My art is now at the Kerlan Collection!

When I first visited the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota in 2009, I was in complete awe of the place. It is a true gem, allowing anyone to study manuscripts, artwork, and other materials of more than 12,000 children’s books.  While holding the original artwork to Gustaf Tenggren’s The Poky Little Puppy, nearly weeping with joy, I realized how much I hoped others would someday hold my own illustrations in their hands and feel the same way. I spent the next year-and-a-half organizing my copious amounts of artwork while thinking very hard about what might happen to it in the future.

The momentous decision came last Monday: the Kerlan Collection is now the final resting place of nearly all of my children's book art, correspondence, sketches, and notes, from the present until I stop creating. This is beginning of what will hopefully be a lifetime of donation.

I've illustrated over a dozen picture books since moving to Minnesota, several of which were published by local Minnesotan publishers. The literary community here is unlike anything I've experienced before, and I've felt so blessed, encouraged, and challenged to create in this state. It seems fitting to keep the artwork in Minnesota even after I’m gone from this earth, so that the art will always be safe, appreciated, and most importantly, accessible to the very community that nurtured its creation.

It was a sweet moment to deliver all of the archive boxes to the Kerlan Collection last Monday. There is no better guardian than Dr. Karen Nelson Hoyle, professor and curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collection. Dr. Hoyle is one of the warmest, most sincere people I’ve ever met and she is well deserving of the honor awarded to her this year by the Eric Carle Museum.

Everything is being processed now and should be available for public viewing soon. I’m going to such a kick out of “visiting” my art, and I hope others will, too!

Comments

[Nina Crittenden]

Wonderful, Christina!
The Kerlan is so lucky to have your beautiful artwork!!! :)

[Sharon Wagner]

Bravo!

[Chandler]

That is fantastic news! The Kerlan obviously has good taste, and they're very fortunate to have you—and I'm so glad that your work will be preserved for future generations. Congratulations!

[Carrie]

This is great news. So great that your art is going to be part of the Kerlan collection.