Now city can love Munsch art forever
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Saturday, December 3rd, 2005
By Morley Walker - Arts and Entertainment Columnist
THE touching illustrations from Love You Forever look like they will live forever in Winnipeg.
Local philanthropists Bonnie and John Buhler have paid an estimated $300,000
to buy the complete set of original colour drawings that appear in the mega-selling
Canadian children's book by Robert Munsch.
The Buhlers, who have donated millions in recent years to a variety of health, education and arts charities, plan to lend the drawings to an institution so the public can enjoy them.
"We do have someplace in mind, but we
can't say right now because the details haven't been finalized," Bonnie
Buhler said yesterday.
"We think they should be in Winnipeg."
Art dealer David Loch, who maintains galleries in Winnipeg and Toronto, had
been on a month-long quest to find a buyer for the 16 illustrations.
They had been stored in artist Sheila McGraw's attic since she drew them
in 1986.
When McGraw decided to sell them, she approached Loch because she lives near
his Toronto gallery.
"I felt strongly that they should be kept together," said Loch. "But
I told Sheila if we couldn't find a buyer, we would sell them individually."
Loch likened the importance of McGraw's work to the oil painting by Winnie
the Pooh illustrator E.H. Shepard that he purchased at auction in England
for $285,000 in 2000.
It was hoped that the painting would become the visual symbol around which
a Winnie the Pooh museum could be built in Winnipeg.
"I give full credit to John and Bonnie for having the courage to do
this," Loch said.
Bonnie, 58, says she has read Love You Forever countless times to many of
her 10 grandchildren. The Munsch classic tells the poignant story of a mother
who sings the line "I'll love you forever" to her young son. He
carries on the legacy of love when he becomes an adult.
Published in Canada by Firefly Books, it has sold more than 20 million copies
worldwide. Oprah Winfrey mentioned it during her much-hyped appearance on
The Late Show With David Letterman Thursday night, and it was featured on
the final episode of the Friends sitcom.
"It's a tear-jerker," Bonnie said. "But it's a part of life."
The drawings are being displayed at the Loch Gallery in Toronto until Dec.
14.
The Buhlers are also believed to be the mystery donors who will contribute
more than $1 million to a concert hall being built at the Morden Collegiate
Institute. John, 72, a farm equipment magnate, grew up in Morden.
A year ago, the couple gave $500,000 toward a concert hall at the Mennonite
Collegiate Institute in Gretna. They also have made significant contributions
to the downtown Red River College, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra endowment
fund and the Children's Hospital Research Centre.
morley.walker@freepress.mb.ca
About Love You Forever
* First published in 1986
* 20 million copies sold worldwide
* Printed in Altona by Friesens Corp.
* No. 1 on New York Times Children's Bestseller List in 1994
* No. 6 on National Education Association teachers' all-time list of children's
books in 1999
* Featured on TV series finale of Friends in 2004
* Author Robert Munsch honoured as a member of the Order of Canada in 1999
© 2005 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved.