Hooray! It's Thomas Nast's 175th Birthday!
September 27, 2015 |
Visit Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) on Sunday September 27th from 1 – 4pm when the museum honors political cartoonist Thomas Nast. In celebration of what would have been his 175th birthday, Nast was born in Landau, Germany on September 26th 1840, visitors can learn more about the artist and celebrate his work with activities for the whole family. Currently on display are two exhibits of Thomas Nast’s work, along with other examples of his illustrations on display throughout the Museum. Curator Ryan Hyman will meet visitors in the main gallery to answer their questions about the Museum’s Thomas Nast collection, the largest of original works by the artist. Visitors can take a “selfie” with a life sized cut out of one of Nast’s
famous self-portraits “Hurrah Boys We Are a Hundred Years Old”. Children can create Nast character masks, decorate a big “birthday card” for him, and enjoy other treats during the afternoon.
Thomas Nast (1840-1902) is one of the most recognized names in the world of political cartoons. Often called the father of American political cartooning, Nast’s images remain popular today. His spirit lives on through his iconic representations of Santa Claus. The classic images which Nast popularized of the jolly old elf still appear on a variety of surfaces each year during the holiday season, and Nast’s Civil War images of the battlefront and home front were powerful tools for bringing the war into people’s homes. His illustrations in publications like “Harper’s Weekly” brought the information about what was happening into the homes of the American public, the way mass media does today. Visitors can see examples this work in the exhibit “The Civil War through the Eyes of Thomas Nast”. Mounted to commemorate the final year of the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015), this second floor exhibit includes a number of these stirring images and is on exhibit through December 2015.
In the “Thomas Nast: Unknown Works and American Icons” gallery there are rarely exhibited, virtually unknown works by the man whose art defined many of America’s most popular icons: Santa Claus, Uncle Sam, the Democratic Donkey, and the Republican Elephant. Previously unpublished oil paintings and watercolors, rarely seen pencil sketches, pen and ink drawings, and original architectural elements from the artist’s home are among the objects on display. Pencil sketches of Thomas Nast’s family from his early years as well as paintings he created toward the end of his life around 1900 are on display. Nast worked with a variety of mediums as well as producing images not just of political life, but social as well. He drew images of famous people of the time as well as his own family life. He even enjoyed putting his own image down on paper as can be seen by the variety of self-portraits exhibited. “Thomas Nast: Unknown Works and American Icons” will be on display through October 4th, 2015.
MHMM preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house tours and gallery visits on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. The last tour leaves at 3pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. Call (973) 538-2404 ext. 10, visit maccullochhall.org or find us on Facebook. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation.
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Website:
maccullochhall.org |
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| Location Information |
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Macculloch Hall Historical Museum |
45 Macculloch Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960 |
| Website:
www.maccullochhall.org |
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| Contact Information |
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Alice Cutler |
| Email:
acutler@maccullochhall.org |
| Phone:
973-538-2404 |
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