A Country Mile

Mo says, “You missed it.”

This message isn’t from me. It comes straight from Mo to my computer to  you. You aren’t allowed to know what happened here today. Seriously.  I’m not allowed to photograph any more.  Honestly, he threatened to publicly shame those who attempted a shot. (He didn’t remember I already snapped this one!) I’m not allowed to […]

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Jon Muth

With a stunning watercolor painting in the background, Jon paints for the Mazza audience, turning a single black line into a Labrador retriever. Born and raised in Cincinnati, a young Jon Muth headed to New York with $500 and a dream of painting for a living.  When it became clear he would need to eat to survive, […]

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Confessions of a Non-Illustrating Author

He’s color blind.   He’s artistically challenged.  And he was a child who couldn’t read in fourth grade. How, then, did Gary D. Schmidt come to stand before us at the Mazza Museum of Art this morning as a Newbery Honor-winning author?  Because a fourth grade teacher took a personal interest in him.  She gave him books, even if they […]

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Knock, Knock! Who’s there? It’s David Ezra Stein!

The Mazza Fall Conference continues with yet another Calecott winner.  David Ezra Stein confessed that his 2011 Caldecott was inspired by a knock-knock joke.  Maybe you’ve heard it.  It goes: Knock, Knock Who’s there? Interrupting chicken Interrupting chicken…. Bock, Bock, Bock! Perhaps it’s funnier in person. But nothing’s funnier than listening to David Ezra Stein […]

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The Mazza Medallion of Excellence for Artistic Diversity

Isn’t that a mouthful? This evening, artist David Macaulay joined a prestigious list of Medallion recipients which includes Ted Rand, Robert Sabuda, and Paul Zelinsky to name just a few.  With great enthusiasm, Dr. Jerry Mallett welcomed before  a packed house the British-born, architecturally-trained, RISD instructor who introduced young readers to a fresh perspective in informational picture […]

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Let the blogging begin!

So, today begins the Mazza Fall Weekend Institute! And yours truly will be blogging almost-live, up-to-the-minute updates on the action! Can’t wait to watch as David Macaulay is awarded the Mazza Medallion this evening! And tomorrow? Oh, get this – two famous Steads, one amazing Stein, an unforgettable Schmidt, one Muth, and the one and […]

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