August 2, 2004
Let it snow for Cancer's Cure
Children's book illustrators decorate snowflakes to benefit cancer research
Exclusive and original pieces of artwork, wooden snowflakes beautifully decorated by nearly 200 children's book illustrators, will be auctioned online via eBay through robertssnow.com in November and December in Robert's Snow: for Cancer's Cure.
he well-known and award-winning artists have free reign to use the snowflake templates however they want in this unique fundraiser where 100 percent of the proceeds will go to support cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Some of the five-inch snowflakes have been used as a sculpture, while others are hand-painted. Many of the characters or styles of these popular and famous illustrators are immediately recognizable.
"While the snowflakes are not large in size," says the event's organizer, Grace Lin, "their impact will be immeasurable."
The idea for Robert's Snow was spawned when Lin, a children's book author and illustrator, was newly married only to find out that her husband had been diagnosed with cancer. She never imagined newlywed life to include surgery and months of chemotherapy. Lin was overwhelmed with the news, but she focused her emotions creatively and, while her husband, Robert, was bedridden during the winter months, she began telling him a story about a mouse that couldn't go outside. Her story grew into a children's book, called Robert's Snow, and Robert's health began to improve. Just as Lin was finishing the artwork, Robert had a relapse. Using the news of her husband's cancer as a catalyst, Lin rallied her colleagues to create Robert's Snow: for Cancer's Cure.
"I never realized how many famous artists I knew or could get in touch with. I'm sure your readers have their books at home on their shelves," Lin says. "We have nearly 200 illustrators — a lot of them are Caldecott winners, like Chris Van Allsburg (The Polar Express, Jumanjii) and David Shannon (No, David). Even Pulitzer-prize winning Jules Feiffer (The Phantom Tollbooth, written by Norton Juster) agreed to do one!"
Popular illustrator, Jarett Krosoczka (Max for President) is really excited about the project. "This whole thing is really great," he says. "The idea that you can own an original by the person who did the pictures in Harry Potter or Olivia is exciting. And it's for such a good cause," Krosoczka adds.
The snowflakes will be auctioned off online at www.robertssnow.com starting Oct. 31 and lasting through Dec. 12. The snowflakes can be viewed at www.robertssnow.com, and also at any one of the traveling exhibits. These include: The Child at Heart Gallery at 48 Inn Street in Newburyport, Mass. from Sept. 1 - Oct. 4; The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road Amherst, Mass., from Nov. 1 Dec. 12; and at The Society of Illustrators Member's Gallery, 128th East 63rd Street in New York City from Nov. 9 - Nov. 24.
Recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the world's leaders in cancer research and care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston is renowned for its unique blending of basic and clinical research, and for using its discoveries to improve cancer treatment for children and adults around the world.
