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When Ludwig Bemelmans was 19 years old, he was stationed as a Private at Fort Ontario. The year was 1917. At the time he hadn’t even thought of becoming a writer or a painter; that would come later when in 1939 Ludwig Bemelmans first copyrighted the Madeline story.
By the end of the 1950s, the Madeline stories were everywhere. In celebration of Bemelmans’ deployment to Fort Ontario in 1917, the Art Association of Oswego is hosting an art show of local artwork showing Madeline at a location in Oswego. Entries for the show are open to persons of all ages in a variety of mediums. The show will run from May 13-21 in the gallery of the Oswego Civic Arts Center in conjunction with the Bemelmans Festival.
All artwork submitted can be no larger than 16’ x 20 “, mounted on poster board no larger than 18” x 24”. Information that needs to be included on the back of the artwork includes: name, address, phone number, artist age (optional). Completed artwork should be delivered to the Art Association in the Oswego Civic Arts Center on Saturday, May 6 from 10 am to noon or Sunday, May 7, 1-4 pm. For more information about the Art Show contact Laurie Kester of the Art Association, 315-343-6599.
The Bemelmans Festival is being organized by the Art Association of Oswego, Oswego Players, Safe Haven Museum, Friends of Fort Ontario, Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Children’s Museum and Oswego Y. A variety of activities are scheduled through the time of the Festival including a walking tour of buildings still standing at the Fort mentioned by Bemelmans in his book, “My War With The United States” on Wednesday, May 17 at 7 pm; the world premiere of the adaptation of the book for the stage by the Oswego Players, on May 13, 14, 19, 20, 21; KiteFest, a band concert, children’s parade, storytelling, games and band concert all at the Fort Ontario Park on Saturday, May 20.
For more information about the Bemelmans Festival, contact Rick Sivers, 315-312-0111.
