Mazza Museum to Welcome Caldecott-Winning Illustrator Rebecca Kunz

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum welcomes nationally-honored illustrator Rebecca Kunz, 2025 Caldecott Medal winner for “Chooch Helped,” for a presentation Saturday, September 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union multipurpose room.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees can also view the newest gallery installation in the Mazza Museum featuring Caldecott winners from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

“Museum visitors can see a selection of original illustrations from Caldecott-winning picture books, including preliminary sketches, character maquettes, and an actual Caldecott Medallion awarded to one of the very first recipients,” said Dan Chudzinski, director of the Mazza Museum. “As if that isn’t enough to entice you, we are honored to have Rebecca here to help us debut the exhibition.”

Since 1938, the Caldecott Medal has recognized the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book of the year.

Kunz is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and of European descent. She earned a bachelor’s of fine arts in painting from the College of Santa Fe in 1998 and now lives in the foothills of Santa Fe County, New Mexico with her husband and three daughters. She grew up in Oklahoma and is a multi-media artist and the owner of Tree of Life Studio.

Kunz infuses Cherokee mythology into her work, and as these myths are woven into each of her pieces, they serve as hard-working and flourishing historical narratives. A visual storyteller, animist, and folklorist, she hopes to illuminate awareness about the shifting cultural climate and to inspire solutions to the social and environmental issues.

Advance copies of Kunz’s newest release, “Ruth Muskrat and the So-Called Indian Problem,” will be available for purchase that night.

For more information, visit mazzamuseum.org or call 419-434-4560.