Chuck Redux

I Want to Be There: The 2nd Annual Red Dot Auction!

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity: Gala Grand Opening at South Coast Collection!

Where to start?  It's taken a day just to decompress after all of the hoopla and foopla and other oopla's, but we're here to tell you that Saturday night at 3321 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa was a rock 'em, sock 'em, knock-out of an evening!  The doors opened at 6 PM and within a few minutes the 8000 square foot space was filled to the brim with southern California's brightest and best.  Artists, animators, writers, and actors, event planners, wedding strategists, publicists, and collectors all converged (harmonically even) to celebrate the partnership of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity with 24 carrots Catering & Events.  

Raffle winners (with many thanks to Lauren (11) and David (9) who tirelessly worked the room selling raffle tickets) chose from a wall of art; hundreds crowded around the Silent Auction wall and placed their bids; it seemed at times that there were a thousand people there, but more likely something like 400 friends and supporters of creativity, along with lovers of the art of Chuck Jones (which was everyone) came together to support the educational programs of the Center.  We thank and salute you for your gracious and generous donations.  Please take a bow!

Chairman of the Center and Chuck's grandson, Craig Kausen, with his wife, Flavorful chef and one of the night's silent auction donors, Kimberley, greeted and shmoozed, shook hands and air-kissed, laughed and shared their love of creativity with the assembled. 

The evening would not have been complete without the creative energy of Chuck Jones's daughter, Linda Jones Clough, seen here with her sons Todd and Craig along with Craig's son, Charlie.  It was a multi-generational kind-of-night!

Special guest, Jeff Degrandis (left), producer and director of Nickelodeon's "Dora the Explorer", "Go, Diego, Go!" and other animated series, and one of Chuck's "Dover Boys", spoke lovingly about the effect Chuck's friendship and mentoring had on him and his career and life during the presentation before the live auction portion of the evening.

Marian Jones, wife of Chuck Jones, with her friend Dickson Shafer, enjoyed the evening.

To keep the children who joined us busy, as well as many of the adults, an art project to 'obliterate' a wall and furniture with color-form stickers was set up in one corner of the Center's new space.  It turned out beautifully and will be an ongoing project at the Center.

Husband-and-wife-artists Patricia and Mike Peraza made the scene.  Mike is participating in the Homage to Chuck Jones series of original and limited edition work that is being created to celebrate Chuck Jones's Centennial this year.

Writer, blogger, and cartoon historian, Jerry Beck, was one of the well-wishers, seen here with friend Yvette Kaplan.

Jon Brown (left), co-owner of 24 carrots Catering & Events, addresses the crowd before the live auction. Thank you 24 carrots, we wouldn't be in this beautiful, new space without you!  24 carrots Catering & Events provided an outstanding series of buffet tables laden with delectable goodies from "build your own" sliders to exotic cheeses and liquid nitrogen infused popcorn (you breath fire like a dragon when you eat it!)  They even created a new drink just for this event, a Carrotini!  Everyone said it was delish.

Robert Patrick (left) of the Center and Linda Jones Enterprises puts his head together with Phillip Trigas, architect (of RTK Architects in Culver City), and the designer of the new space for Chuck Jones Center for Creativity.  By the way, one lucky bidder will have 3 one-hour sessions with Phil as he guides them through the steps to producing an architectural rendering.  He graciously donated his time as a silent auction item.

Neil Cantor, Managing Director of the Chuck Jones Experience at Circus Circus in Las Vegas  with his daughter, the awesome Lauren, who sold raffle tickets for us throughout the evening AND called out some of the winning numbers as well.  Thank you Neil and Lauren!  (Also, a special callout to Lauren's brother, David -- not pictured -- who is an incredible salesmen, you rock David!)

Here's Craig sharing his feelings about his grandfather and creativity before the live auction.

Here's what Craig was facing during his presentation.  Estimated attendance, 375.

Our favorite muralist and actor, James C. Mulligan, painted throughout the evening a new mural on one of the tower entrance walls...watch this space for its completion!

A work-in-progress...

Collectors Louis and Sandra Lozano (2nd & 3rd from left) enjoyed their Carrotinis with the Yetsko's; Johnny (far left), John, Leigh, and Matt.  

Artist Bob Elias with friend enjoyed the proceedings.  

Vivienne and John Ramirez (left, John is the designer of the Chuck Jones Experience at Circus Circus in Las Vegas) with Neil Cantor and Jeff Degrandis (far right).  

The incomparable Todd Kausen with his wonderful wife, Krista.  Todd donated a live and a silent auction item that tech nerds were all over...one involved filming a sporting event (you know there are going to be a lot of buttons to push) as well as another that included a behind-the-scenes tour of the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles (more widgets & gagdets!)

Artist, beard-grower, and all around great guy, Mike Kungl, with his charming and delightful wife, Dana, made the scene that much livelier and fun.  Mike has been working on a series of works that will be part of the Chuck Jones Centennial Homage series.  

A special thank you and shout-out to Stephen Russo, seen here with the Center's Program Director, Pamela Marsden, who provided Chuck Redux with all of these phenomenal photos!  Thank you, Stephen!

 

A Day of Preparation in Advance of Last Night's Gala Grand Opening!

Reporting from Costa Mesa, CA: When our team started arriving at the new Chuck Jones Center for Creativity in Costa Mesa (at South Coast Collection, Sunflower & Hyland, just north of the 405) yesterday morning at around 8:30 AM to prepare for last night's gala grand-opening (you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see photos and learn more about that part of day) we found Paul S., the construction foreman, with his head stuck in the "El Cheapo" lift.  (Most of the above statement is true, but part of it is false...you'll need to make the judgement call.)

Linda Jones Clough, Chuck Jones's daughter, along with 24 carrots Catering & Events' own Nicole Schieppati, put their heads together and came up with a plan for the day.  Without our gracious good fortune of being partnered with 24 carrots, the Center would not have had this amazing opportunity to be in this new 8000 square foot facility.  Thank you 24 carrots Catering & Events!

Everyone looks so small!  It was a Lilliputian moment as the hanging wires were installed by the 6'5" Scott Dicken (far left) with Steve Amaya on a 12' ladder and Tracy Tanner (President of the Center's volunteer council) assisted by the gracious Carol Erickson (far right; everyone give a big 'hello' to Carol, a longtime collector of the art of Chuck Jones who has recently joined the staff of the Center and the Chuck Jones Gallery.  Welcome Carol!) offered their expert advice.

Carol (below) prepared the 20 Silent Auction bid boards for installation.

"Lights, Camera, Action!" made the scene, placed lovingly on its own wall; just to give you an idea of the size of this room, the wall it is hanging on is 23' wide by 17' high.   Texas isn't the only place where everything is big!

Scott Dicken, VP of Retail Operations for the Chuck Jones Galleries, along with the intrepid Steve Amaya (both are 20 year veteran's of Linda Jones Enterprises...we have a tendency to stick around) found themselves up in the El Cheapo lift more often than not as we placed larger works of art on the main exhibition wall.

Craig Kausen, Chairman of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity (far left) and Linda Jones (back to camera, 2nd from left) help Paul, the construction foreman, negotiate the El Cheapo Lift (okay, that's really the name of the company that supplies the lifts we use and we find it immensely amusing, hence its repeated appearance in this post) around the ceiling's truss supports.  Please note that the back wall has since been hung with a variety of works by a group of new artists who are paying homage to Chuck Jones during his centennial year, but more on that later.

The main exhibition wall after installation.  In this instance, we felt a 'salon' installation was best for the space and for the evening ahead.

Finally, at the end of yesteday afternoon, things seemed to be in place and ready for 400 of our nearest and dearest.  Christopher Scardino, Chuck Jones Gallery art consultant extraordinaire and the Center's teaching artist (he channels Chuck's teaching philosophy of nurturing and gentle guidance) stands between original works by Bob Elias (left) and James C. Mulligan (right) that we had placed in our incompleted office area that was off limits to our guests last night, but which we used as a staging area for the event.  Art goes everywhere, no matter the setting!

Tomorrow, watch this space for photos and details from last night's gala grand-opening of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity!

Save the Date! Mark Your Calendars! Polish Your Shoes! Pull Out Your Top Hat and Tails! Turn Off the TV! Eat! Paint! Love! Come and Get "Centered"!

Today is the Day!

Writing from the 15th floor of Circus Circus:  It's 6:00 AM, Thursday, January 19th, and the Chuck Jones Experience is set to open officially (in a non-traditional ribbon cutting ceremony that only a certain Coyote would have dreamt of...) just 5 hours from now at its location in Circus Circus, Las Vegas, Nevada!  To say we're all excited would be understatement.

Yesterday, Linda Jones Clough, daughter of Chuck Jones, her sons Craig and Todd, along with Marian Jones, Chuck's wife, led a group of devotees on a sneak peek through the Experience.  

Earlier in the day, artisans sweated the details; here's Danny putting the finishing touches on the columns just outside the main entrance.  When you visit, make sure to check out his handiwork...you'll be surprised and delighted at what you'll find!

Simon (right) and Jumbo promised me they would watch over "Oscar", Chuck's Academy Award from "The Dot and the Line" 1966.

Just before she led the group into yesterday's sneak peek, Linda Jones Clough stopped to dedicate and sign a copy of her father's autobiography, "Chuck Amuck" for an adoring fan.

There was more, but who wants to look at it online when you can jump on a plane, get in your car, take a train, swim, crawl, walk, run to the Chuck Jones Experience and see it for yourself?  You won't be sorry that you did...in fact, our prediction is that you'll come back over and over again and that you'll find inspiration and creativity bubbling up inside of you.

Okay, one final image:  one of the several zoetropes at the Experience...

Will You Be There? In a "Vegas Minute", Baby!

Linda Jones Clough, daughter of Chuck Jones, and her son, Craig Kausen, trustees of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity were the subject of a recent "Vegas Minute" airing now around the country.  Check it out!  

Join us for the Chuck Jones Experience Grand Opening ceremonies, Thursday, January 19th, at 11 AM, on the Promenade at Circus Circus, Las Vegas!

Planet TNEZ to Open with Red Carpet Event!

Friend, donor, and volunteer of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, Tommy Martinez, whose passion for nurturing and guiding creativity is one of the reasons why we think the world of him, is opening his Planet TNEZ on November 12th from 5 to 10 PM in downtown Anaheim (California) at 508 W. Chestnut Street.  There'll be music, art and boundless creativity--all of which warrants your participation.  

"Planet TNEZ is a creative space for artists, or anyone really, who would like to come and be able to create as well as show their work.  I call it an "Artistic Experiment of Creative Thinking and Design". My graphic design background has inspired me to express myself in more traditional and at times, non-traditional, mediums and I want to share the happiness and joy that expression brings me with you."

If you're in the area, set some time aside to visit Planet TNEZ on Saturday, November 12th from 5 to 10 PM...walk that red carpet!  If you can't make it, please visit his online presence at www.PlanetTNEZ.com and 'like' him on Facebook.

Museum of Science and Industry--Chicago Hosts Dr. Seuss Exhibit

Three of our Chuck Jones Gallery staff attended this past weekend's opening gala for "Dr. Seuss and the Art of Invention" at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.  

Making the scene at "the Bean" (AKA "Cloud Gate" by Anish Kapoor) are from left, Scott Dicken, VP of retail for Linda Jones Enterprises, Micah Murray and Kate Bowerman, art consultants at the Chuck Jones Gallery in San Diego.  Afterwards, they took an architectural tour of Chicago from a boat (and got soaked--the weather is less predictable in Chicago than it is in southern California) and later in the day headed down to the Museum for the opening gala.

Scott, Kate and Micah smile for the birdie at the gala reception for the opening of "Dr. Seuss: the Art of Invention" at the Museum of Science and Industry.

The next day, before heading home, they stopped at the studio of artist Peter Mars, who had contributed an homage image of the Lorax to the current exhibit.  From left, artist Peter Mars, Scott Dicken, Micah Murray and Kate Bowerman.  

"Creativity Season" the Fall Fundraiser for CJCC to Be Rescheduled

After considerable thought and discussion, Chuck Jones Center for Creativity’s fall fund-raiser “Creativity Season” is being rescheduled to a yet to be determined new date.  It has been our hope to show off our beautiful new home, but construction at the SoCo location is moving much slower than we had anticipated.

We anticipate combining this event with a fabulous grand opening event later this year or early in 2012 with our partner, 24 Carrots.   That gala would also be a fundraiser for the Center—utilizing the silent and live auction items we’d planned for “Creativity Season.”   We will update you as soon as we can with a new date for this special event.    We look forward to seeing you soon!

Making the Scene at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta just ended its 2011 festivities this past Sunday.  The Chuck Jones Gallery in Santa Fe has participated with the organizers several times, once even providing the "chase" flags (see below.)

But this year, one of Chuck's most beloved characters, Pepé le Pew, took a bow at the Fiesta and wowed the assembled with his larger-than-life presence as one of the participating balloons.  Our friends, Yasine and Kyle (who took the photos below, thank you so much!), said it was great fun to listen in on people as the Pepé le Pew balloon took shape and they began to realize what character it was.  Fractured French for everyone!