Orlando Science Center puts you in 'Rockwell's America'

Dewayne Bevil | Theme Park Ranger

August 8, 2008

The best art transports observers to another place, and now Orlando Science Center visitors can stroll right into life-size "paintings" at its "Rockwell's America" exhibit.

Artist Norman Rockwell excelled at capturing moments in time, painting familiar scenes that told a story. Daydreamers can put themselves into the setting, a feat literally possible in the three-dimensional versions of the art in the exhibit.

The first room appropriately centers on a classic scene known as "Triple Self Portrait," where a statue of Rockwell looks into a mirror as he sketches himself. This space is designed to resemble Rockwell's studio and includes artifacts such as his presidential medal of freedom and an explanation of the steps he took to create a magazine cover.

Also prominent is a quote from Rockwell instructor Thomas Fogerty: "Step over the frame, Norman, over the frame and live in the picture." In a clever move, the door frame leading to the next room is decorated with a golden picture frame.

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Inside are three-dimensional displays of Americana: the fishin' hole, the country store, the Model T.

Most entertaining are the exhibits that double as photo opportunities. Crash the date at the soda fountain of "After the Prom" or cuddle on a park bench near the proper gentleman of "Eavesdropping."

These pieces become even more surreal when you stand within them and gain a new perspective on the scenes. If you walk to the front of the classroom in "Happy Birthday Miss Jones," you can see the expressions on the children's faces instead of the backs of their heads.

Although Rockwell's America practically oozes art and history, there's science to absorb too. Timelines show the progression of technology of some scenes. A display of telephones is tied to "The Gossips."

Not everything is life-size. Tiny re-creations of baseball covers are spied through knotholes in a fence.

Conversely, in the military zone of the exhibit, "Rosie the Riveter" is upsized beyond Amazonian proportions sitting on an airplane wing, with her very imposing foot squarely atop a copy of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.

Some of the displays aren't mingle-friendly, but they're still involving. You're on the porch of "Shuffleton's Barbershop," but you can't go in. It's tempting to climb aboard with "Billboard Painter," but don't.

At first, I was disappointed that five covers were combined into one display, but later I appreciated the interwoven grouping of "Traveling Salesman," "Hide Your Eyes," "Gone Fishing," "Vacation" and "Speed Trap." It all takes place in or around water -- but a fence separates visitors from the scene.

In two-dimensional form are Rockwell's famed Four Freedoms series and portraits of three presidents -- Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon. There's also an area that deals with the painter's social consciousness, which manifested itself in works that dealt with racial tension.

The finale is a gallery of every Rockwell Post cover, divvied up by decade. The publications span the years from 1916 to 1963. Taking all of them in -- along with the details -- could be a daunting challenge. I enjoyed scanning for images that weren't highlighted earlier and ones less familiar. A simple but fun one is 1947's "High Dive," which features a young, cowering boy looking into a swimming pool from the board above.

We have awhile to absorb all these timeless Rockwells, but not forever. The exhibit will be here through Oct. 12.

Dewayne Bevil can be reached at 407-420-5477.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com