Art at the Library
Rockwell
Norman Rockwell illustrated 322 covers for The Saturday Evening Post over the course of his career. When a collection of 225 original Post magazines featuring his covers became available, Greendale resident and lifetime Rockwell admirer Roy Reiman immediately purchased them for the enjoyment of Greendale residents and visitors. To make this collection unique, Roy commissioned an artist in London, England, to create a life-size wax figure display of Norman painting his famous Triple Self-portrait (with real hair!).
In 2014 the collection was installed in the Greendale Community Learning Center at the suggestion of a Greendale employee. Prints of the missing 97 covers were added and hung in chronological order with the originals above the bookshelves. The Triple Self-portrait display is also inside the Learning Center.
The magazine cover collection originated from The Norman Rockwell Museum of Art, formerly located in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Roy acquired the collection of covers when the museum closed. The remainder of the museum’s memorabilia including almost 4,000 original calendars, story illustrations and advertisements has been variously housed in the Voyageur Inn and Conference Center in Reedsburg and the Reedsburg Historical Society.
The Reedsburg museum never owned an original Norman Rockwell painting, nor was Rockwell from Wisconsin. In fact, Rockwell has no historical connection to Greendale other than painting pictures that exemplify the small-town values and picturesque scenery that make this place special.
Jim Treutelaar Mobiles
In 1992 the Greendale Woman's Club purchased 3 mobiles for the new library from Oconomowoc sculptor and high school physics teacher Jim Treutelaar.