I am working with staff to figure out a way to limit your tours to about 20 – 25 people. As it will be free with museum admission, that adds a bit more complication but I don’t want you to get overwhelmed.

Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post
During the early years of the 20th century, 1 out of 4 families received Saturday Evening Post in their homes on a weekly basis. Norman Rockwell was a name they grew to love and revere for his cover art. Often these covers became "affordable art" for reader’s homes, as well as, a picture of life as they knew it or wanted to imagine it. Please join us for a docent led tour of American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell and see the 323 Saturday Evening Post covers Rockwell created along with examples of some of the original oil paintings that were the impetus for them.
Tour offered: Thursday, March 17, 1 pm (Linda Flatley)

(Gaard Logan)

(Sue Stibbe)

Norman Rockwell and the 4 Freedoms
On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's addressed the US Congress with a speech that is now known as "The Four Freedoms" speech. On this tour we shall pay special attention to the Norman Rockwell posters inspired by that address and other artwork that he produced during the Second World War, including Willie Gillis, Jr - the fictional character created by Norman Rockwell for a series of World War II paintings that appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.
Tour offered: Sundays, March 20, April 3, and April 17 at 1 pm (Sanjeev Narang)
Wednesdays, April 20 and May 25 at 12:30pm (Elizabeth Walsh)
Fridays, March 25 and May 27at 1 pm (Sharon Berens)
Sunday, April 24 at 1 pm (Sharon Berens)

Norman Rockwell and Small Town America
Norman Rockwell remarked that he painted," life as I would like it to be." Rockwell's pictures of small town life have ingrained themselves on the American psyche. Born and raised in New York City, we will explore the influences that drew him to small town life as well as the effects of his move to Arlington, Vermont and Stockbridge, Massachusetts in creating our classic America town. Come explore Rockwell's America as we look at the original painted oils and the Saturday Evening Post Covers which give us insight into small town American landscape.
Tour offered: Wednesday, May 11 at 1 pm. (Rose Oliveira)

(Margaret Upshaw)

(Sue Stibbe)

Norman Rockwell and His Portrayal of 20th Century Women
Norman Rockwell is well known for documenting how we think of ourselves as Americans. His art recorded the everyday stories of ordinary people. He is well known for representing American types such as boy scouts or country doctors. Women were frequently his subject during this century of change. Join us for a tour of Tacoma’s Rockwell exhibit highlighting his depictions of women and girls along with all of his Saturday Evening Post covers and important original oil paintings.
Tour offered: Wednesdays, April 13 and 27at 11am (Cathy Wiggins)

Norman Rockwell and Social Change in 20^th Century America
Norman Rockwell was born and was active in the "Golden Age of Publication and Illustration". Come and learn how this icon of American illustrators of the greater part of the 20th century, showed us our country through his and The Saturday Evening Post's eyes. Learn about his way of working, view many of his original oil paintings and compare changes in his earlier and later works due to the progress in copying technology, as well as, the changes which were occurring in the society around him.

(Karin Morris)

(Liliana Franz)

(Judi Keyser)

Norman Rockwell and Depictions of Children
41 out of the first 50 covers Norman Rockwell painted for the Saturday Evening Post featured or included children. Norman had an abiding fascination with children and childhood. You could say that he never lost touch with his “inner child.” In this tour we will explore aspects of Rockwell’s own childhood and see how he captured children's fleeting emotions, angst, antics, and even quiet dignity.

Tour offered: Fridays, March 18, April 1, and April 15 at 12:00 pm (Barb Renfro)

Docent 1	Docent 2	Docent 3	Special Rockwell Topic
Randi Kander	Barb Renfro		Rockwell and Children
Gaard Logan	Linda Flatley	Sue Stibbe	Saturday Evening Post
Errol Alexander	Barbara Abegg		An American Agent of Change: Norman Rockwell & The Man within the Painter: Rockwell Speaks Back
Sharon Berens	Sanjeev Narang	Elizabeth Walsh	4 Freedoms
Margaret Upshaw	Rose Oliveira	Sue Stibbe	Small Town America
Liliana Franz	Karin Morris	Judi Keyser	American Social Change
Cathy Wiggins			Changing image of women in Norman Rockwell’s America
Barbara Beaver			Norman Rockwell: The Early Years