Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Amherst, Mass.
Juster Pope Frazier

The building exists like a welcoming palette awaiting the artist's brush

© Jim Gipe

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

Inspired by children’s book author and artist Eric Carle, this museum is designed to be a restrained and elegant background to the artwork of his work, as well as the work of visiting artists. Working in collaboration with the architect, Carle brought extraordinary energy, enthusiasm and generosity to the design process. The artists bright colored tissue collages set in stark white backgrounds became the guiding visual for the design language of the museum. The white interior walls are meant to replicate the white space of Carle’s work, setting the stage for the explosive color he uses within.

This concept is illustrated by images of the central atrium space of the building where the artist’s large murals are set within an understated space of white and grey. The exterior draws further on this notion of "whiteness" while coupled with vaulting forms drawn from the hills of the Holyoke range to the south. The museum is located within an old apple orchard adjacent to the campus of Hampshire College. As the trees blossom white in the spring, the museum will have a dialogue with nature that is similar to Carle’s use of nature in his books.

The museum includes a large south facing art studio for classes tailored to children and adults. Faced with a disappearing emphasis on art in public school curricula, the Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation have taken a giant step forward in trying to integrate art into the lives of children, actively seeking to involve local schools within the museum’s activities.

Formal name of Project:
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Location:
Amherst, Mass.

Gross square footage:
43,800 sq ft

Total construction cost:
$11.2 million

Owner:
The Eric and Barbara Carle Foundation

Architect:
Juster Pope Frazier
9 Ashfield Street
Shelburne Falls, Mass. 01370
413 625 2572 phone
413 625 2872 fax
www.justerpopefrazier.com