My friend, Bill, has the most eclectic collection of treasures and generously shares with me.
Not only was this spectacular, hand printed and autographed scrapbook SO ME, it gave me the opportunity to meet an incredible woman, Gwen Frostic. Wow.This is the signature of one of Michigan’s most famous artists. Her originally-carved block-prints capture glorious scenes of nature which are timeless and unforgettable. Each turn of a page, in any of her books, sends you further into a world of pure natural serenity, and when you finish reading, you may notice that you feel a little calmer than you did before you started. This is at least what Frostic hoped for when she created these prints. She wanted to bring back true feelings from the hearts of her readers that reminded them of the natural wonders of Michigan (of anywhere really).Gwen Frostic (1906-2001) was a remarkable woman who overcame physical limitations (with symptoms similar to cerebral palsy) to make her dreams come true. She loved to create and to be part of nature and used her passions to create greeting cards and artwork that showcased the beauty of nature. Through her work, she helped to raise awareness about the environment and the creatures and plants that she loved.Interestingly, she was nearly 40 years old when she bought a printing press to put in her basement, and began her carving work on linoleum. By the 1950s, she started her business, Presscraft Papers, and people in town were becoming very familiar with her presence because she was the town's lone female business owner. When she published her first book, My Michigan, in 1957, the people loved it and this encouraged the eventual publication of over 20 more books.
Over the years, Gwen had been awarded honorary degrees from many colleges and universities. In 1978, Michigan Governor William Milliken proclaimed May 23rd as Gwen Frostic Day in Michigan, and in 1986 she was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.Long before her death she wrote her epitaph: “Here lies one doubly blessed. She was happy and she knew it.”What a treasure Bill is for introducing me to this unique woman. I have so much to learn about and from her.
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