Minnesota’s rich tradition of children’s book illustration is showcased in an exhibit, “Minnesota Made: Through the Eyes of the Children’s Book Illustrators Guild of Minnesota,” Jan. 22-Feb. 28 at the University of St. Thomas.
The exhibit, in the Lobby Gallery of O’Shaughnessy Educational Center on St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus, features 30 works by 20 Minnesota artists: Anne Adix Fabie, Barb Björnson, Marilyn Brown, Tessie Bundick, Quinette Cook, Nina Crittenden, Vicki Deutsch, Chris Dyrud, Linnell Esler, Lorraine Gibson, Franklin Haws, Mary Beth Hinrichs, Shawn McCann, Robyn Dean McHattie, Faythe Mills, James Powell, Christina Rodriguez, Alicia Schwab, Sharon Wagner and Sara Weingartner.
Included in the "Minnesota Made" exhibit is an image from the book, "A Black Cat Named Smokey" (Zyxalon Press, 1992), written and illustrated by Robyn Dean McHattie, of Minneapolis.
Short biographies of most of the artists are published on the Children’s Book Illustrators Guild of Minnesota Web site.
The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.
An artists’ reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at the gallery.
The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. For more information, call the St. Thomas Art History Department, (651) 962-5560.
The exhibit coincides with the 18th annual Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference at St. Thomas. This year’s conference, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, features presentations by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator and author Chris Raschka (Yo! Yes? and Charlie Parker Played Be Bop) and Minneapolis author Phyllis Root (Rattletrap Car). Register online ($60 adults/$20 students).
