Gerald McDermott
Encyclopedia
Gerald McDermott is an award-winning filmmaker, children’s book author & illustrator as well as an expert on mythology
. His work often combines bright colors and styles with ancient imagery. His picture books encompass folktales and cultures from all around the world.
, the museum in his hometown. There was basic art instruction in the morning and then students were encouraged to sketch from the various collections of the museum.
In elementary and middle school he continued to sketch and paint, acted in a weekly radio program, and he studied ballet as well as music. All of these creative experiences would help McDermott create animated films and books later in life.
McDermott continued his education at Cass Technical, a public high school for the gifted with a notable art program. In 1959 he was awarded a National Scholastic Scholarship to the Pratt Institute
of Design in New York City. As an extracurricular summer project McDermott decided to produce an animated film and chose The Stonecutter
, a story he had loved as a child. McDermott conducted extensive research into the cultures and customs of the story's origins. In 1962 during his junior year at Pratt McDermott took a leave of absence to work as a graphic designer for WNET, a New York educational television channel. He also produced several animated pieces for The Electric Company on PBS. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt in 1964.
He produced three more short films soon after graduation Sunflight in 1966, Anansi the Spider
in 1969, and The Magic Tree in 1970. In 1970 George Nicholson, a children's book editor, contacted McDermott and suggested adapting his films into picture books. In 1972 McDermott published his first illustrated retelling of a folktale, Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti. The Magic Tree and Arrow to the Sun
soon followed in picture book form. Arrow to the Sun, released in 1974, was also developed simultaneously in film and would be McDermott's last animated film.
In the 1980s he published two books that paid homage to the traditions of his Irish
heritage: Daniel O'Rourke and Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk. During this time he also illustrated some books written by Marianna Mayer. In the early 1990s McDermott began working on a series of trickster tales and two works of mythological creation stories.
of literature that recount the adventures, and misadventures, of well-known folk figures. The main characters sometimes devote their energy towards constructive goals but often have selfish motives. They usually succeed, but sometimes are self-defeating or become victims. McDermott himself said: "...tales of the trickster still speak to us in a gentle, humorous way about the strengths and weaknesses of humankind."
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
. His work often combines bright colors and styles with ancient imagery. His picture books encompass folktales and cultures from all around the world.
Biography
McDermott's parents supported the arts and encouraged his love of reading. McDermott began studying art at the age of four when he started taking Saturday workshops at the Detroit Institute of ArtsDetroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is a renowned art museum in the city of Detroit. In 2003, the DIA ranked as the second largest municipally owned museum in the United States, with an art collection valued at more than one billion dollars...
, the museum in his hometown. There was basic art instruction in the morning and then students were encouraged to sketch from the various collections of the museum.
In elementary and middle school he continued to sketch and paint, acted in a weekly radio program, and he studied ballet as well as music. All of these creative experiences would help McDermott create animated films and books later in life.
McDermott continued his education at Cass Technical, a public high school for the gifted with a notable art program. In 1959 he was awarded a National Scholastic Scholarship to the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
of Design in New York City. As an extracurricular summer project McDermott decided to produce an animated film and chose The Stonecutter
The Stonecutter
The Stonecutter is a Chinese folklore of unknown authorship. It is closely related to the themes of The Fisherman and His Wife, a well known fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. In the legend, a poor stonecutter takes notice of the lifestyles of those from higher in the social hierarchy and...
, a story he had loved as a child. McDermott conducted extensive research into the cultures and customs of the story's origins. In 1962 during his junior year at Pratt McDermott took a leave of absence to work as a graphic designer for WNET, a New York educational television channel. He also produced several animated pieces for The Electric Company on PBS. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt in 1964.
He produced three more short films soon after graduation Sunflight in 1966, Anansi the Spider
Anansi
Anansi the trickster is a spider, and is one of the most important characters of West African and Caribbean folklore.He is also known as Ananse, Kwaku Ananse, and Anancy; and in the Southern United States he has evolved into Aunt Nancy. He is a spider, but often acts and appears as a man...
in 1969, and The Magic Tree in 1970. In 1970 George Nicholson, a children's book editor, contacted McDermott and suggested adapting his films into picture books. In 1972 McDermott published his first illustrated retelling of a folktale, Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti. The Magic Tree and Arrow to the Sun
Arrow to the Sun
Arrow to the Sun is a 1973 short film and a 1974 book, both by Gerald McDermott. The book was printed in gouache and ink, and won the 1975 Caldecott Medal for illustration...
soon followed in picture book form. Arrow to the Sun, released in 1974, was also developed simultaneously in film and would be McDermott's last animated film.
In the 1980s he published two books that paid homage to the traditions of his Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
heritage: Daniel O'Rourke and Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk. During this time he also illustrated some books written by Marianna Mayer. In the early 1990s McDermott began working on a series of trickster tales and two works of mythological creation stories.
Awards
- 1972 Anansi the SpiderAnansiAnansi the trickster is a spider, and is one of the most important characters of West African and Caribbean folklore.He is also known as Ananse, Kwaku Ananse, and Anancy; and in the Southern United States he has evolved into Aunt Nancy. He is a spider, but often acts and appears as a man...
received a Caldecott Honor - 1974 Arrow to the SunArrow to the SunArrow to the Sun is a 1973 short film and a 1974 book, both by Gerald McDermott. The book was printed in gouache and ink, and won the 1975 Caldecott Medal for illustration...
received a Caldecott MedalCaldecott MedalThe Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English... - 1993 Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest received the Caldecott Honor and Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award
- 1997 Musicians of the Sun received recognition from the American Orff-Schulwerk Association
- 1999 American Orff-Schulwerk Association Advocate
Trickster tales
Trickster tales are a traditional formFolklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
of literature that recount the adventures, and misadventures, of well-known folk figures. The main characters sometimes devote their energy towards constructive goals but often have selfish motives. They usually succeed, but sometimes are self-defeating or become victims. McDermott himself said: "...tales of the trickster still speak to us in a gentle, humorous way about the strengths and weaknesses of humankind."
- 1980 Papagayo: The Mischief Maker (a Brazilian folktale)
- 1992 Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa
- 1993 Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest
- 1994 Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest
- 2001 Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon
- 2009 Pig-Boy: A Trickster Tale from Hawai'i
Illustration works
- 1985 Alley Oop! by Marianna Mayer
- 1987 The Brambleberrys Animal Book of Big & Small Shapes by Marianna Mayer
- 1991 The Brambleberry's Animal Alphabet by Marianna Mayer
- 1991 The Brambleberry's Animal Book of Colors by Marianna Mayer