News Release

San Francisco - Visitors are invited to journey through the drawings and books of Caldecott Medal winning illustrator David Small in an exhibition opening in the San Francisco Main Library's Jewett Gallery on Thursday, July 11. This exhibition, which includes original watercolors, colored pencil and pen and ink drawings showcasing the artist's intriguing perspective and meticulous attention to detail, is certain to appeal to people of all ages.

A David Small World will be on view through September 1, 2002.

Organized by the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature in Abilene, Texas, the exhibition includes 63 framed works from 14 of his books and a self-portrait from Wings of an Artist. Drawings from such popular works as Eulalie and the Hopping Head (1982), Imogene's Antlers (1985), George Washington's Cows (1994), The Gardener (1997) and So You Want to Be President? (2000) are included in the exhibition.

Mr. Small received the 2001 Caldecott Medal for So You Want to Be President? and Caldecott Honors for several books, including Imogene's Antlers and The Gardener. Four of his most popular picture books were written by his wife, Sarah Stewart. Their book, The Gardener, was the recipient of 17 awards, including the Christopher Medal and the 1998 Caldecott Honor Award.

David Small grew up in Detroit, studied art and English at Wayne State University and completed his graduate studies in art at Yale. Of his beginnings as an artist, David says, "As a child, Detroit is not where I would have lived given the choice. Then I would much rather have lived in Candy Land. But the fact is Detroit - a harsh industrial city - made art and music all the more sweet in my life, more urgent and more of a necessity. Seen in that light, Detroit was the perfect place for me to grow up."

The exhibition opening on Thursday, July 11th will include a reception in the Latino Hispanic Community Meeting Room at 5:30 p.m., followed by a special program with artist David Small and author Sarah Stewart in the Koret Auditorium. These programs are free and open to the public. Book sales and a book signing will be sponsored by Book Bay at the Main.

Additional programs related to A David Small World exhibition include storytelling and a book signing by David Small and Sarah Stewart at the Sunset Branch on Saturday, July 13 from 4-5:30 p.m. Walter the Giant will read from David Small books at the Main Library's Fisher Children's Center on Tuesday, July 16 at 2:00 p.m.

All programs at the San Francisco Public Library are free.

For more information, please call: (415) 557-4277.