"Babar the Elephant" Is Coming to The Tyler Museum of Art

Written by Zoe Lawhorn Monday, 06 September 2010 22:38

TYLER, TX – The Tyler Museum of Art (TMA) announced plans for a summer exhibition that will lead visitors through a uniquely illustrated world that places the world famous, green-suited Babar the Elephant into classical works of art. The much-loved character will be the leading figure in Babar’s Museum of Art, a collection of original watercolors and studies by Laurent de Brunhoff. The works will be on view at the TMA June 6 through August 22. Organizations from around the community are partnering with the TMA by hosting events and activities that incorporate characters and themes from Babar’s Museum of Art.

The exhibition contains more than 70 original works by Laurent de Brunhoff, author and illustrator of the children’s book Babar’s Museum of Art. “The book tells the story of how Babar the Elephant and his wife Celeste transform an old train station into an art museum,” says Kimberley Bush Tomio, Director of the TMA. “In the book, de Brunhoff pays tribute to artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Paul Cezanne, and Picasso by adorning the museum’s walls with classic works of art with a clever twist – the characters depicted in those works of art are all elephants.”

The story of Babar was originated by French author and illustrator, Jean de Brunhoff, who created the tales of the famous elephant for his own children. When his father passed away in 1937, Laurent de Brunhoff took over the Babar series of books first begun by his father. Jean and Laurent trained as fine artists, and visitors to the TMA will enjoy both the whimsical nature of the exhibition in addition to the masterful execution by de Brunhoff.

“We are thrilled to bring this exhibition to Tyler, because we believe that it will be an exciting art opportunity for everyone. Fine art enthusiasts will admire the technique so beautifully rendered by de Brunhoff in watercolor. Children will thrill to see Babar and his friends acting as figures from the world of fine art, and adults will enjoy the cleverness of de Brunhoff’s stories,” says Ms. Tomio. “This truly is a one-of-a-kind exhibition, organized by Mary Ryan Gallery, New York City, New York.”

Babar's Museum of Art is organized by Mary Ryan Gallery, NYC. Exhibition is supported in part by Kay Arms and the Julietta Jarvis Foundation, Inc. Collectors' Circle sponsors are Mrs. Jack King Sr., Mr. and Mrs. James Perkins, and Ms. Myrtis D. Smith. Corporate Member Sponsor is Southside Bank. Media sponsors are BSCENE Magazine, CBS 19-KYTX and Piney Woods Live. The Tyler Museum of Art is supported by its members, Tyler Junior College and the City of Tyler.

The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during exhibition hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.