The MiniArtMuseum for Children at The Nassau County Museum of Art in on Long Island in New York will be featuring the miniature sets and characters from Cynthia von Buhler's But Who Will Bell the Cats? and The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside in a solo exhibition from September 20, 2009 through January 3, 2010.
Join us for the book release party and the opening of the exhibit on Sunday, Oct 4, at 2PM. The author will be signing books and light refreshments will be served.
Also on view in the MiniArtMuseum will be the glorious Astolat Castle, a nine foot tall, 5 foot wide dollhouse castle. Children can also play and read in the small child's playhouse outside the museum. Norman Rockwell's paintings are on view at the main museum. Works by Gordon Cheung and Jonathan Seliger will be featured in the contemporary gallery.
Tickets: Free with museum admission: $10, seniors $8, children ages 4–12 $4, Cynthia's books will be on sale in the MiniArtMuseum gift shop.
Arrive early (at 1PM) to hear Peter and the Wolf performed by the South Shore Symphony Orchestra with guest narrator Matt Gallant of Animal Planet. Purchase tickets for the concert here: http://nassaumuseum.org/events.php.
Travel via train from NYC: LIRR to Greenvale, then take a cab to museum.
Visit the book’s website at www.butwhowillbellthecats.com for crafts, games, a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the book, downloadable posters, and much more!
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Long Island, NY
The Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor, NY, 5164849337
Email: fdiesu@nassaumuseum.org
Award-winning artist Cynthia von Buhler takes the reader on a whimsical journey in this visually stunning and innovative book. But Who Will Bell the Cats? (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; September 2009) is an enchanting tale of determination, bravery, and creativity—and beautifully illustrates the rewards of the uncomplicated power of kindness.
In addition to having written this story, Cynthia von Buhler was also the painter, sculptor, interior decorator, mason, gardener, and plumber of the sets. The rooms were built by hand from wood. The stone walls were formed from plaster. The floors are handmade from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl, and plaster. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper, then cut out and placed in the sets. The scenes were photographed by Cynthia with a Nikon D300. You can view photos of the sets and see the creation of the book from the beginning stages by visiting the book’s blog, www.butwhowillbellthecats.blogspot.com. The sets are currently on view at The Nassau County Museum of Art. The show will run until January 3, 2010.
Cynthia von Buhler’s work has been compared to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. Her award-winning art has been displayed in galleries and museums around the world, as well as in books, magazines, and newspapers. She lives in Staten Island and Connecticut with her husband, eight cats, one dog, seven doves, and an unknown number of mice below the floorboards.
"Young readers will pore over this one again and again." - Kirkus Review
"This story of an indefatigable mouse should find a welcome place on the shelves of any castle...or library." - Horn Book
"Children will find a lot to discover in the details, even after repeated readings". - School Library Journal
"Beautiful and haunting with the kinds of images kids will pore over, there ain’t nothing like it out there today. A new fable in an all-new style." - A Fuse #8 Production, School Library Journal, and Publisher's Weekly
