The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons
Through Feb. 21
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo
kiarts.org, (269) 349-7775
Recall the fond memories of the cereal-eating, pajama-wearing Saturday morning cartoon days. An exhibition featuring the art of Warner Bros. Cartoon is running now until Feb. 21 at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (314 South Park St., Kalamazoo) displaying a collection of some of the most favorite cartoon characters from "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies."
Stephen Schneider, the exhibition curator, has offered up his private collection of Warner Bros. art to tour the nation.
"I've been amassing materials on WB toons since I was a tyke," he said. "My dream always has been to create something like an archive for Warner animation and the exhibition has been touring for over a decade by now."
This two-room exhibition walks through the history and making of Warner Bros. cartoons with more than 160 drawings, paintings, publicity prints, comic books and cels made in the 1930s-1960s. It discusses the silence of the critics (Warner Bros. cartoons didn't receive acclaim in the early years) and the growing popularity of the cartoon comic books and animated programs. Over time, Warner Bros. earned six Academy Awards and produced more cartoon stars than any other studio. From Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig to Wile E. Coyote, the Road Runner, Speedy Gonzales and many more, Warner Bros. creations have become a part of our lives and have engrained a historical mark in 20th Century American folklore.
Though these characters are most associated with childhood, ironically, Warner Bros. cartoons stepped away from the innocence of youth presenting savvy, cute characters with violent plots of revenge, forbidden romances, crime, theft, street-smarts, cross-dressing and hard-living. The popularity of the cartoons lie in the storylines, according to Warner Bros. storyman Michael Maltese who said, "We wrote cartoons for grownups, that was the secret."
The KIA exhibit reveals the creative process and evolution of Warner Bros. cartoons. From a cute pencil sketch, to cels, to hand-written exposure sheets, to cartoons made between 1946-1960 on television, all the while discussing the profound impact Warner Bros. has made on American culture, especially in animation.
Many of the drawings have handwritten notes discussing how the character should be drawn as they experience different emotions; one drawing of Bugs Bunny explains how his big cheeks make him more childlike, but also allows artists to draw big teeth for him when he is angry.
In addition to the exhibit, guests have a chance to win a Warner Bros. art piece. A raffle is being held and the winner will be announced in February when the exhibition ends.
Other Art Events
By S.A. Díaz
Calder Jewelry Exhibit
The Grand Rapids Art Museum
Jan. 29-April 18
artmuseumgr.org, (616) 831-1001
Before La Grande Vitesse was anchored in downtown Grand Rapids, Alexander Calder had already experimented in creating spectacular works i. Starting as a child with the small scraps of metal he fashioned into accessories for his sister's dolls, Calder mastered the craft of casting magnificent jewelry that has been adorned by luminaries such as Joan Miro and Jeanne Moreau as well as his own wife and mother. Calder shapes silver wire, and morphs gold and minerals into an insightful and inspired display of some of his finest, lesser known, work.
There and Back Again
Sanctuary Art Gallery, Grand Rapids
Opens Jan. 8
myspace.com/sanctuaryfolkart, (616) 454-0401
Something special is happening between Lake Michigan and the Atlantic Ocean. Drawing (or rather, painting) on a spirit of friendship years in the making, the exhibit features a dialogue between artists living and working in New York, and artists living and working in West Michigan. This collective has managed to blur borders and showcase significant works art patrons may not have had the chance to see in either region. The show makes its way to Grand Rapids on the heels of its successful runs in Holland and Grand Haven this month.
Winter Invitational
Jan. 4-27
Gallery Uptown, Grand Haven
galleryuptown.net, (616)846-5460
Artists from every imaginable medium will feature their works when Gallery Uptown hosts its Winter Invitational. Boasting a diverse lineup of undiscovered talent, Gallery Uptown's talent pool consists of many local artists, and the annual event is a showcase where those on the gallery's roster get to show off something besides their masterpieces. The eclectic group has personally invited one artist apiece to showcase new works from their lesser known contemporaries.
