Join us for an evening with Joyce Hesselberth and David Plunkert, presenting Hand in Hand: Illustration & Design, in partnership with Mechanics’ Hall and Illustration Institute. This event will take place in person at Mechanics’ Hall. This event is free and open to the public; pre-registration is required. Get your tickets through Eventbrite.

Joyce Hesselberth is an author and illustrator of children’s books. Her first book Shape Shift was published in 2016 by Henry Holt. It was named as one of the Best Books of the Year by Bank Street College of Education. Her most recent books Mapping Sam and Pitter Pattern were published by Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins). Mapping Sam received a special mention award in the Bologna Ragazzi non-fiction category. Her upcoming children’s book Beatrice Was a Tree will be published in 2021, also by Greenwillow Books. Her illustrations have appeared in national ad campaigns, newspapers, and magazines.  She has published two educational apps, PrestoBingo Shapes and PrestoBingo Colors that are available on the Mac App Store. Her work has been recognized by American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, and 3×3 International Illustration Annual among others. She and her husband David Plunkert co-founded Spur Design in 1995. Spur Design is located in a renovated factory building in Baltimore, MD. Joyce also teaches illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art.

David Plunkert‘s illustrations have appeared in advertising campaigns for Fortune 500 companies as well as major newspapers, magazines, and recording labels. His work has been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, Graphis, Print, the Society of Illustrators, and The New York Art Directors’ Club. He has been featured in numerous books including: Cool Type, New Masters of Poster Design, The Greatest Rock Albums that Never Were, Mixing Messages, Typography Sketchbooks, 1,000 Indie Posters, and Visualizing Finance 1.0. He has taught graphic design and illustration at Shepherd University and Maryland Institute College of Art in addition to lecturing for AIGA Chapters throughout the US. His work has been collected by museums and private collectors, and has been exhibited internationally. He has received gold medals from the Society of Illustrators NY and the Best Film Poster Award at the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW). He and Joyce Hesselberth co-founded Spur Design in 1995. He was inducted into the Alliance Graphique Internationale in 2011. His August 28th, 2017 cover for The New Yorker titled “Blowhard” was named Magazine Cover of the Year by The Association of Magazine Editors (ASME).

Illustration Institute‘s mission is to raise appreciation and awareness of illustration in its many forms. ii seeks to provide people of all ages the opportunity to learn directly from master artists and working professionals through exhibitions and workshops provided at public libraries, museums, schools, and other community venues.

Membership with Mechanics’ Hall is free for students and starts at just $50 a year for individual memberships, which includes use of the library, free and discounted access to programs, and much more. Consider becoming a member today and helping to support programs like this.