Chuck Jones Centennial
Legendary Animation Creator and Director’s 100th Year Begins with an Exhibition at ArtInsights
November 3, 2011
Reston, VA: ArtInsights announced today that it was chosen by the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity to be the first gallery in the United States to host an exhibition and sale of original Chuck Jones drawings that celebrates the legendary animation creator and director’s 100th year. The exhibition is called Chuck Jones: An Animation Legend Turns 100. It will open to the public on Sunday, November 5, 2011 from 2 to 5 PM with special guest, Craig Kausen, Chairman of the Center and Chuck Jones’s grandson. “We have Chuck Jones exhibits opening this year at the Port of Portland’s International Airport that will be viewed by nearly one million travelers as well as at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio,” said Craig Kausen, “and we could not have thought of a better gallery than ArtInsights in which to launch my grandfather’s centennial celebrations with this important exhibition of original drawings from his amazing career.” Also as part of the opening, a presentation called Chuck Jones: Fabulous Firsts will be shown as part of the new Washington West Film Festival on Friday November 4th at 6:30 pm at the CIT Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon.
Jones, one of the fathers of Bugs Bunny and the creator of such iconic cartoon characters as Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner, Pepé le Pew and Marvin Martian, was born in Spokane, Washington, on September 21, 1912. The four-time Academy Award recipient, including a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 1996, enjoyed a seven decade career in animation and fine art, beginning in 1932. His life and life’s work spanned the history of animation, from the first tentative steps of Gertie the Dinosaur, animated by Windsor McKay in 1912, to the brilliant CGI (computer generated imagery) of John Lasseter and Pixar Studios.
At the core of his work and life, and the one aspect of his success that speaks most clearly to artists today, was his love of drawing. Jones, even into his 80’s, wondered at his luck to have found a job during the Depression that paid him to do what he loved most and that was to draw. “Chuck’s drawings have always held a special place in my heart,” commented Leslie Combemale, owner of ArtInsights, “his line coupled with his great wit make for remarkable original works, works that can and should be cherished by collectors of film art as well as those whose collections are focused on the great masters of 20th century figurative painting and drawing. I am thrilled to be the first art gallery to host this important exhibition and sale.”
The Chuck Jones Centennial Celebrations will include a revamped version of the multi-media extravaganza “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” created and conducted by George Daugherty, with planned appearances at Wolf Trap and the Kennedy Center in 2012 as well as with other notable symphony orchestras around the country. The Center is working with its local Congressman in the hope that United States Congress will designate Jones’s birthday as National Chuck Jones Creativity Day in 2012.
Art Insights is located just outside of Washington, D.C. at 20907 Medinah Court, in Reston Town Center, Virginia. The gallery presents the most important works of art from the 20th century film art genre, including original art from the masters of film and moving entertainment. From film campaign artists to matte painters, from concept and layout artists to animators, ArtInsights represents the giants of film art history. Artists represented include Chuck Jones, John Alvin, Maurice Noble, Bill Melendez, Lawrence Noble, Jim Salvati, and many other artists made famous by their work for Disney Studios and Warner Bros. For more information please call the gallery at 703-478-0778.
A complete biography of Chuck Jones, images for print or web use as well as interview opportunities with Craig Kausen are available upon request.