A meet the author / artist / filmmaker edition of Where For

Jim Hill

17 years ago

Are you a Disneyana enthusiast who likes to collect the signatures of your favorite authors, artists and/or filmmakers? Well, have I got good news for you?

Over the next eight days, there’s going to be a variety of events held all over the country that will give you the chance to get up-close-and-personal with some of these folks. Where you can perhaps then get them to personalize your favorite Disney book, statue or DVD.

Our first authors appearance is actually happening this afternoon at WDW‘s Contemporary Resort. Where — from 2 to 4 p.m. today — Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson will be appearing in the Fourth Floor Concourse and signing copies of “Peter and the Secret of Rundoon,” the final installment in their acclaimed “Starcatchers” series.

Then tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Reading Trout Books (Which is this great little book store that’s located in the Town Center section of Celebration, FL. ), Disney historian David Koenig will hosting a multi-media presentation about the design & construction of the Walt Disney World Resort. Afterwords, David will be autographing copies of his latest opus, “Realityland: True-Life Adventure at Walt Disney World.”

The Central Florida-based fun continues on Saturday morning, when sculptor Bruce Lau — best known for the pieces that he’s created for the Walt Disney Collectors Society — will be appearing at Mitzi’s Hallmark. Which is located in Crossroads of Lake Buena Vista (You know? That shopping center that’s located right across from the Buena Vista entrance to the Walt Disney World Complex? ).

Anyway … From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Bruce will be signing his latest sculpture, “Goofy & Wilbur.” This limited edition piece (i.e. Only 1000 copies were created) was inspired by the 1939 Disney short and is being issued in honor of Goofy’s 75th anniversary.

Meanwhile — out in California at just about this same time — miniaturist Robert Olszewski will be putting in an appearance at Disneyland‘s Disneyana Shop. Where from 9 a.m. ’til noon, he’ll be signing copies of his latest sculpture, Peter Pan’s Flight.

Then come Saturday night, it’s time to head back over to Reading Trout books in Celebration, FL. Where Walt Disney Imagineer & Show Producer Jason Surrell will then be hosting a Q & A session about his latest book, “The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak.”

Then on Sunday, Jim Shore will be signing pieces from his Disney Traditions collection from 1 to 3 p.m. & 5 to 7 p.m. at the Disney Days of Christmas shop at WDW’s Downtown Disney Marketplace.

Okay. Next we travel out to Hollywood. Where on Tuesday night, December 11th, the American Cinematheque will be presenting Leslie Iwerks’ new documentary, “The Pixar Story.” This screening (Which be held in the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian at 7:30 p.m.) will be followed by a question & answer session with Ms. Iwerks and her special guest, Disney Legend Roy E. Disney.

And as I mentioned in yesterday’s article, if you’d like to purchase an autographed copy of “How Does the Show Go On?: An Introduction to the Theater,” Thomas Schumacher will actually be doing two signings next week. With the first being held at the Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, December 12th starting at 6 p.m. While the second is being at the Barnes & Noble in the Grove at Farmers Market on Thursday, December 13th at 5:30 p.m.

Then — on Saturday, December 15th — former Imagineer Maggie Parr will be appearing at the Art of Disney at WDW’s Downtown Disney Marketplace. Where — from 10 a.m. to 12 noon & from 3 to 4 p.m. — Ms. Parr will be signing prints of the premiere piece from her brand-new series of paintings, A Royal Carousel.

Meanwhile on that very same day over at Disney-MGM‘s Animation Gallery, that theme park will be celebrating the release of a brand-new addition to their popular hand-painted cel series. Entitled “Part of Your World,” this piece pays tribute to Walt Disney Pictures’ 1989 Academy Award-winning release, “The Little Mermaid.” From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. & from 2 to 5 p.m., the artists who actually created this cel will be on hand to autograph this piece as well as answer any questions that WDW guests may have about its creation.

What’s that you say? You don’t care about artist or author signings? You only wonder about what became of JHM’s “Why For” series?

Well, then come back Saturday night. When we’ll be posting a special weekend edition of that popular column. Which will then reveal where many of the in-jokes are stashed in your favorite Pixar films.

Tis the season, folks. And if you’d like to show your appreciation for all the great stories that you regularly read here on this website, then why not start out your next Amazon shopping spree by clicking on the banner above? That way, JHM gets a teeny tiny chunk of whatever you spend.

Happy Holidays!