PICTURE BOOK EXHIBIT 2024

Annette S. Lee, Invited Artist – “Journey to Joy: Rise, Relevance, Representation in Children’s Picture Books” Exhibit & Permanent Collection

Featuring original process paintings, sketches, journals, and reference for design of “Forever Sky” award-winning children’s book.

The “Journey to Joy: Rise, Relevance, Representation in Children’s Picture Books” exhibit ran in Minneapolis from October 22, 2024, through January 4, 2025.

The exhibition took place across four floors at the Elmer L. Andersen Library, located on the University of Minnesota’s West Bank campus. It showcased over 100 years of children’s literature history from the renowned Kerlan Collection.

The collection exhibited contemporary art from Minnesota Native American illustrators Annette S. Lee, Jonathan Thunder, and Marlena Myles.

Forever Sky Sketches, art, and editorial process notes by Annette S. Lee, Permanent Collection, The Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature.

Developed in consultation with award-winning children’s book author Andrea Davis Pinkney and Curatorial Chair Lisa Von Drasek.

It explored both the difficult, exclusionary history of minority representation in early American children’s literature and the rise of diverse stories.

Featured pieces ranging from W.E.B. Du Bois’ historic The Brownies’ Book to the Caldecott Award-winning The Snowy Day

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PROJECT OVERVIEW:

Role: Invited Artist

Collaborators: Johnathan Thunder, Marlena Myles (artists); Andrea Davis Pinkney (advisor), Lisa Von Drasek (curator)

Location: Children’s Literature Research Collections (CLRC), University of Minnesota Libraries

Permanent Collection: The Kerlan Collection

Sketches, References, and Process Documentation for Original Paintings in “Forever Sky” children’s book

Completed: Oct. 22, 2024 to Jan. 4, 2025