"Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney" opens at NRM

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Stockbridge - Breathe deep, seek peace, Dinotopia fans, and don't miss "Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney" on view February 18 through May 20, 2006 at the Norman Rockwell Museum. From the soothing, restorative environment of Waterfall City to the hidden wonders of Chandara, acclaimed author and illustrator James Gurney's magical Dinotopian world comes to life in this enchanting exhibition that features 44 original oil paintings from the best-selling illustrated books "Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time (1992)" and "Dinotopia: The World Beneath (1995)." The exhibition, organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum, includes a preview of several never-before-seen works from "Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara," the much-anticipated upcoming installment in Gurney's "Dinotopia" series, and presents fascinating examples of the illustrator's creative process, such as preliminary studies, reference photos, and handmade scale-models. Inspired by archaeology, lost civilizations, and the art of illustration, Gurney's Dinotopia, an extraordinary place where humans and dinosaurs live in harmony, fuses fantasy with realism and scientific accuracy. "The thing I love about dinosaurs is that they are on that balance point between fantasy and reality," says Gurney. "It might be hard to believe that mermaids and dragons really existed, but we know that dinosaurs did- we can see their footprints and skeletons but we can't photograph them or see them, except in our imagination." The "Dinotopia" storyline chronicles the adventures and remarkable experiences of Professor Arthur Dennison and his son Will on Dinotopia, a mysterious "lost" island inhabited by dinosaurs and shipwrecked travelers. The faraway land of Dinotopia-wholly the product of Gurney's fertile imagination, scientific knowledge and meticulous artistic ability-is a civilization like no other. The society has its own language, alphabet (dinosaur footprints that correspond to each letter of the Arabic alphabet), colorful festivals and parades. The lively cast of characters includes the inquisitive Professor Dennison; Will and Sylvia, the adventurous young Skybax riders-in-training; the devious curmudgeon Lee Crabb; the beautiful musician Oriana Nascava; and a bilingual, diplomatic Protoceratops named Bix. "Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney" is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union. "We are honored to present the most comprehensive collection of original works by James Gurney that has ever been exhibited," says Associate Director of Exhibitions and Programs Stephanie Plunkett, who is the curator of the exhibition. "His artistic contributions, inspired by a love of visual storytelling and dedication to craft, deserve the highest recognition. The artist's compelling narratives recall the work of Norman Rockwell, who remains one of his artistic heroes." "Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney" will open with a family festival at the Norman Rockwell Museum on Saturday, February 18, from 3 to 6 p.m. Guided tours of the exhibition will be held from 3 to 4 p.m.; prehistoric art-making workshops for children will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m.; and at 4 p.m. James Gurney will give a presentation, followed by a book signing. Wandering minstrel Mary Jo Maichack's songs will fill the galleries throughout the day and complimentary beverages and snacks will be served, including Dino Sours and Rainy Basin Brew, Tortilla Claws with T-rex Mex Dip, Skybax Wings, Bix Fossils, Ruby Sunstones and Dino-dung Cookies. The event is free to Museum members as well as children ages 18 and under. The general public is welcome to attend the event with the purchase of the standard Museum admission fee. THE MAN BEHIND DINOTOPIA James Gurney lives with his family in New York State's Hudson Valley. He was born on June 14, 1958, in Glendale, California. As a young boy, he found it difficult to find books on dinosaurs, a subject that always captivated him. A childhood museum visit provided his first encounter with the skeleton of a formidable Allosaurus, leading him to imagine the dinosaur skeletons "stepping off of their platforms and tip-toeing through the hallways at night," returning to their post by daybreak. Gurney's youthful daydreams inspired an interest in archaeology and lost civilizations. The artist recalls many hours spent excavating his suburban backyard for arrowheads and "even a lost temple." During college he majored in anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley, where he received a B.A. in 1979 with Phi Beta Kappa honors. From there he went on to pursue his lifelong interest in art, studying illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where he met his wife Jeanette, also an artist, who shared his love for sketching outdoors. A cross-country trip with friend and fellow artist Thomas Kinkade resulted in "The Artist's Guide to Sketching (1982)." During his early career he painted jungle and volcano backdrops for animator Ralph Bakshi's "Fire and Ice (1983)" and became interested in the fantasy genre. His art soon appeared on the covers of science fiction and fantasy novels but his big break as an illustrator came from "National Geographic" magazine with a series of challenging assignments working with scientists and historians to recreate ancient worlds. Gurney's secret dream was to discover a lost city as significant as Troy or Machu Picchu and so, in his spare time, he envisioned and painted Waterfall City and Dinosaur Parade, which inspired the conceptual framework for "Dinotopia." His first "Dinotopia" book, the "New York Times" bestseller "Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time," appeared in 18 languages in more than 30 countries and sold two million copies. Gurney has written and illustrated two other volumes in the series, "Dinotopia: The World Beneath" and "Dinotopia: First Flight." A fourth volume, "Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara" will be published soon. In 2002, Hallmark Entertainment produced a lavish $86 million television miniseries for ABC-TV based on the "Dinotopia" books that received record-setting ratings and an Emmy award for best visual effects. Hallmark is currently finalizing production of a new animated film based on the dinosaur "26." SPECIAL EVENTS Dinomania! School Vacation Week Workshops Monday, February 20 through Friday, February 24, 2 to 4 p.m. Dinomania! is a series of fun-filled, hands-on art workshops for children that include interactive tours of the art on view in "Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney." Monday: "Dinosaurs in Fact." Students will sketch in the galleries and paint a realistic dinosaur poster. Tuesday: "Dinosaurs in Fiction." Imaginative forays into a land apart from time will develop into stories inspired by "Dinotopia." Wednesday: "Dinosaurs in 3-D." Models created with clay, foam and a variety of objects reflect our increasing knowledge of dinosaurs. Thursday: "Dinosaur Game Boards." Build a game you can play with your friends! Dinosaur-themed game boards might include cards, counting, hidden swamps or tar pits. Friday: "Dinosaur Dioramas." Create a realistic or highly imaginative environment for dinosaurs using mixed media. The classes are designed for children ages seven and up. $6 per class/$5 for Museum members. $25/$20 for Museum members for the five-class series. EDUCATOR'S SYMPOSIUM "Science and Beyond: Where Fact meets Fantasy" Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Discover how artists use scientific information to both educate and expand the world of the imagination. Author and illustrator James Gurney will explore the convergence of fact and fantasy in art and Howard Paine, guest curator of "National Geographic: The Art of Exploration" will offer insight about the process of working with artists and scientists, gleaned during his 33 years as art director for "National Geographic" magazine. The symposium will conclude with a book signing. Those attending should bring lunch and beverages and snacks will be provided. Lunches are available for $15 and may be reserved in advance. $30/ $24 Museum members. The Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to art appreciation and education through new scholarship that illuminates Norman Rockwell's unique contributions to art, society, and popular culture. As a center devoted to the art of illustration, the Museum also exhibits the works of contemporary and past masters in an ongoing series of compelling artist showcases. Previous exhibitions at the Museum have presented the work of Charles Schulz, Winslow Homer, Howard Pyle, J.C. Leyendecker, Maxfield Parrish, Rockwell Kent, Al Hirschfeld, Robert Weaver, and others. Set on a picturesque 36-acre-estate in the hometown of America's favorite artist, the Norman Rockwell Museum is one of the crown jewels of the Berkshires. Norman Rockwell Museum is open daily. General public admission is $12.50 for adults, $7 for students, and free for visitors 18 and under (four per adult). Kids Free Every Day is a gift to families from Country Curtains and the Red Lion Inn. On Wednesdays from November to May, senior citizens are admitted at half-price. 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. For more information, the public is invited to call 413-298-4100, ext. 220. Visit the Museum's Web site at www.nrm.org.
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Stockbridge Grange Community Dinner

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — The Stockbridge Grange is holding a community dinner on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, featuring spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and bread with dessert choices of chocolate cream or lemon meringue pie.
 
Dinner is $17.00 per person, take out only with 12-1:30 pm pick up at the Stockbridge Grange Hall at 51 Church Street, Stockbridge.  Orders may be made by calling 413-243-1298 or 413-443-4352. 
 
Inclement weather postpones the meal for a week.
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