Lindsey McDivitt - Natures Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story
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- Book:Natures Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story
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The art and writing of Gwen Frostic are well known in her home state of Michigan and around the world, but this picture book biography tells the story behind Gwens famous work. After a debilitating illness as a child, Gwen sought solace in art and nature. She learned to be persistent and independent--never taking no for an answer or letting her disabilities define her. After creating artwork for famous Detroiters and for display at the Worlds Fair and helping to build WWII bombers, Gwen moved her printmaking business to northern Michigan. She dedicated her work and her life to reminding people of the wonder and beauty in nature. |This picture book biography tells the story behind Gwen Frostics famous work. After a debilitating illness as a child, Gwen sought solace in art and nature. She learned to be persistent and independent--never taking no for an answer or letting her disabilities define her. She dedicated her work and her life to reminding people of the wonder and beauty in nature.
Lindsey McDivitt: author's other books
Who wrote Natures Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story? Find out the surname, the name of the author of the book and a list of all author's works by series.
Lindsey McDivitt
Kristen Ashley
Celia Paul
Gwen Ellis
Gwen Mouliert
nancy Jorgensen
Gwen Cooper
Adshead Gwen
Gwen Moffat [Moffat
Gwen Harwood
Gwen Raverat
Gwen Hayes
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Table of Contents
Guide
G
wen followed her brothers and sisters everywhere, like a
small fawn follows its herd. They roamed the woods and fields
near Croswelltheir tiny town tucked into the thumb of Michigan.
Gwen played and picked wildflowers. But her hands were weakened
from an illness as a baby. Her speech was slurred, one small foot
dragged, and she fell down often.
small fawn follows its herd. They roamed the woods and fields
near Croswelltheir tiny town tucked into the thumb of Michigan.
Gwen played and picked wildflowers. But her hands were weakened
from an illness as a baby. Her speech was slurred, one small foot
dragged, and she fell down often.
She bumped her shins.
She bruised her knees.
She banged her elbows.
She bruised her knees.
She banged her elbows.
Gwen doesnt need your help, Helen, Mama called from the
porch. Mama knew Gwen could do whatever she put her mind to.
porch. Mama knew Gwen could do whatever she put her mind to.
I never knew I couldnt do something.
Gwen Frostic
Gwen was born in 1906 and at that time, a
child with disabilities usually stayed home.
But Mama had been a teachershe sent
Gwen to school and pushed her to learn.
child with disabilities usually stayed home.
But Mama had been a teachershe sent
Gwen to school and pushed her to learn.
In class, Gwen hated the glances and giggles.
She hated the whispers. And, most of all, she
hated that the only things other students
seemed to notice were the things that made
her different. It made her want to hide like a
frightened chipmunk. But instead, Gwen
gathered up knowledge like a bird builds a nest.
She hated the whispers. And, most of all, she
hated that the only things other students
seemed to notice were the things that made
her different. It made her want to hide like a
frightened chipmunk. But instead, Gwen
gathered up knowledge like a bird builds a nest.
Gwen was bright, but her hands were weak. Her
teachers said she would never learn to write.
Mama stuffed a drawer with art supplies and
encouraged Gwen to use her hands. Gwen pulled
out a pencil and pad of paper. Like a new leaf
stretching for the sun, she reached for new skills.
teachers said she would never learn to write.
Mama stuffed a drawer with art supplies and
encouraged Gwen to use her hands. Gwen pulled
out a pencil and pad of paper. Like a new leaf
stretching for the sun, she reached for new skills.
Her hands worked extra hard. She sketched
and scribbled. She doodled and drew. Gwens
grip grew stronger and stronger.
and scribbled. She doodled and drew. Gwens
grip grew stronger and stronger.
Gwen loved learning, but trying to make friends could leave
her feeling as prickly as a porcupine. Nature felt like a friend,
pulling her out to play. With so much to discover, Gwen
didnt have time to feel lonely.
her feeling as prickly as a porcupine. Nature felt like a friend,
pulling her out to play. With so much to discover, Gwen
didnt have time to feel lonely.
Swaying grasses whispered in fields thick with Queen
Annes lace.
Annes lace.
Tiny ferns unfurled at her feet.
Frogs lapped up bugs with long, quick tongues.
Gwen breathed it all in. She listened to their message.
all things are vital to the universe
all are equaland at oncedifferent.
all are equaland at oncedifferent.
Gwen Frostic, Beyond Time
When Gwen was 12, her family moved to the edge of Detroit.
They rode the streetcar into the big city and gazed up at the
Woolworth and Ford buildings. Long walks to Grosse Ile brought
Gwen close to the nature she loved so dearly.
They rode the streetcar into the big city and gazed up at the
Woolworth and Ford buildings. Long walks to Grosse Ile brought
Gwen close to the nature she loved so dearly.
She was learning it was all right to be different, and high
school brought new challenges. However, Gwen knew she could
do anything she put her mind to and her hands, now strong
and sure, reached for paintbrushes and paint.
school brought new challenges. However, Gwen knew she could
do anything she put her mind to and her hands, now strong
and sure, reached for paintbrushes and paint.
She was unafraid to tackle tools and skills reserved for boys.
Gwen signed up for mechanical drawinglearning to use rulers
and compasses to draw machinesand the men squawked like
angry blue jays.
Gwen signed up for mechanical drawinglearning to use rulers
and compasses to draw machinesand the men squawked like
angry blue jays.
But in shop class, her skills with a band saw impressed her
classmates. Bzzzz .
classmates. Bzzzz .
In art school, Gwen discovered something
newlinoleum, a rubbery material used for
floors. Gwen grasped a sharp tool and worked
hard to cut out a picture in the surface of the
linoleum, carving it slowly and carefully. She
rolled ink along the surface of the block and
then gently pressed a clean sheet of paper to it.
newlinoleum, a rubbery material used for
floors. Gwen grasped a sharp tool and worked
hard to cut out a picture in the surface of the
linoleum, carving it slowly and carefully. She
rolled ink along the surface of the block and
then gently pressed a clean sheet of paper to it.
Her brush, her pencil and
her pen will make this
world a better place!
her pen will make this
world a better place!
In Gwens high school yearbook
Gwen dreamed of life as an artist. But in
order to earn enough money to live, she knew
she would need to start a businessthough that
wasnt easy for a woman back then.
order to earn enough money to live, she knew
she would need to start a businessthough that
wasnt easy for a woman back then.
One day, squaring her small shoulders, Gwen
hopped on a bus to collect new art materials.
She hauled home heavy loads of copper and brass.
hopped on a bus to collect new art materials.
She hauled home heavy loads of copper and brass.
Pounding away in Mamas basement, she
hammered the metal into clocks, a sundial, and
a fireplace screen decorated with dragons. The
banging and clanging bounced off the cellar walls.
hammered the metal into clocks, a sundial, and
a fireplace screen decorated with dragons. The
banging and clanging bounced off the cellar walls.
At first only Gwens family cheered her creations, but word of
her art was spreading across Detroit like a wildfire. Clara Ford,
wife of automaker Henry Ford, ordered Gwens copper vases for
Fair Lane, their grand estate. In 1939, Gwen was invited to send
her art to the Worlds Fair in New York. She felt like a bird on
the first day of spring.
her art was spreading across Detroit like a wildfire. Clara Ford,
wife of automaker Henry Ford, ordered Gwens copper vases for
Fair Lane, their grand estate. In 1939, Gwen was invited to send
her art to the Worlds Fair in New York. She felt like a bird on
the first day of spring.
Soon war broke out in Europe and the copper and brass Gwen
loved to use disappearedall metal went to manufacturing
equipment for the armies overseas. She wanted to lend a hand.
loved to use disappearedall metal went to manufacturing
equipment for the armies overseas. She wanted to lend a hand.
Gwen knew she could do whatever she put her mind to. She
marched into the Ford Motor Company and signed up to build
bombers. Fords famous assembly line now produced a plane every
hour. Using the mechanical drawing skills she had learned, Gwen
designed tools for building the airplanes that were desperately
needed for fighting in the war far away.
marched into the Ford Motor Company and signed up to build
bombers. Fords famous assembly line now produced a plane every
hour. Using the mechanical drawing skills she had learned, Gwen
designed tools for building the airplanes that were desperately
needed for fighting in the war far away.
All the day long, whether rain or shine,
Shes a part of the assembly line.
Shes making history, working for victory,
Rosie, brrrrrrrrr , the Riveter.
Shes a part of the assembly line.
Shes making history, working for victory,
Rosie, brrrrrrrrr , the Riveter.
Lyrics to Rosie the Riveter by Redd Evans & John Jacob Loeb (1943)
Gwens days were filled with the roar of
machinery and the clang of construction.
But in the quiet evenings she still longed to
create art. She reached again for linoleum.
She bought a printing press and launched
Presscraft Papers stationery company.
machinery and the clang of construction.
But in the quiet evenings she still longed to
create art. She reached again for linoleum.
She bought a printing press and launched
Presscraft Papers stationery company.
Clickety CLACK,
clickety CLACK,
clickety CLACK.
clickety CLACK,
clickety CLACK.
Gwen joined the small ranks of female
business owners.
business owners.
But something was missing from Gwens
city life, and nature called to her like a friend.
She pictured the wild north she loved so much
windblown trees, crashing waves, a great blue
heron perched at the edge of a pond.
city life, and nature called to her like a friend.
She pictured the wild north she loved so much
windblown trees, crashing waves, a great blue
heron perched at the edge of a pond.
She packed up her press and moved with
her dog, Teddy, to the top of Michigans mitten.
her dog, Teddy, to the top of Michigans mitten.
On her way to Lake Michigans Betsie Bay, Gwen walked
through Frankforts tiny downtown. Her new neighbors definitely
noticed Gwen and her dirty hands and ink-stained dress. They
wondered why she and Teddy lingered so long at the swamp.
through Frankforts tiny downtown. Her new neighbors definitely
noticed Gwen and her dirty hands and ink-stained dress. They
wondered why she and Teddy lingered so long at the swamp.
I work with nature
because it treats me equally.
because it treats me equally.
Gwen Frostic
She walked deep into the wetlands.
When Gwen sat quietly with her pad and pencil,
as still as a watchful fox:
She seemed to hear music.
She sensed magic.
She witnessed small miracles.
When Gwen sat quietly with her pad and pencil,
as still as a watchful fox:
She seemed to hear music.
She sensed magic.
She witnessed small miracles.
Gwen wanted others to see nature as she did, to recognize the value
of plants, trees, and animals.
of plants, trees, and animals.
So she chipped and chiseled and cutcarving linoleum away until
her designs stood out:
her designs stood out:
A red-winged blackbird teetered at the top of a cattail.
Graceful golden branches peeked through soft snow.
A fat toad took shelter in tall grasses.
Graceful golden branches peeked through soft snow.
A fat toad took shelter in tall grasses.
Her linoleum blocks were ready for printing. Gwen ran them through
her presses, and soon her new greeting cards were ready to sell.
her presses, and soon her new greeting cards were ready to sell.
I do a pencil sketch from life
animals, birds, plantstrace it on the
block and excise it for the press.
Every vein in every leaf is true to life.
animals, birds, plantstrace it on the
block and excise it for the press.
Every vein in every leaf is true to life.
Gwen Frostic
Gwens art reminded everyone of natures beauty
and importance at a time when many people had
forgotten. Lakes, plants, and animals were in
troublethreatened by pollution.
and importance at a time when many people had
forgotten. Lakes, plants, and animals were in
troublethreatened by pollution.
But like a fresh breeze through the birch trees,
Gwens work whispered truths about meadows
and marshes. Across Michigan and around the
world, people listened. Visitors flocked to her
shop in the forest.
Gwens work whispered truths about meadows
and marshes. Across Michigan and around the
world, people listened. Visitors flocked to her
shop in the forest.
For many years, Gwen worked hard in her
studio, surrounded by the woods and wetlands
she loved. She was determined to show others
that nature was worth protecting and enjoying.
studio, surrounded by the woods and wetlands
she loved. She was determined to show others
that nature was worth protecting and enjoying.
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