GnatteringGnate writes in to ask:
So you were out in Southern California last week. Did you do anything cool? Did you get to see any celebrities?
Well, I did get to see the cast of one Academy Award-nominated film up-close while I was out on the West Coast …
Photo by Noe Valladolid
… but they were all behind glass at the time.
Yeah, the Cartoon Art Museum had two sets from Twentieth Century Fox’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (which – at this point – you undoubtedly know was one of five movies that were nominated for a Best Animated Feature Film Oscar) on display. And these exhibits featured some of the puppets & props that were actually used in the production of Wes Anderson’s first animated feature.
Photo by Noe Valladolid
Sadly, the display that featured these beautiful stop motion puppets closed back on January 24th. But don’t fret. There are lots of other reasons that you should consider dropping by 655 Mission Street in San Francisco. Like all of the other classic animation cels & drawings CAM has in its permanent collection.
Photo by Noe Valladolid
Take — for example — this beautiful drawing of Cruella De Vil from “101 Dalmatians” which was drawn by Disney Legend Marc Davis.
Photo by Noe Valladolid
But it’s not just artists of the past that the Cartoon Art Museum celebrates. In its just-closed “Monsters of Webcomics” exhibit, CAM showcased strips from some of the top cartoonists working on the Web today.
In fact, one of the funnier pieces on display there was from Nicholas Gurewitch’s “Perry Bible Fellowship.” Which offers a glimpse of what the home life of Disney’s latest acquisition (i.e. Marvel Comics’ The Hulk) must be like.
Photo by Noe Valladolid
But this past week, the Cartoon Art Museum’s “Monsters of Webcomics” exhibition was packed up to make way for “Batman: Yesterday and Tomorrow.” Which pays tribute to the 70+ years that this enduring DC character has entertaining folks via comic books, TV shows, live action feature films & animation.
Another reason that you should definitely consider dropping by CAM the
next time you’re in the Bay Area can be seen just beyond this antique animation
camera stand that’s located in the lobby. And that’s the Cartoon Art Museum
store.
Photo by Noe Valladolid
One of the gems that they’ve currently got up for sale is the catalog for that “The Colors of Mary Blair” exhibition that Tokyo’s Museum of Contemporary Art presented last year.
The CAM store is one of the only places in the US where you can purchase “The Colors of Mary Blair” catalog. Which features over 400 full-color reproductions of this Disney Legend’s original artwork. Including rarely-seen pieces from the Disney Archives as well as from the Blair family’s own personal collection.
Photo by Noe Valladolid
The upside is – if you’re not headed to San Francisco anytime soon – the Cartoon Art Museum store will ship this amazing Disney collectible anywhere in the U.S. For $60 (which is about $100 less than you’ll find this item listed for on eBay).
The downside is – CAM’s supplies of “The Colors of Mary Blair” are very limited. And once this catalog is sold out, the Cartoon Art Museum will not be able to re-stock. So if you want a copy of your very own, give Heather a call at (415) CAR-TOON, ext. 310 and/or drop her an e-mail her at bookstore@cartoonart.org
Photo by Noe Valladolid
CAM is open Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This San Francisco favorite is closed on Mondays as well as the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. For further information on the Cartoon Art Museum and its admission prices, exhibitions and special events, please click on this link.