Norman Rockwell Museum Celebrates The 50th Anniversary of "The Runaway"
STOCKBRIDGE - On September 20, 1958, "The Saturday Evening Post" treated its readers to a cover illustration, which became an instant classic. The scene, illustrated by artist Norman Rockwell, features the lunch counter of a modest diner, where a kindly state trooper is seated next to a young boy, whose knapsack reveals an attempt to run away from home; behind the counter, an older, world weary man looks on with a sympathetic smile.This positive image perfectly represented the spirit of Norman Rockwell's work, showcasing the best of small-town values in familiar, everyday settings. Fifty years on, "The Runaway" continues to be relevant, and can be found on the walls of countless diners and police stations, and recreated for TV's "Good Morning America," during a recent broadcast from the Berkshires, where Rockwell lived and worked. The men who modeled for Norman Rockwell's painting have had an interesting story of their own to tell through the years, and will be honored at a brief ceremony at the State Police General Headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts, on Friday, September 19.
Norman Rockwell Museum will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this iconic image by welcoming former Massachusetts State Trooper Dick Clemens and Ed Locke, the original models for "The Runaway," to the Museum on Saturday, September 20, for a special meet and greet from 1 to 4 p.m. Clemens and Locke will discuss what it was like to pose for Norman Rockwell, and share their memories of living in Stockbridge in the late 1950s, where Rockwell was a neighbor. The men will also talk about how the image continues to inspire law enforcement officers throughout the country. A print-signing will follow. Visitors will also have the opportunity to try their hand at posing for the picture, in a special "Runaway"-inspired lunch counter, and create their own illustrated story in a drop-in art workshop for all ages. The event is free for children, free for adults with regular Museum admission.
Norman Rockwell Museum is open daily. General public admission is $15 for adults, $13.50 for seniors, $10 for students, and free for visitors 18 and under (five per adult). Kids Free Every Day is a gift to families from Country Curtains and the Red Lion Inn. The Museum is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May through October; from November through April, weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekend/holiday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gallery tours are available daily, beginning on the hour. Antenna Audio Tour of select paintings from the Museum's permanent Norman Rockwell collection is available. Rockwell's studio, located on the Museum grounds, is open May through October. The Museum's Terrace Café is open May through October, serving an à la carte lunch menu seven days a week.
For more information, the public is invited to call 413-298-4100, ext. 220. Visit the Museum's Web site at http://www.nrm.org.
