Randy Freisinger, Professor Emeritus of rhetoric, literature and creative writing at Michigan Technological University, recently released a book of poems titled “Nostalgia’s Thread” based on the art of illustrator and painter Norman Rockwell.

HOUGHTON — Although Norman Rockwell is one of the United States’ more recognizable artists, critics are divided as to his influence. Some see him just as the illustrator for “The Saturday Evening Post,” while others hail him as a great American painter. Randy Freisinger, professor emeritus of rhetoric, literature and creative writing at Michigan Technological University, certainly fits into the latter category, as he has just released “Nostalgia’s Thread,” a book of 10 poems on Rockwell’s art. Freisinger got the idea for his third collection of poetry listening to the radio while traveling in 2000. “I originally heard an interview with Peter Rockwell, one of Norman’s sons, on National Public Radio ... and that’s when the idea for the book started,” Freisinger said. “Rockwell has always been kind of dissed by the high art crowd, regarded as an illustrator and not given a place as a major artist. “I felt that was kind of unfair.