Check It Out!

When it comes to talent, the northwestern corner of Connecticut is rich with more than its share of artists, musicians, writers, and actors.  One such is Robert Andrew Parker, whose art will appear in Canton Public Library’s Gallery for the months of May and June in a show titled “Robert Andrew Parker:  Letters and Pictures.”     

Robert Andrew Parker, who turns 83 in May, is an artist, illustrator, and printmaker who happens also to be a musician, a sculptor, and a writer.  He has illustrated upwards of 90 children’s books.  His illustrations have appeared in most major publications, including The New Yorker, The New York Times, Esquire, Fortune, Sports Illustrated, Village Voice, and Playboy, to name a few.  His drawings and paintings have accompanied the work of Marianne Moore, William Faulkner, Seamus Heaney, Randall Jarrell, W. H. Auden, Vladimir Nabokov, Franz Kafka, and Joseph Heller.  The library show features the Parker illustrations which have appeared in both magazines and books.  It also includes four of his delightful alphabet series, in which he selects an image to illustrate each letter of the alphabet, including W. H. Auden’s “Airman’s Alphabet” and illustrations for a Spanish alphabet.

Canton Public Library’s Gallery exhibit of Parker’s work complements the show being held at the Gallery on the Green titled “Travels with Bob:  The Art of Robert Andrew Parker” from April 23 through May 23.  In addition, Canton Public Library’s display case features Parker’s illustrations which have graced  children’s books.

If you enjoy children’s books and if you read books to young children, chances are you’ve enjoyed the illustrations of Connecticut artist and illustrator Robert Andrew Parker.  His children’s books will be featured in the display case at Canton Public Library for the months of April and May.

Robert Andrew Parker’s illustrated children’s books range widely from science and history to biography and mythology, from explorers to musicians, from geography to astronomy.  The display complements a gallery show of the artist’s work at Canton’s Gallery on the Green from April 23 through May 23.  The display also precedes a larger show in the library gallery for the months of May and June which will feature Parker’s illustration of the works of such literary greats as W. H. Auden, Marianne Moore, Vladimir Nabokov, William Faulkner, and Joseph Heller.