through March 14

The best cartoons rivet public attention to ideas and attitudes. Visual humor can garner public awareness of issues and can sometimes be a catalyst for social change and justice. Laugh Lines: Cartoons and Caricatures from the Collection, features over 50 works by some of the most important illustrators of the 19th and 20th centuries whose works comment on politics, society and ordinary life. Among the artists represented in the exhibition are Thomas Nast, Edward Gorey, Edward Kemble, Rose O'Neill, Barbara Shermund, Peter Arno, Charles Schulz, Mort Walker and many others.

Monday through Thursday at 2 and 3 p.m.  Friday at 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

No tours February 26; March 5, 8, 9, and 26; April 16 and 23.  No tours in August. 

Victoria Wyeth, daughter of Nicholas Wyeth, guides public tours of works by her grandfather, Andrew Wyeth, and by her uncle, Jamie Wyeth. The tours include a discussion of the artists' media, techniques, subject matter and models. Tours at 1 and 2 p.m. will focus on Andrew Wyeth.  Tours at 3 p.m. will focus on Jamie Wyeth.  Free with regular museum admission. 

Tour capacity is limited to 35 people.  Tickets are required and must be picked up in person on the day of the tour at the Brandywine River Museum Shop.  Tickets are issued on a first-come, first served basis.  Individual reservations for tours are not taken in advance.  Please call 610-388-8326 on the morning of your visit as Ms. Wyeth's schedule is subject to change.   Private tours are available for an additional fee; for information, please send an e-mail to specialevents@brandywine.org.

March 20 through May 23, 2010

This exhibition contains many works from and examines N.C. Wyeth’s first solo exhibition, which was held at the Philadelphia Sketch Club in 1912.  In addition to selected illustrations, Wyeth chose to exhibit views of the Chadds Ford countryside done in a variety of impressionist styles.  The works provide a fascinating glimpse into an early phase of Wyeth’s artistic development.  The exhibition is organized in conjunction with the Philadelphia Sketch Club in honor of the 150th anniversary of its founding. 

Families are invited to a day of art and reading adventures.  Activities include guided tours of the exhibition Drawing from a Story: Illustrations by Selected Caldecott Winners, Read-Aloud stories, animated versions of Maurice Sendak’s books (Into the Night Kitchen, Where the Wild Things Are, and Chicken Soup with Rice) and hands-on art projects. No pre-registration is required. The program is free with regular museum admission; free for members and children under 6. For information contact the education office at 610-388-8382 or education@brandywine.org.

David Wiesner, who has received the Caldecott Medal three times, will sign copies of his books, including Flotsam, The Three Pigs, and Tuesday.  Books will be available for purchase in the Museum Shop.  Free for members and included with museum admission.

April 17 - July 11

 Combining a masterful technique with sly, witty historical and personal references, John Haberle (1856-1933) created trompe l’oeil paintings astonishing in their detail and precision.  Although he is considered one of the most accomplished 19th century American trompe l’oeil painters, he achieved only brief recognition in his lifetime. This exhibition, organized by the New Britain Museum of American Art, features nearly 20 paintings and drawings from museum collections across the country, including the Brandywine River Museum. Along with its accompanying illustrated catalogue, the exhibition offers a fresh and comprehensive view of this unique, inventive artist. The exhibition is supported by The Henry Luce Foundation, Inc., and its presentation at the Brandywine River Museum is made possible by Bank of America.

Toward the end of the 18th century, portraits of a single eye of a loved one became fashionable among the British nobility and aristocracy, a trend that soon spread all over Europe.  Given as a token of affection, this unusual type of portraiture was most often painted in watercolor on ivory and mounted in jewelry, such as pins, brooches, lockets, and bracelets.  This exhibition will present over 30 eye portraits, all from the collection of artist Jamie Wyeth.

The Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy invite volunteers to help us celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by cleaning up the banks of the Brandywine River. Volunteers will gather at 9 am and work in teams along a 10- mile stretch of the river from the Lenape Bridge in West Chester to the Thompson’s Bridge in Delaware. Volunteers are advised to wear long pants, heavy shoes or boots, gloves and sun screen.   Lunch will be served at the Environmental Management Center immediately following the clean up.

For more information or to register, please contact the Young Friends at 610-388- 8315 or send an e-mail to ksmith@brandywine.org or visit www.youngfriends.org.

Celebrate Earth Day at the Laurels Preserve by helping to pull garlic mustard, an invasive species that displaces native vegetation.  Meet at the Laurels parking lot  Please call Elissa Kall at 610-388-8340 to register.

Join Brandywine Conservancy staff on a spring warbler walk through the Laurels Preserve.  Meet at the Laurels parking lot.  Please call Elissa Kall at 610-388-8340 to register.

Join local botanist Janet Ebert on a spring wildflower walk through the Laurels Preserve.  Meet at the Laurels parking lot.  Please call Elissa Kall at 610-388-8340 to register.

Join Brandywine Conservancy staff for an informational hike in the Laurels Preserve.   This is your chance to ask questions about management techniques at the preserve and how you can apply them to your property.  Meet at the Laurels parking lot.  Please call Elissa Kall at 610-388-8340 to register.