News Release

97-03

National Library of Canada Celebrates Canadian Children’s Book Illustrators

Ottawa, April 22, 1997  --  The National Library of Canada’s newest exhibition, “The Art of Illustration: A Celebration of Contemporary Canadian Children’s Book Illustrators”, opens to the public on April 24, and runs until December 7, 1997. The exhibition highlights Canada’s notable achievements during the past three decades in the illustration, writing and publishing of children’s books.

National Librarian Marianne Scott noted that “innovation, quality and a sense of excitement characterize illustration in Canadian children’s books, and attest to the vibrancy of publishing for children in this country.” She is particularly pleased that the National Library of Canada is able to celebrate Canada Book Day, sponsored by the Writers’ Development Trust, and UNESCO’s World Book and Copyright Day, with a preview of this exceptional exhibition on April 23. Journalist and biographer Lawrence Martin, the originator of Canada Book Day, will be a special guest.

On view will be the original art and published work of many popular and award-winning artists, including Marie-Louise Gay (another special guest at the preview), Elizabeth Cleaver, Ann Blades, Dayal Kaur Khalsa, Gilles Tibo, Laszlo Gal and Stéphane Poulin. Draft sketches, storyboards and correspondence show the process of combining the work of author, illustrator and publisher.

The exhibition is divided into seven thematic groupings that represent contrasting styles of illustration for children. The themes are: Concept Books, Naive Art, Magic Realism, Romanticism, Realism, Stylists, and Cartoon Art.

The illustrations on display in “The Art of Illustration” are drawn primarily from the Literary Manuscript Collection of the National Library of Canada, and were acquired to complement the work of the Library’s Canadian Children’s Literature Service.

“The Art of Illustration” is open between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. daily, in the Library’s main exhibition hall at 395 Wellington Street. Admission is free. The exhibition and related material, including biographies and bibliographies, will be available at the National Library’s World Wide Web site (address: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca).

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Information:
Andrea Paradis
Exhibitions and Liaison Officer
Telephone: 613-992-3052
Fax: 613-947-2706