STOCKBRIDGE — Digital art collectors will be able to purchase the first Norman Rockwell NFT starting November 15th.
The first NFT will feature a curated collection centered around Rockwell’s “Waiting for the Art Editor” (1970), in which two illustrators wait on a sofa in the lobby of a magazine’s art editor. One, new to the craft, was young and sat on the couch, looking optimistic. The other artist, older and more experienced, sits forward and stares into the distance.
“Session 1: Waiting for Art Editor” is part of “.Studio Session: Norman Rockwell Collection” is a multi-part series of limited, non-fungible tokens and print editions celebrating the famous illustrator’s creative process, launched on Wednesday.November 1st. The first round of NFTs will be available for purchase via the Ethereum network on November 15th, with sales purchases by credit card starting on November 16th. rockwell.iconicmoments.co. The price of the NFT has not yet been announced.
“This is something very special,” said Director and CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt. Norman Rockwell Museum. “This allows us to dive into a collection of rarely seen pieces, and for collectors the opportunity to enjoy and own versions of rarely seen items.”
A photographic contact sheet by Peter von Schmidt features Norman Rockwell modeling and working on character expressions for Waiting for the Art Editor (1970) and is available as part of a limited release. , 200 copies each available in print and NFT versions of the NFT series “Studio Sessions: The Norman Rockwell Collection.”
Above: “Waiting for art editor reference photos” by Peter von Schmidt. Norman Rockwell Museum Digital Collection/Norman Rockwell Family Agency. All rights reserved.
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens; It’s a digital marker Associated with digital files. NFTs themselves are stored on the blockchain, similar to cryptographic tokens. NFTs add value to limited edition digital prints because they act as digital certificates of authenticity and can increase the resale value of digital files by guaranteeing authenticity. In February 2022, Post Malone bought two Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, No. 961 and No. 9039, totaling 160 ETH or $734,401.60. At the time, one Ether (a type of cryptocurrency) was worth $4,689. Currently, 1 ETH is equivalent to $1,839.64.
Norton Moffat said entering the NFT marketplace will allow museums to reach collectors and new audiences “who live in a digital world.”
The carefully selected collection includes photographs, drawings, charcoal and paint studies, props and other works. These are part of the museum’s archive of more than 18,000 of Rockwell’s process photographs and drafts from the height of his career.
The “Session 1: Waiting for the Art Editor” collection includes 5 purchase options. Charcoal research (25 available); step-by-step model session photo set (50 available). 2 Rockwell Modeling character expression portraits (50 available). and one contact sheet (200 available) featuring a series of portraits of Rockwell working on paintings in his studio. With each purchase, collectors receive both a limited edition print and a corresponding digital (NFT) collectible that also serves as an on-chain certificate of authenticity.
Images of completed works are owned by various publishers, so NFTs do not feature images. Norton Moffat said Rockwell’s signature, likeness and publishing rights to other works created by the illustrator are held by the Norman Rockwell Family Trust, which works closely with the museum.
Museum’s foray into NFTs — Collaboration between museum and Rockwell family in partnership with digital art platform iconic moment — She said she started about two years ago. Museum board members and members of the Rockwell family had been watching other museum launches and markets for some time, she said, so they brought up the issue at the same time.
“We have worked extremely hard to research and select our partner Iconic,” said Norton Moffat. Iconic His Moments is affiliated with Jackson’s Pollock Studio, the White House Historical Society, and Universal’s Hip Hop Museum.
NFTs not only enable access to museum archives that are normally invisible to all but museum staff and researchers, but also provide new revenue that can be used to facilitate museum management, preservation, and access. It also acts as a source. collection.
“It seemed like a great way to invest back into the collection while still allowing access to it,” she said. In addition to museum buildings and staff, the management of a museum’s collection of paintings and other works includes costs for security, temperature-controlled storage, travel, scholarships, digital storage, and preservation. Not limited.
Norton-Moffat added that NFTs are just the latest platform for illustration work.
“Illustrations always need a publishing platform and are always published in multiple copies. This is a new way of publishing for a new generation of collectors,” Norton Moffat said. “We are very happy to step into the world in a new way.”
