Past Regina Medal Recipients
2005
Jerry Pinkney named the 47th Recipient of the Regina Medal
By Lanore Spearing
Chair of the Regina Medal Committee
St. John the Baptist School
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia native, Jerry Pinkney, will soon add the title of Regina Medallist to his long list of career accomplishments. How appropriate that Mr. Pinkney will return to the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, to accept this award in March 2005!
Jerry grew up in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. He attended grade school, junior high, high school, and college in Philadelphia. His love of drawing was developed early and encouraged by his mother. As a youngster Jerry suffered from dyslexia at a time when very little was known about the learning differences. Drawing was a creative release for the young Jerry Pinkney. That artistic talent was nurtured into an amazing life- long love and career.
Jerry first realized that he could earn a living as an artist when, as a twelve-years-old, he met cartoonist, John Liney, of "Little Henry" fame. John Liney was a frequent customer at Jerry’s newspaper stand. Mr. Liney noticed the drawing pad Jerry always carried with him and was impressed with his drawings. Mr. Liney invited Jerry to his studio only a few blocks away. This meeting and tour of Liney’s art studio had a direct influence on the young Jerry Pinkney.
Jerry attended the Dobbins Vocational School to study commercial arts. It was here that he met his wife, Gloria. Upon graduating from Dobbins, Jerry was awarded a full scholarship to the Philadelphia Museum College of Art, now know as the University of the Arts. Jerry was the first person in his family to attend college. While attending college, Jerry and Gloria were married.
Jerry started his career in Boston working for a greeting card company. He soon opened Kaleidoscope Studio with two other friends and fellow artists. Only a few years later Jerry launched Jerry Pinkney Studio and moved to New York, where he and Gloria currently reside. Gloria is not only his life partner but also a business partner. Gloria, a children’s author in her own right, assists her husband as a production assistant, researcher, and manuscript reviewer. They have four grown sons and several grandchildren.
Mr. Pinkney will turn 65 on December 22 of this year. His outstanding career not only as a beloved illustrator but also as a quiet activist for African-American culture is phenomenal. During his career Jerry Pinkney designed eleven U.S. postage stamps for the Black Heritage series, was invited to be a team member for the NASA artists for the Space Shuttle Columbia and has more than seventy books to his name. As a Caldecott Honor Medallist four times running and a four time Coretta Scott King Award winner, with two Honors Awards as well, his awards are too long and varied to mention in this short article.
From all reports, Jerry Pinkney remains an unassuming, loyal family man. It is said that he wanted to be a role model for his family and friends. It is safe to say he has more than achieved that goal. It will be a great honor and privilege to award the 47th Regina Medal to Jerry Pinkney, a man of much talent and quiet charm, and especially to honor him in his hometown of Philadelphia.
