To fully appreciate an artist’s work, you have to see it, not simply read about it. In this case, it’s the artistry and genius of the immensely talented Hardie Gramatky (1907-1979), author of “Little Toot,” the enduring children’s classic. From November 15 – April 15, 2009, at the Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank Street, New London, “Tugboats & Little Toot: The Paintings & Illustrations of Hardie Gramatky” is being exhibited. For more information, visit www.nlmaritimesociety.org.
Susan Tamulevich, the museum’s director, pointed out that Hardie’s classic “Little Toot” was recently voted “one of the top twenty children’s books in the country ever, and the exhibition has one of the book’s original pictures and also pictures from many of his subsequent books.” Also exhibited is the “Little Toot” storyboard, Susan added, “with the pages laid out. We also have his notebook, with his thought processes about putting the book together.” Included in the exhibit is Hardie’s work as a fine artist. “He spent his summers in Old Lyme,” Susan added, “and we have several seascapes of that town.”
Recently Susan spoke with Linda Gramatky Smith, Hardie’s daughter, who said that American realist artist Andrew Wyeth (1917 – ) “put together a list of his top twenty watercolor American painters.” It included Hardie Gramatky, along with Winslow Homer (1836-1910) and John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). Susan explained, “People don’t realize what an excellent painter Hardie Gramatky was because he’s better known for his books; he’s a wonderful, wonderful painter.”
On exhibit is “East River #1,” a watercolor painted in 1938. According to Linda, “It’s a favorite because it really shows Dad’s freedom in trying a more impressionistic, modern style.” Another favorite is, Linda added, “from the book ‘Little Toot on the Grand Canal,’ written and illustrated in 1968. Little Toot has been washed onto the Piazza of San Marco and past the golden cathedral.”
In 1930 Hardie was an animator at Walt Disney Studios. In 1936 he broke with Disney and moved to NY. “We have a selection of watercolors he did at that time of tugboats in NY Harbor that are so beautiful,” Susan said. “He had a love of tugboats and [that carried over to 1939], when he did ‘Little Toot,” his first children’s book.” Later, it was made into a Disney cartoon.
“We also have pictures of Walt Disney and Hardie on a tugboat in NY Harbor,” Susan noted. “So we have not only the art work but the attendant archives, storyboards, and notebooks as well. We’ve copied out the notebooks so that people can leaf through to see how he actually put his book together and how he critiqued himself. We have some videos and a copy of the Walt Disney video and videos of Hardie giving what he called chalk talk to students. On a [chalk board] he’d draw and show them how quickly he could make a character come to life. And we have two of the original chalk drawings that he did.”
As you read this Year In Review issue, you can see that the Resident Good News Tabloid was busy covering people doing good things in our communities. The Best of 2008 includes, believe it or not, economic development especially, in the first half of the year.
Foxwoods Resort Casino celebrated its Sweet 16 Birthday in February and opened the $700 million MGM Grand in May. The Mashantucket Pequots gave $51,411 to community Park & Recreation Departments here while chairman Bill Stanley extended his deadline into 2008 to raise the 8.4 Million for the 2007 United Way Campaign. Cheers for a job well done!
The Mohegan Tribe held a Topping Off Ceremony for their new 64,000 sq. ft. Casino of the Wind on January 2nd and an extravagant opening on August 29th for “the third wonder of the world” here.
After dedicating 42 years to the Stonington Police, Chief David P. Erskine, passes the torch swearing in Darren Stewart as his replacement, here.
The Year 2008 was all about the Chamber of Eastern CT and the City of New London celebrating our US Coast Guard. Meet the leaders here. Also, Robert Marelli, Jr., founder and president, Seconn Fabrications of Waterford as the Northeastern Regional Finalist of the US Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award.
Enjoy a look back at 2008. Let’s look forward to New Beginnings 2009. A warm thank you, from the heart, for making the good news happen! Remember to patronize our advertisers and tell them that you saw their ad in the Resident Good News Community Tabloid.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s Athletic Commission presented checks to officials of Ledyard, North Stonington, Preston and the Pawcatuck Lions Club, totaling $51,411 during a friendly gathering and luncheon held in the Lake of Isles Golf Club House on December 20, 2007. MPTN Tribal Councilor, Richard E. Sebastian, John Hines, Director, N. Stonington Parks and Recreation, N. Stonington First Selectman Nicholas Mullane II, Ledyard Mayor Fred Allyn, Jr., Don Griese, Ledyard Parks & Recreation, MPTN Councilor/Treasurer Rodney Butler, Councilor Maureen Sebastian, Belsita and Angelo Miceli, and Preston First Selectman Robert Congdon.
January 23, 2008
Money Raising Words: $8.4 Million, Anything Less Is “Unacceptable”
The United Way of Southeastern CT surpassed the 2007 campaign goal of $8.4 million – a result of $8,437,189 in donations. Bill Stanley, 2007 United Way Campaign Chair, Vice President, Development & Community Relations, L & M Hospital sends out a big thanks.
Wind Bites as Mohegan Sun Tops Off Casino of the Wind
Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman, performed a Topping Off ceremony for the Casino of the Wind, on Wednesday, January 2, 2008, at Mohegan Sun Casino..
Art Singer’s Dream Takes Shape in Noank Foundry & Sculpture Studio
Art Singer is an artistic visionary with plans to further his own sculpture interests while providing a studio for others to find and embrace dreams and capabilities.
Meet Carol Chapman of Mystic, A Real “Renaissance Woman”
Carol Chapman, Mystic, is a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, hostess extraordinaire, gardener, and a super professional Realtor. (l-r) Carrie Pfieffer, Annie Chapman, Carol “Chappy” Chapman, and Courtland “Court” Chapman smile for a picture at Chappy’s garden party.
Groton‘s Fairview Receives $647,000 Gift
Fairview, in Groton, received the largest single donation in its 114 year history from the late Elizabeth and Miriam Kiegler.
February 20, 2008
Local Woman Starts Foundation for AIDS Orphans in Kenya
Lela Edgar, formerly of Old Lyme and East Lyme started a foundation to help AIDS orphans in Machakos, Kenya, Make A Change Productions, in March of 2006.
Foxwoods Serves Elaborate Cake, Celebrating 16 Years of Memories, Successes
Foxwoods Resort Casino celebrated its 16th Anniversary on February 15th, with complimentary cake, coffee, and lots of prizes. Members of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Management Team thanked guests for their patronage.
After 42 Years, Stonington Police Chief, David P. Erskine, Passes the Torch
David P. Erskine, Stonington Police Chief, swears in Darren Stewart as the new Stonington Police Chief.
The day before New Year’s Eve at the Cabaret Theatre in Mohegan Sun, larger than life, Hunk-A-Hunk-A Man Country Music Superstar discussed his newly published book as part of the Sun’s Winning Authors event – “Trace Adkins Personal Stand:Observations and Opinions from a Free Thinking Roughneck” and later a performance in the Arena.
Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT
Initiates City of New London – Coast Guard Celebration
During a February 7th meeting, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT announced a celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 26th in conjunction with the USCG. (l-r) Planning for upcoming festivities to celebrate the USCG and the City of New London are Cadet Andrew Norberg, CGA, Kevin J. Cavanagh, mayor, City of New London, Rear Admiral Scott J. Burhoe, superintendent, USCGA, and Margaret Curtin, council member, City of New London, and others.
Whale Rock Oysters and Artie Valdez: Nurturing Delicious Gems of Success
Arturo Valdez’s, Groton, “Whale Rock Oysters attract devotees throughout the U.S. and internationally.”
Language Conference Focuses on Reclamation of Native American Dialects
The Fourth Biennial Conference on the Reclamation of Indigenous Languages was held Feb. 20-21 at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. Charlene Jones, Tribal Councilor/Secretary said, “It’s been in my hopes and dreams, since I was six years old, that our language would be in the community.”
March 19, 2008
Local Scottish Dancers Celebrate 25th & Robert Burns
On February 9th, the Mystic Scottish Country Dancers marked their 25th anniversary at the Groton Motor Inn during their annual salute to the “Bard of Scotland,” Robert Burns.The group has practiced and exhibited traditional Scottish dancing since 1982 and honoring the memory of Robert Burns since 1984.
Seconn Fabrications of Waterford was chosen as the Northeastern Regional Finalist of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award.The company demonstrates what a small business should be: strives to surpass its customers’ expectations and regularly participates in improving its local community and the region. “…you need to give back when you can,” said Robert Marelli, Jr., founder and president, Seconn.
New London Historical Society Reprints Book
On February 29 , the New London Historical Society held a book release reception celebrating the most recent printing of Frances Manwaring Caulkins’ classic, “History of New London, CT: From theFirst Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1860.”
To fully appreciate an artist’s work, you have to see it, not simply read about it. In this case, it’s the artistry and genius of the immensely talented Hardie Gramatky (1907-1979), author of “Little Toot,” the enduring children’s classic. From November 15 – April 15, 2009, at the Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank Street, New London, “Tugboats & Little Toot: The Paintings & Illustrations of Hardie Gramatky” is being exhibited. For more information, visit www.nlmaritimesociety.org.
