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 Exhibit dates: November 17 - January 6, 2002
Most of us have fond memories of favorite childhood books. These books were our first introduction to literature, art and the world outside our door. In this age of mass communication, we are constantly exposed to television, radio, movies and the internet, but still the love of books endures.
Perhaps it is the intimacy of reading with a parent or hearing stories in a reading circle at school or the library that creates this love. Or maybe it is the portability of books that we enjoy; we can carry our books to the beach, or a treehouse, or even read in bed. Whatever the reason, book lovers of all ages still find pleasure in turning the pages, and immersing themselves in wonderful stories and illustrations. OMA's exhibit Snowy Day & Smoky Night featured the Caldecott Medal winning illustrations of Ezra Jack Keats and David Diaz. The bold graphic style used by both of these artists pushed children's book illustration beyond traditional formats. Also, the three decade span between their Caldecott awards seems significant in terms of societal changes, and the subject matter of the award winning books suggests a certain loss of childhood innocence. In The Snowy Day, we follow the adventures of a small boy as he finds his neighborhood transformed after a snowfall; Smoky Night relates the story of a mother and son during an urban riot.  The two-part exhibition was comprised of illustrations from the National Center For Children's Illustrated Literature (NCCIL) in Abilene, Texas. NCCIL was formed in 1996 as a collaborative effort of the Junior League of Abilene, The Museums of Abilene, and a community, state, and nationally based steering committee. NCCIL provides recognition of the artistic achievement of illustrators and arranges gallery exhibitions of their work. They maintain a permanent collection, curate traveling exhibits and design programs to stimulate creativity, promote literacy and increase the appreciation of art.
Our thanks to the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and the de Grummond Collection for the opportunity to display the original works of Ezra Jack Keats. Author and illustrator William Joyce said, "Children's literature is the first literature and art that children are exposed to. It should be good. And when it is, it should be given respect." Snowy Day & Smoky Night is just that.
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