Tony Sarg’s Nantucket

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ONLINE SYMPOSIUM:
Illustration, Puppetry, and American Popular Culture:
The Art and Legacy of Tony Sarg
A SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED BY THE ROCKWELL CENTER FOR AMERICAN VISUAL STUDIES
AND THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS
Symposium Information
Zoom Webinar (online)
Friday, October 20, 2023 - 7pm to 8:30pm
Saturday, October 21, 2023 - 10am to 3:30pm
Description
Organized by the Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and the American Theater for Puppetry Arts in Austerlitz, New York, this interdisciplinary online symposium brings together artists, puppeteers, designers and scholars from across the humanities to explore the life, art and work of Tony Sarg (1880-1942), the charismatic illustrator, designer, puppeteer, and entrepreneur whose prolific career sheds light on the creative imagination and the ability of artists to inspire a collective sense of wonder and joy.
On Friday, October 20, participants are invited to take an interactive virtual tour of the exhibition with co-curators Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and Lenore D. Miller, and with Darin E. Johnson, founding CEO and artistic director of American Theater for Puppetry Arts. On Saturday, October 21, a series of virtual talks and panel discussions will shed light on the many aspects of Sarg’s career-from his work as an illustrator and champion of the puppetry arts in America to his founding designs for Macy’s parade balloons and holiday windows, involvement with two World’s Fairs, commercial whimsy and architectural projects, and legendary Nantucket Sea Monster Hoax. Sarg’s artistic legacy will also be explored by contemporary artists and performers who have also made their mark by combining artistry and skill with showmanship, canny innovation, and a keen desire to engage with the public.
Tony Sarg’s Nantucket
Tony Sarg, his wife Bertha, and their daughter Mary began visiting Nantucket in 1920, and they quickly became a part of the island’s summer scene. Sarg participated avidly in the island’s just-emerging art colony, and its landmarks, history, and folklore found their way into the art and commercial designs that were sold in his store. Michael R. Harrison, Chief Curator of the Nantucket Historical Association, will discuss notable Sarg collections from the NHA, and George Korn, collector and exhibition advisor, will discuss the artist’s adventures and legendary 1937 Nantucket Sea Monster Hoax.