What do Norman Rockwell, Bradford and the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford have in common?

They all have special places in the hearts of Jack and Martha
Mackowski Campbell. The Campbells’ loves will merge Friday when an
exhibition – Norman Rockwell: A Personal Collection – opens in the
KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall.

The Bradford natives – Campbell graduated from Bradford High;
his wife from Bradford Central Christian – are loaning 11 of their
original Rockwell pieces to Pitt-Bradford.

One reason for the exhibition – which runs to Nov. 7 – is to
highlight Pitt-Bradford. Campbell explained the idea of an exhibit
here started with the Campbells talking with university
officials.

“We thought of how good this might be for the school,” Campbell
said from his home in Spring, Texas. “We’re both alumni and from
Bradford. It did not take much convincing for us to offer … this
far exceeded Martha’s and my expectations.”

While the event “could have been just an art showing and nothing
more,” Campbell said the university has taken it to the next level
with the ancillary events scheduled to coincide with the
exhibit.

There are many lectures scheduled, including an Oct. 1 talk by
Richard Rockwell, the famed artist’s nephew.

This, Campbell said, is “huge” given the nephew is a
well-regarded artist in his own right.

He added that talks from Josienne Piller, an art historian and
faculty member at Pitt-Oakland, and Dr. Martie Geiger-Ho, an art
instructor at Pitt-Bradford, also compliment the series and the
exhibition.

Since some school children will be coming to the exhibit,
Campbell also sees it as a chance to show off the university to
them.

“I think a lot of school kids will be getting exposed to
Pitt-Bradford who may not have been exposed before.”

“The school’s really something,” Campbell said, adding when he
attended, students attended class at the Emery Hardware building
and some students stayed at the YMCA. When he went – 1967 to 1969 –
it was a two-year college. Now, students can get their degrees
there. His wife attended from 1970 to 1972.

“Now, it’s a beautiful campus. What they did in 40 years is
pretty phenomenal.”

Now, the additions, including Blaisdell Hall, have made the
university something special.

Bromeley Theater “is nicer than the theater we saw Lion King on
Broadway. Much nicer.”

“The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford is a jewel for the
area,” Campbell said, adding the importance of the leadership Dr.
Dick McDowell and Dr. Livingston Alexander have provided.

The Campbells bought their first Rockwell in the early 1970s.
They bought the latest one about 1 1/2 years ago. The first one
they bought – “Just Married” – is the only one left in the
house.

“We still have the first one,” Campbell said. “It’s the only one
keeping us company.”

The Campbells’ love for Rockwell’s work actually began in the
1960s when he did Saturday Evening Post covers.

“All the faces. All the people. He captured the way American
really is. It’s not hard to be attracted to Rockwell art.”

His favorite is “The Night Before Christmas.”

“The child is so dominant then you look into the picture and see
Santa looking over her shoulder,” Campbell said. “You see all kinds
of detail. So subtle. He was a master.”

Another favorite is “Man with fishing rod and bottle of
ale.”

Two others that hit close to home are the ones with men from the
Sharon Steel Mill.

Campbell worked for a competitor and had driven past that mill
many times.

In the end, the couple hopes that by bringing their collection
to Bradford, they can show how much they love the area and the
university.

“We are just two people from Bradford who very much appreciate
where we came from and the opportunities afforded to us … it’s not
hard to care about Bradford.”

“It’s very fulfilling for Martha and I,” Campbell said. “I hope
the whole area can enjoy the art.”

The exhibition of Norman Rockwell work at the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford is just one element of a series of
events.

The series, An Extraordinary Opportunity in Your Own Backyard,
will start Friday when the exhibition – Normal Rockwell: A Personal
Collection – opens in the KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall.

Also on Friday, Josienne N. Piller, an art historian and faculty
member of the University of Pittsburgh, will provide history and
background on Rockwell’s career.

Her lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Bromeley Family
Theater in Blaisdell Hall.

Following the lecture, a reception and the exhibition opening
will be held in the art gallery.

On Saturday, the series will continue with a performance at 7:30
p.m. in the Bromeley Family Theater by a recitalist from the
Marilyn Horne Foundation.

Soprano Nicole Cabell will perform an all-American vocal
recital.

On Sept. 21, Dr. Martie Geiger-Ho, art instructor at
Pitt-Bradford, will hold a Norman Rockwell class.

The class will be held at 6 p.m. in the Webb/Bradford Forest
Rehearsal Hall in Blaisdell Hall and at noon Sept. 23 in Room 121
in Blaisdell Hall.

At 10 a.m. Oct. 1, members of the Pitt-Bradford Art Club will
recreate one of the Rockwell paintings on display on the sidewalk
of the Frame-Westerberg Commons.

The project will be lead by Kong Ho, assistant professor of
art.

Also on Oct. 1, artist Richard Rockwell, a nephew of Norman
Rockwell’s, will give an informal talk at 1:30 p.m. on the lives
and careers of his uncle and his father, Jarvis Rockwell, who was a
designer for Holgate Toy Co.

This event will be held in the rehearsal hall, Room 138 in
Blaisdell Hall.

Dr. Richard Frederick, professor of history, will give a
lecture, The Four Freedoms: From Roosevelt to Rockwell, at 7:30
p.m. Oct. 19 in the rehearsal hall, Room 138, in Blaisdell
Hall.

The series will conclude with a concert by pianist Dr. Alec
Chien, who will perform an original solo piano version of Modest
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at the Exhibition.

The concert will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Bromeley Family
Theater.