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Last August I had some fun highlighting The Creative Company’s series of short stories published as individual books.  You know.  The Monkey’s Paw.  The Lottery.  The Most Dangerous Game.  That kind of stuff.  While looking at their covers I couldn’t help but notice that quite a few were done by the artist Etienne Delessert.  Delessert’s one of those creative types you see around and about but perhaps never get a firm grasp on.  You may have seen the Seven Impossible Things post on Delessert in January of 2010.  You may even have come across some of his better known books, like Moon Theater or The Big and Bad.  But until now you’ve just had a vague sense of him.  You know he’s cool, but what do you really know about the guy?

Well recently I discovered that the illustrious Eric Carle Museum (located in scenic and snowy Amherst, MA) is now hosting a one-of-a-kind Etienne Delessert exhibition.  Yep.  Tis true.  Now part of what I love about this, aside from the obvious, is the fact that the exhibit was created in part with the help of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and was organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Abilene, Texas.  I’m a fan of any presentation that constitutes a worldwide effort. And here’s a challenge for you Americans out there: Name me all the Swiss-born authors or illustrators of children’s books you can.  Tough, eh?

The exhibit is described in this way:

This retrospective of Delessert surveys his distinguished career that comprises more than eighty books collectively translated into fourteen languages. From his early collaboration with Eugene Ionesco to surreal and politically-charged interpretations of Big and Bad and Humpty Dumpty, Delessert intrigues his readers, young and old, with his imaginary creatures and landscapes.

Ionesco?  Really?  In that case I think this is the first time I’ve heard of the children’s literature/Ionesco connection.  It’s funny which authors and playwrights choose to write for kids (in a perfect universe I’d love to see something like The Edward Albee Counting Book).  And in case you didn’t believe me:

Not that the exhibit is the only Delessert thing to see at the museum.  There will be showings of the man’s animation as well.  Actually, you can get a taste of it yourself, if you like.  Travel to his website and you’ll find a variety of different videos of Delessert pieces (much of it made for Swiss television).  Some of it looks to me like nothing so much as Terry Gillian’s Monty Python animation if you classed it up and gave it some style.  Observe:

Last August I had some fun highlighting The Creative Company’s series of short stories published as individual books.  You know.  The Monkey’s Paw.  The Lottery.  The Most Dangerous Game.  That kind of stuff.  While looking at their covers I couldn’t help but notice that quite a few were done by the artist Etienne Delessert.  Delessert’s one of those creative types you see around and about but perhaps never get a firm grasp on.  You may have seen the Seven Impossible Things post on Delessert in January of 2010.  You may even have come across some of his better known books, like Moon Theater or The Big and Bad.  But until now you’ve just had a vague sense of him.  You know he’s cool, but what do you really know about the guy?

Well recently I discovered that the illustrious Eric Carle Museum (located in scenic and snowy Amherst, MA) is now hosting a one-of-a-kind Etienne Delessert exhibition.  Yep.  Tis true.  Now part of what I love about this, aside from the obvious, is the fact that the exhibit was created in part with the help of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and was organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Abilene, Texas.  I’m a fan of any presentation that constitutes a worldwide effort. And here’s a challenge for you Americans out there: Name me all the Swiss-born authors or illustrators of children’s books you can.  Tough, eh?

The exhibit is described in this way:

This retrospective of Delessert surveys his distinguished career that comprises more than eighty books collectively translated into fourteen languages. From his early collaboration with Eugene Ionesco to surreal and politically-charged interpretations of Big and Bad and Humpty Dumpty, Delessert intrigues his readers, young and old, with his imaginary creatures and landscapes.

Ionesco?  Really?  In that case I think this is the first time I’ve heard of the children’s literature/Ionesco connection.  It’s funny which authors and playwrights choose to write for kids (in a perfect universe I’d love to see something like The Edward Albee Counting Book).  And in case you didn’t believe me:

Not that the exhibit is the only Delessert thing to see at the museum.  There will be showings of the man’s animation as well.  Actually, you can get a taste of it yourself, if you like.  Travel to his website and you’ll find a variety of different videos of Delessert pieces (much of it made for Swiss television).  Some of it looks to me like nothing so much as Terry Gillian’s Monty Python animation if you classed it up and gave it some style.  Observe: