The collection began in 1982 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Findlay College.  Each academic division was given $2,000 to create a special event for the year.  For the division of Teacher Education, Dr. Jerry Mallett proposed starting a collection of children’s book artwork and bringing in an internationally recognized children’s illustrator/author to speak.   “I thought it would be nice to have something, not just for that year, but something permanent that would benefit the institution, the community and our majors on a permanent basis, “ Mallett said. Expenses for the dedication of the collection quickly exceeded the initial $2,000 Mallett recalled.   “We needed more money, and we went to two of our alumni who have been very supportive of past cultural events, August (’41) and the late Aleda (Pfost ’41) Mazza.  Through their farsightedness and generosity, we were able to establish the Mazza Collection,” he said.   Four pieces valued at $1,700 comprised the original collection. Mallett’s goal, as stated at the dedication, was to add one new piece a year.  From the initial donation of the Mazzas for the first four works of art, the Mazza Museum has grown to more than 7,800 original illustrations.   “However, size is not the primary aspect,” Mallett claimed.  “Of more importance are the activities we are developing with the educational programs and the consequent involvement of adults and children in our collection.”    

 

In the ensuing years of its existence, the number of pictures in the gallery has increased to more than 7,700.  In 1994, the Mazza Museum was moved to its permanent home in the Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion.   It soon became apparent that the art and the corresponding educational activities needed additional space.  Therefore, a building addition campaign was begun in the fall of 2003.  Two years later (2005) our campaign exceeded its goal of $2,200,000 by over $200,000.  Ground breaking began in the spring of 2006 and the dedication of the building addition was held in 2007, the 25th anniversary of our Mazza Museum.  This phenomenal growth of the Mazza Museum is the result of the generosity of the community and, specifically, to the continuing, enthusiastic efforts of so many people. The artists included in the Mazza Museum were selected because of the high quality of picture books they have written and/or illustrated.  Many of these artists have won honors including the Caldecott Medal, the Newbery Medal, The Golden Kite Award, the Kate Greenaway Medal and, of course, the Mazza Medallion.  Their artwork represents much diversity in art styles including realistic, impressionistic, expressionistic, cartoon, surrealistic, and folk art.  A wide range of media is also represented through these artists.  Media such as paints, collage, photography, paper-cut, plasticine, cross-stitching, and numerous graphic techniques, such as wood cut, lino cut, etching, wood engraving, potato print, and collagraph, were all expertly used to blend with the total formats of their picture books.

art by Steven Kellogg

art by Jim Arnosky