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150TH ANNIVERSARY COLLABORATIVE EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
New York Bus Trip
"Illustrative Group Trip"
On January 12, 2010, members of the Philadelphia Sketch Club visited New York City to see the 150th Anniversary exhibition organized by Rich Harrington in conjunction with former Sketch Club member Eric Fowler at the Society of Illustrators at 128 E. 63rdStreet. The Exhibition was of works by Sketch Club members who were also members of the Society. The original illustrations were displayed on the wall of the second floor bar reserved just for members’ works. The bar wall facing sports the 2nd largest Norman Rockwell donated by the artist, illustrating the Dover coach from Dickens that became the icon of a famous phrase since the 50's for illustrators in the know... "Meet me under the Rockwell..." Eric Fowler, board member of the Permanent Collection of the Society of Illustrators, gave a wonderful tour of the exhibition, including his own “Weightlifter.” Rich Harrington, Vice President of the Philadelphia Sketch Club, showed one of his signature vintage autos, a Chevy Belaire, perhaps a ’57. Joe DeVito fascinated everyone with his account of his piece about King Kong and how he sold the movie rights to his prequel book about how King Kong got to be on the island before he was discovered behind the huge wall. After Eric’s tour, with a peek at a Maxfield Parrish original on the wall of the archives on an upper floor, we all sat down to a gorgeous luncheon in the Society’s sunlit restaurant, whose capacity we stretched to the limit.
Next stop on the tour was the Illustration House, 110 West 25thStreet. Walt Reed, the founder, showed and signed his book "The Illustrator in America 1860-2000" for purchasers among us, such as Don Gauger, our member who keeps our website up to date. We saw a wonderful show there with pieces by many famous illustrators, such as Howard Pyle.
After we made our third stop at Salmagundi Club, an artists’ club of 139 years at 47 5thAve, by 11thStreet in the Village. Inside the door, Don Meyer was especially taken by an installation of painter George Inness's palette presented to Salmagundi Club in 1888 by Hartley. We were greeted by Kathleen Arffmann, Executive Director. She showed us the several galleries where members hang their works, as well as the lavish chandeliered living/reception room for casual meetings or personal time-outs. Sketch Club member Cyndie Drue, of classic rock 102.9 WMGK and WMMR fame, examined some works just checking to see if any are former Sketch Club member Fred Wagner's, to whom she is related and about whom she is writing a book. We proceeded downstairs to examine the pool room, with three pool tables, the bar and the wonderfully appointed restaurant with fabulous artworks from the permanent collection hanging all around, available to non-members as well. Upstairs on the second floor, we had a look at the extensive library, where members John Ennis and Pat Wilson-Schmid looked right at home in the comfy armchairs, and another room with portraits of the club’s former presidents, a gallery with a member’s show and a hallway leading up a staircase full of more art from the permanent collection, enticingly roped off. We all were intrigued by the half-price membership policy for out-of-towners, and certainly put the Salmagundi on our list of places to frequent exhibitions and to dine on New York City visits.
Story and photos ©2010 Laura Jean Zito, used here with permission.
Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave, Christina Hess, a teacher at Moore College of Art, examines the artworks hanging in the grand salon that comprises the first floor reception lounge of the Salmagundi Club.
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Eric Fowler, a past member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club who now is on the Board of the Permanent Collections at the Society of Illustrators was instrumental in helping to organize the works of former Sketch Club members that are in the Society's archives. He gave us a wonderful tour of the Exhibition the Sketch Club held at the Society from January 5 through January 30th, 2010.
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Anelle Miller, Director of the Society of Illustrators, 128 E 63rd St. NY, NY 10065. The sign behind her in her office reads: "The only difference between a fine artist and an illustrator is that the latter can draw, eat three square meals a day, and can afford to pay for them." James Montgomery Flagg
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Rich Harrington at the Society of Illustrators with the Philadelphia Sketch Club Show hanging on the wall behind him. As a member of both clubs he was the organizer of the Exhibition held at the Society of Illustrators in January, 2010 to celebrate the Sketch Club's 150th Anniversary.
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Illustration House, 110 W. 25th Street, Walt A. Reed, founder, signs his book,"The Illustrator in America 1860-2000" for Philadelphia Sketch Club member Don Gauger, who keeps the Sketch Club website up-to-date.
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Don Meyer and Carla Berman, Philadelphia Sketch Club members, enjoy lunch at the Society of Illustrators, 128 E. 63rd St. NYC on a bus trip organized by Rich Harrington to see The Society For Illustrators Exhibition of Philadelphia Sketch Club Members' work.
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Philadelphia Sketch Club members Barbara Keogh and Bruce Bentzman enjoying the luncheon at the Society of Illustrators, 128 E 63rd St. NYC
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Ed Allen, Philadelphia Sketch Club member, enjoys looking around the Salmagundi Club in New York City, 47 Fifth Ave, in the main library on the second floor
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John Ennis, Ric Viola, Barbara Murray, and Don Gauger listen to Kathleen Arffmann, Executive Director of the Salmagundi Club in NYC at 47 Fifth Ave., discuss the history, show possibilities and membership policies of this 139 year-old club.
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Bruce Bentzman looks over the archives at the Society of Illustrators, 128 E 63rd St. NY, NY 10065, that include an originalMaxfield Parrish
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Don Meyer looks at a painting hanging in the grand reception room of the Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave, NYC
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John Ennis and Pat Wilson-Schmid in the library on the second floor of the Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave, NYC
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Kathleen Arffmann, Executive Director of the Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave, NYC, in the 2nd floor library
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Joe DeVito, extolls the virtues of his piece about King Kong and how he sold the movie rights to his prequel book about how King Kong got to be on the island before he was discovered behind the wall.
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Rich Harrington in front of the bar at the Society of Illustrators with a Norman Rockwell illustrating the coach from Dickens that became the icon of a famous phrase since the 50's to illustrators in the know... "Meet me under the Rockwell..."
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Rich Harrington, Vice President of the Philadelphia Sketch Club and organizer of the Exhibition of Members' work at the Society of Illustrators, NYC standing in front of the exhibition, most exactly, in front of a piece called "Weightlifter" by Eric Fowler, a former Sketch Club member before transferred to New York and became a board member of the Permanent Collection of the Society of Illustrators.
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Bill Patterson and wife Pat speak with Kathleen Arffmann, Executive Director of the Salmagundi Club since May, 2009 on the second floor landing of the 4 floor building on 5th Avenue and eleventh.
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Sketch Club member Cyndie Drue, of classic rock 102.9 WMGK and WMMR fame, examining some works at the Salmagundi Club, NYC, just checking to see if any are former Sketch Club member Fred Wagner's, to whom she is related and about whom she is writing a book.
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Rich Harrington examines an installation of George Inness's palette presented to Salmagundi Club in 1888 by Hartley
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Sketch Club members enjoy seeing the exhibition at the Illustration House, 110 W. 25th Street, as part of their bus trip to NYC on January 12, 2010
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Joe Devito talks to another Sketch Club member in the large gallery on the ground floor of the Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave., NYC
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Don Gauger, Sketch Club member, enjoys the library on the second floor of the Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Ave, NYC
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