I very much appreciate the reviewers who having been posting their thoughts on my book about Norman Rockwell and people of color. I was so moved by the comments of one reviewer that I thought I would share them with you. I welcome your adding your thoughts.


Cordially,
Jane

NORMAN ROCKWELL'S VISION OF AMERICA -- REVISITING WHAT YOU THINK YOU SAW
Marilyn Armstrong, February 6, 2014
Amazon Review of Hidden in Plain Sight: The Other People in Norman Rockwell's America

This beautifully written book about Norman Rockwell, the artist and his work focuses on the non-white children and adults who are his legacy. The book will be an eye-opener for many readers despite the fact that anyone who goes to the Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts ... or seriously looks at Rockwell's body of work can easily see that Norman Rockwell never portrayed a purely white America. This country's non-white population have always been there, even when he had to more or less sneak them in by the side door.

These people -- Black people, Native Americans and others -- are not missing. Rockwell was passionate about civil rights and integration. It was his life's cause, near and dear to his heart. It is merely that the non-white peoples in his pictures have been overlooked, become invisible via a form of highly effective selective vision. Despite their presence, many people choose to focus on the vision of white America and eliminate the rest of the picture. Literally.

The author tells the story not only of Rockwell's journey and battle to be allowed to paint his vision of America, but also of the people who modeled for him, both as children and adults. She has sought out these people and talked to them, getting their first-hand experiences with the artist.

It's a fascinating story and I loved it from the first word to the last.