“I TAUT I TAW A PUDDY TAT!? ~ AT THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM

Written by Rosemary Andrews Monday, 20 September 2010 23:02

Allentown, PA - Opening on Sunday, June 24, 2007, The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons will fill the Allentown Art Museum’s Kress and Rodale galleries with merriment through September 16, 2007. This vivacious, colorful, and highly enjoyable exhibition explores the elaborate creative process that supported the making of many classic films, traces the development of Warner Bros.’ cartoon stars, and celebrates the studio that created iconic masterpieces of humor and satire. The exhibition will be complemented by a full menu of programming at the Museum for visitors of all ages including a family festival, an Art After Hours event, a gallery talk, and guided visits. In addition to regular Museum admission, there is a $5 admission fee for entry to this special exhibition.

The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons is a greatly expanded version of the 1985 Museum of Modern Art retrospective, consisting of over 150 drawings, paintings, cels, and animated films of Warner’s classic cartoons from the 1930s through 1960. The most popular cartoon characters in the United States are featured in this comprehensive overview of the legendary Hollywood animation studio, the rambunctious birthplace of characters who have become a part of American folklore, from Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to Sylvester and Tweety.

Since 1930, the “Looney Tunes” and “Merry Melodies” of Warner Bros. have delighted audiences young and old with their wit and surprising sophistication. Originally shown in theatres, where they were the most popular cartoons of their day, the Warner Bros. cartoons developed new audiences with the rise of television in the 1950s. Many people have seen these cartoons literally hundreds of times as they were growing up, yet most viewers are unfamiliar with the actual artwork from which these films were created.

The exhibition will be arranged into seven thematic sections that explain the art of animation and tell the stories of the many characters from the Warner Bros. studios. The themes include a general introduction to Warner Bros., a chronology of the cartoons’ development, the “cel” animation process, the history and evolution of Warner’s first cartoon stars (Porky Pig and Daffy Duck), an in-depth look at Warner’s most famous creation (Bugs Bunny), eternal adversaries and favorite antagonists, and a celebration of other characters featured in Warner Bros. cartoons. The exhibition also spotlights the key animation directors who brought these iconic characters to life on screen.

As always, the Art Ways Family Interactive Gallery will offer a please-touch area related to the exhibition where families can explore and make art together. The upcoming theme, ‘Toon Town, will be available during all regular Museum hours throughout the run of the exhibition. Here visitors will discover the step-by-step process used by animators to create cartoon characters, design their own characters or re-create their favorites, and enjoy cartoon classics.

The Museum Store will be chock-full of related merchandise, including Looney Tunes: The Complete Visual Guide, a fun-filled colorful volume featuring the history of Looney Tunes; Looney Tunes–Golden Collection, Volume 1, a 4-disc DVD set of 56 of the best animated short films ever made, restored and re-mastered for cartoon lovers and purists; WB coin purses and luggage tags; and many other items sure to make you smile.

Contributing support for The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons is provided by Adams Outdoor Advertising; Alvin H. Butz, Inc.; The Leon C. and June W. Holt Endowment; M&T Bank; and RCN. Sustaining support is provided by The Audrey and Bernard Berman Endowment Fund and Gross, McGinley, LaBarre and Eaton, LLP. Additional support is provided by The Express-Times, Great Wolf Lodge, Uniforce Staffing Services, and Nic Zawarski & Sons.

The Allentown Art Museum is a little more than 90 minutes west of Manhattan and one hour north of Philadelphia, the Allentown Art Museum is located at 31 North Fifth Street in Allentown, PA. Please visit our website at www.allentownartmuseum.org , or call 610-432-4333, ext. 10, to learn more about the Museum’s exhibitions and programs. Open 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 to 5:00 PM Sunday. Closed Mondays and major holidays.