Another Link of Friendship
Ulmer Museum receives Wanda Gag lithographBy Serra Muscatello Staff Writer
Article Photos
NEW ULM- George Glotzbach said it took him about two years to make it happen - donating an original Wanda Gag lithograph "Squash and Flowers" to the Ulmer Museum, in Germany.
German dignitaries, local citizens and Wanda Gag House board members filled the Wanda Gag House shortly before the parade on Sunday to watch the presentation.
"We have a very, very special person in our community - George Glotzbach," said Diana Lee Schaefer, who introduced Glotzbach before he made the presentation.
During Glotzbach's presentation he related the history of the Anton and Elizabeth Gag Family, including daughter, Wanda Gag.
The character of "Wanda" was portrayed during the event by Bobbi McCrea, a local actress and owner of The Bohemian Bed & Breakfast.
"Wanda Hazel Gag, their first of seven children, was born here in New Ulm March 11, 1893," Glotzbach said, "She began to draw as soon as she could hold a pencil."
After her graduation from New Ulm High School in 1912, Wanda Gag taught for a short time at a country school in nearby Springfield.
Then Gag attended art schools in St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Art Student's League in New York City.
"She also became a famous author/illustrator of children's books beginning with Millions of Cats in 1928," said Glotzbach, "The book is still in print, in its 78th edition. Wanda produced over 120 notable prints plus numerous watercolors, Christmas cards, decorated gourds ... a great variety of media, before her death in 1946. "
Glotzbach also said that Wanda Gag's works are found in museums around the world including the British Museum and the Albert & Victoria Museum in London, the Pushkin Museum in Moscow and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Her work is also displayed in the United States at the Minnesota Historical Society, the National Gallery of Art as well as the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The print Glotzbach presented is one of an edition of 20 and was printed in 1927. It is a lithograph on zinc.
"I am pleased to present this gift to the Ulmer Museum both on my behalf and that of the citizens of New Ulm, to serve as another link in the chain of friendship between us and the citizens of Ulm and Neu-Ulm," said Glotzbach, "I hope your citizens and visitors to your cities enjoy viewing this lithograph as much as we enjoy presenting it."
First Mayor of Ulm, Germany, Gunter Czisch said (through his translator Dorothea Hemminger) as he accepted the lithograph, "Ladies and gentlemen we are overwhelmed by what we have seen in New Ulm. We want to thank you very much for our days and this wonderful lithograph. Our compliments how this house is redone. ... It has been done properly. Thank you very much. It's a great honor for us to come here."
Glotzbach said a decision was made not to ship the lithograph to Ulm, Germany, but rather to hold on to it and present it to the delegation when they arrived for the Hermann Victory Celebration.
"We'd like to thank all the citizens of New Ulm for wonderful days ... especially the Sister Cities Commission," said Hemminger, "Everyone we met was so friendly ... they talked to us. I had never experienced that before - it was overwhelming."
