ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM TO PRESENT ‘ART OF WARNER BROS. CARTOONS’

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ALLENTOWN, PENN. — The Allentown Art Museum will present the exhibition, “The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons,” on view June 24–September 16 in the Kress and Rodale galleries.

The most popular cartoon characters in the US — and the recipients of a four-month tribute at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York — are featured in this comprehensive overview of the legendary Hollywood animation studio, the rambunctious birthplace of characters that have become part of American folklore.

Since 1930, the “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie 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 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 of these viewers are unfamiliar with the actual artwork from which these films were created.

“The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons” is a greatly expanded version of the MoMA show, and consists of over 160 drawings, paintings, cels, and related art objects used in the making of Warner’s classic cartoons from the 1930s through 1960. Works by all the directors, including Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Friz Freleng and Bob Clampett, now considered giants among American animated filmmakers, are represented.

The exhibition explores the elaborate creative process that supported the making of many classic films, traces the development of all of Warner’s cartoon stars, and celebrates the studio that created iconic masterpieces of humor and satire. DVDs of dozens of finished cartoons are included in the exhibition.

Special exhibition admission is $5 plus museum admission. The museum is at 31 North Fifth Street. For information, www.allentownartmuseum.org or 610-432-4333, extension 10.