Illustrating the Chronicle, Sketching Cornwall’s Stories Over the Years

The Cornwall Library is delighted to present Illustrating the Chronicle, a selection of whimsical illustrations that have appeared in the Cornwall Chronicle from its founding in 1991 to the present.  Former Chronicle president Paul DeAngelis says that he likes to think about the illustrations “as the tone-setting frame for the articles: take them away and you rob the paper of its founding spirit— the wry, often witty commentary that lets us look in the Cornwall mirror and see ourselves from a slight distance.”

With this show, the library celebrates the Chronicle, arguably the monthly infusion that binds the community together. The Chronicle is the product of hard work by volunteers, artists included, laboring in a chaotic creative environment, under deadline. There is a great variety in the art considered—no “Chronicle style” is imposed—and in how it is presented, from ten-to-a-page to one tiny drawing. For all residents, it’s a pleasure to see all the talent in town and enjoy how seasons and events are interpreted.

Creators of those whimsical Chronicle illustrations have all been from Cornwall, either full- or part-time, and have ranged from about age 19 to 90. Several current illustrators have been published in the Chronicle for years. Sometimes, Illustrations Editor Valorie Fisher might approach new illustrator prospects directly or through a recommendation, or they might approach Valorie themselves.  She says “Illustrators choose a month on a first-come basis…usually one illustrator per month. They choose what they would like to draw…sometimes they confer with the monthly editors about upcoming articles, but that is often hard to coordinate with tight schedules and deadlines…every month they eagerly step up!”

Lucky us!

Some but not all of the illustrations on view at the show will be for sale. The Coloring Cornwall and Cornwall Companion books from the Chronicle will also be for sale.

Illustration by Adam Van Doren