WINDSOR – A highly celebrated local painter will make a rare public appearance Sunday to help raise money for the Cornish Colony Museum.

George Tooker, who was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2007 from President George W. Bush and who has seen heightened interest in his work with recent retrospectives at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the National Academy Museum in New York City and the Columbus Museum of Art, will sign copies of books studying his work.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. at the St. Francis of Assisi Church, where Robert Cozzolino – a co-author of a book about Tooker – will discuss the artist's work from a technical and historical perspective.

The event will continue around the corner at the museum for a wine and cheese reception with Tooker.

Tickets for the event are $50. For more information or to reserve tickets, call the Cornish Colony Museum at 674-6008 or e-mail Curator Nicole Ford at curator@cornishcolonymuseum.org.