The Rosenbach Museum & Library Names New Building
In Honor Of World-Renowned Artist Maurice Sendak

For immediate release
APRIL 2, 2003 - Philadelphia, PA - Rosenbach Museum & Library Chairman Sheldon Hackney announced Tuesday night the naming of its new building after celebrated children's book author/illustrator Maurice Sendak. The announcement, which comes one day prior to the museum's grand re-opening following an extensive five-year renovation and expansion project, was made at a private preview for the Rosenbach's Board of Trustees and several dozen of Sendak's close friends. The new building, located at 2008 DeLancey Place, is adjacent to the existing historic Rosenbach home and will henceforth be known as The Maurice Sendak Building at the Rosenbach Museum & Library.

         Maurice Sendak's relationship with the Rosenbach began in the 1950s with his exploration of the museum's Herman Melville collection, long one of his own great collecting interests. His fondness for the museum grew with the Rosenbach's acquisition of the complete papers of modernist poet Marianne Moore in the late 1960s. Moore, a friend and one-time neighbor of Sendak, later bequeathed the contents of her Greenwich Village living room to the museum, where it has been reconstructed as a permanent exhibit. In the 1970s, Sendak began placing his original drawings and manuscripts with the Rosenbach, which now preserves some 7,000 drawings and other works representing over fifty books spanning the artist's career. He additionally serves on the Board of Trustees.

         "Maurice Sendak brings together so many aspects of the Rosenbach's work and represents the epitome of our mission: making great literary and artistic collections accessible through public exhibitions and educational programs," said Rosenbach Chairman Sheldon Hackney. "Maurice's considerable investment of time and energy, his entrusting us with his work and collections, and his financial support, make it a pleasurable duty to affix his name to our new building."

         The first exhibition to be held in the new Maurice Sendak Building, Let the Wild Rumpus Start!, is also the first to feature all of the original drawings for Sendak's 1963 classic, Where the Wild Things Are. Cherished by tens of millions of readers since its publication, Where the Wild Things Are is perhaps the single most influential children's book of the twentieth century. In addition to featuring the final drawings, Let the Wild Rumpus Start! explores the making of Where the Wild Things Are through a selection of manuscripts, preliminary sketches, alternate drawings, and early printed editions. The exhibition celebrates the publication's 40th anniversary and Sendak's 75th birthday.

         Sendak is both a noted creator and collector. The Rosenbach is proud to inaugurate a new Maurice Sendak gallery devoted to these poles of his life with An Infinitude of Mouses, an exhibition featuring historic Mickey Mouse memorabilia from the artist's own collection.

         One of the best-loved creators of contemporary children's books, Sendak has authored and illustrated 84 books in a career spanning nearly seven decades. The themes and illustrations that characterize Sendak's work have challenged the norms of children's literature over time and continue to entrance both children and adults to this day. His innovative technique and honest portrayal of childhood emotion are celebrated worldwide and have earned him several prestigious honors, including the Caldecott Book Medal (1964), the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal (1970), the National Medal of Arts (1996), a Library of Congress "Living Legend" medal (2000), and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature (2003).

         The Rosenbach is holding a Public Open House for Let the Wild Rumpus Start! on Thursday, April 3 , 5:30-7:30pm, as well as a Family Opening on Sunday, April 6, 2-4pm. Both events are free and will include a special Wild Thing appearance.