Chuck Redux

Chuck Jones + New Mexico Celebrate Their Centennial in 2012

Chuck Jones said that part of his great pleasure in visiting the Land of Enchantment (New Mexico) was probably due to the fact they both came to be the same year, 1912.  "New Mexico" magazine celebrates the state's centennial in their latest Collector's Edition, which included a great note about "taking a left turn at Albuquerque".  

It reads: "1953: Cartoonist Chuck Jones popularizes Bugs Bunny's phrase, "I knew I shoulda tooke that left toin at Albakoikie," [sic] sparking a pop-culture onslaught of references to getting lost near the Duke City.  Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies creator Chuck Jones lived in California, but traveled frequently to New Mexico.  Reflecting his attachment to the state, a gallery of his work operates in Santa Fe today."

Linda Jones Clough to Be Interviewed Tomorrow on Womensradio.com

Susan Brender of "V is for Vitality" a weekly program on WomensRadio.com will be posting her interview with Linda Jones Clough, Chuck Jones's daughter tomorrow, Wednesday, December 21st.  "V is for Vitality" features interviews with artists discussing how the arts play a vital role in maintaining youth and vitality. This show will discuss the fundamental importance of the arts in the mind-body-spirit relationship as a health strategy. 

Brender has 20 years experience as a television producer with diversified broadcasting experience in the Political, Entertainment, Legal, and Business arenas. She is the recipient of the ACE Award for (Best Program in an Educational Series):Teenagers: Drinking and Driving “A Killer.” She has recently directed her talents and energy working in communications and development for non-profits dedicated to arts and education and arts and health.

Linda Jones Clough, the Emmy Award-winning producer ("Peter and the Wolf", 1996, Best Prime Time Children's Program) is the founder of Linda Jones Enterprises, the art publishing and art gallery business she established in 1977 to distribute the art of her father, legendary animation pioneer, Chuck Jones. Today, Jones devotes much of her time to the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, the non-profit organization founded by Chuck Jones in 1999 to promote and encourage the creative spirit that resides in all of us through educational programs, art exhibits, film festivals that draw on the material in the Chuck Jones archive and Chuck Jones's unique teaching philosophy.  

Smiles Guaranteed! Chuck Jones Gallery--Tustin Now Open Saturdays

The Chuck Jones Gallery is pleased to announce that beginning Saturday, October 29th, its Tustin, California location will be open Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM.  Come on by and bring this blog post with you to receive a free Chuck Jones SMILE fine art print (choose from 4 different images!)*  In Tustin, you'll find all of the art from your favorite animation studios as well as that of Dr. Seuss, Fabio Napoleoni, Markus Pierson, Eric Goldberg and of course it goes without saying, the incomparable work of Chuck Jones.  

The Tustin Gallery is conveniently located at 3065 Edinger Avenue, Tustin, between the 5 and the 55 freeways and just east of Jamboree in the Tustin Metrolink Plaza.  Call 866-ChuckJones (866-248-2556, our local number is 949-660-7791) for more details.  Stop by and say hello--we guarantee you'll leave with a smile on your face and one in your hands!  www.ChuckJonesGallery.com. 

*Must be present to redeem.  

Chuck Jones Takes Flight at the Portland Airport

The works of Northwest legendary cartoon artist, and world-renowned anima-producer at Warner Bros., Chuck Jones, are now on display at Portland International Airport. Born in Spokane, Washington, Jones’ career spanned the history of animated films, beginning at Warner Bros. and continuing his work at MGM before establishing his own Chuck Jones Enterprises in 1963.

Photo courtesy Port of Portland

Jones' colorful and magical masterpieces of liveliness display his innate creative genius.  His most poplular works include "The Dot and the Line", "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "The Phantom Tollbooth."  He is perhaps best known for his timeless work at Warner Bros. such as "What's Opera, Doc?", "Duck Amuck" and "One Froggy Evening."  

Greeting the traveler’s eye, Jones’ exhibit, located along Concourse A, brings to life his youthful spirit and sharp wit. Jones’ work speaks to the inner-child of many travelers, and highlights more than 60 years of cartoon and animation history. Jones was a prolific artist whose work has been exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide. He has directed more than 300 animated films, won three Oscars in his career, and received the Lifetime Achievement Oscar in 1996.

Photo courtesy Port of Portland

"Painting does what we cannot do—it brings a three-dimensional world into a two-dimensional plane,” said Jones, who expressed himself in many different ways through his work.

The work is part of the rotating art exhibits program at PDX and is on loan from the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity through March 2012. More information about Jones is available at www.ChuckJonesCenter.org.

The PDX art program is designed to showcase the dynamic cultural life in the Pacific Northwest and showcase Northwest expression through ongoing relationships with regional artists, arts organizations, museums and educational institutions.

More information about PDX is available at www.pdx.com.

 

Celebrating Chuck Jones' 99th Birthday

Thomas J. McLean of Animation Magazine has written a tribute to Chuck Jones in honor of his 99th birthday.  He's also included three cartoons, "What's Opera, Doc?", "Prest-O Change-O" and a Tom & Jerry short, "Jerry, Jerry, Quite Contrary".  To read his article and to watch the cartoons, click on this sentence.

Bugs Bunny and Haute Couture

New York's Fashion Week and the coverage it receives is not usually where one would think you'd find references to Chuck Jones, but you would be wrong.  We've seen the work of Chuck Jones used as touchstones for everything from physics to philosophy, but this may be a first.  

Fashion critic for the New York Times, Cathy Horyn, has singled the work of Chuck Jones out, not only for his brilliant use of bold color, but also for the gentleness that was mixed in with the gags.  That all important convivial mix of wit and vulnerability was their hallmark.  She goes on to point out that the bold patterns being shown by many of the fashion designers lack that subtlety.  

Please read her article, The Volume Stays Up to get her particular take on the state of American fashion now appearing on runways throughout New York City.  

"Drag Strip" a limited edition sericel available at the Chuck Jones Gallery.  

WNYH! (We Need Your Help!)

One of Chuck Jones Center for Creativity's most ardent partners and supporters is the amazing non-profit TEAM KIDS.  They have been selected as one of 10 finalists for a Cox Cares Grant of $10,000.00!  No one is more deserving, but, and this is where you come in, TEAM KIDS needs your vote!  The non-profit with the most votes wins the grant of $10,000.00 and will be named Cox's Non-Profit of the Year.  Please, please take a moment (okay, maybe 4 minutes, 5 tops) and go to Cox Cares and vote for TEAM KIDS.  We thank you and TEAM KIDS thanks you!  To learn more about TEAM KIDS, visit their website.  

TEDx SAArtistsVillage Examines “EXTRAordinary” at Yost Theater, October 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SANTA ANA, CA) – September 2, 2011 – Creative Orange County presents TEDxSAArtistsVillage, on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 9am – 5pm at the historic Yost Theater in Downtown Santa Ana. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TEDxSAArtistsVillage is an independently organized event licensed by TED. 

Curated and produced by Creative Orange County, TEDxSAArtistsVillage will examine the meaning and interpretation of “EXTRAordinary,” be it unusual, remarkable, common, ordinary, or other. The program will include topical speakers, short film/video (1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners of the 1^st Annual Creative Orange County Short Film/Video Festival), pre-recorded TED Talks and live musical performances.

LIVE speakers and performers scheduled to appear at TEDxSAArtistsVillage include (other guest speakers and musicians still to be announced) - - 

• Brianna Karp, Author - The Girl’s Guide to Homelessness

• Lisa Bloom, Trial Lawyer, Author – Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World

• Mildred Lewis, Co-Owner, The Fox Lewis Project

• Kelly Smith, Founder - Center for Living Peace

• Laurie Hassold, Multi Media Artist

• Gregorio Luke, Impresario- Murals Under the Stars

• Craig Kausen, Chairman of the Board - Chuck Jones Center for Creativity

• Jeff Lebow, Co-Founder - The Harvest Club

• Kohl Crecelius, CEO - Krochet Kids International

• Amber Kandarian, Founder - DocuThesis

• Lindon A. Crow, Personal Growth Coach

TEDxSAArtistsVillage will coincide with Downtown Santa Ana’s first Saturday Artwalk beginning at 5pm the same evening, providing TEDx guests opportunity to experience extended creativity and culture following the conference.

Tickets for TEDxSAArtistsVillage are on sale and available online at http://www.tedxsaartistsvillage.com. The ticket price is $55 for general admission and will include the complete Saturday conference program including an interactive reception following.

About TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani,Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

TED2011, "The Rediscovery of Wonder," was held February 21-25, 2011, in Long Beach, California, with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs, California.  Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.  

About Creative Orange County

Creative Orange County is a "think tank @ the intersection of culture, commerce and community".  Vision is to inspire, engage Orange County CA to be a "Creative" Community Showcase via partnerships and collaborations with like minded individuals and organizations.  Visit www.creativeorangecounty.com for more information.

******

*This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED.

Media Contact: Ashley Eckenweiler,The ACE Agency

 949.285.9239, ashley@theaceagency.com

Program Contact: Susan L. Petrella, Creative Orange County

714.975.0284, creativeorangecounty@hotmail.com 

 

 

CIRCUS CIRCUS LAS VEGAS GETS ANIMATED THIS OCTOBER WITH THE OPENING OF “THE CHUCK JONES EXPERIENCE”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                MEDIA CONTACT:  Kim Sudhalter, Urban Legend PR, 213-369-6062 or kim@urbanlegendpr.com

 HOLLYWOOD, CA, August 22, 2011 – The legacy and creativity of Chuck Jones, one of animation’s pioneering director-producers, will be brought to life with the opening of The Chuck Jones Experience, an interactive exhibit at Circus Circus Las Vegas designed to “Educate, Inspire & Entertain” people of all ages. The attraction will celebrate its grand opening in mid-October with a press conference featuring some of animation’s brightest stars.

A four-time Academy Award-recipient, Jones created some of today’s most beloved and enduring animated characters including Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner and Pepé le Pew among many others.  In 1999, with the establishment of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, Chuck Jones envisioned a time when people of all ages could explore their creativity…when all ideas would be welcome, when inspiration would be nurtured without prejudice, and creativity would blossom and grow. The Chuck Jones Experience, utilizing the art, writings and films of Jones, will nurture that spirit of creativity in an environment that is playful, lively, inspirational and educational. The project is being developed by Jones’ grandson, Craig Kausen, Jones’ daughter, Linda Jones Clough, and a group of Chuck Jones fans who have believed in and supported its creation for years.

“My grandfather said that if you provide the right materials and an environment of love, creative magic will come out of young people,” said Kausen. “The Chuck Jones Experience will provide kids, and animation fans of all ages, with an extraordinary place to not only learn about the art of animation, but to discover the creativity and magic that’s inside us all. We are thrilled to kick off Chuck’s Centennial year with the opening of this exciting new venture.”

The Chuck Jones Experience is a nearly 10,000 square-foot destination. At its entrance is the 1,000 square-foot glass-enclosed Chuck Jones Center for Creativity class room where creative art projects will be encouraged and guided by teachers from the field of animation and the arts. Heading inside, your first stop is the Chuck Jones Theatre, designed to simulate a 1930s-style movie theater. There, you’ll meet Chuck Jones via a short film, introduced by one of his characters, the Connecticut Cat.

Moving on, you’ll walk down a virtual street surrounded by many of Jones’ most memorable characters and a timeline of his extraordinary life. Next, you’ll arrive at a re-creation of Jones’ studio, where you’ll see how he worked, and discover what inspired him to create his beloved characters. From there, you‘ll enter the “How Do You Measure Up?” room where 3-D characters are on display.  You’ll learn more about how characters are developed and experience some of the original key drawings Jones drew during the creation of these characters.

Continuing along, you can view some of Jones’ fine art work from various periods in his life and see classic photos of him, his fellow animators and his family. This leads into “Animation Alley,” a multimedia wall where animation pieces are on display from the permanent collection of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and from other animation studios and collections.

Finally, you’ll arrive at the Acme Workshop, where you can create your own sound effects and voiceovers for a Chuck Jones cartoon at the Chuck Jones Experience Foley Stage. You can commemorate your experience forever at the Chuck Jones Experience Gift Shop with a variety of creative gifts and souvenirs.

“My father knew that creativity was the key to any innovation and breakthrough and therefore it must be encouraged and supported in order for society to succeed,” added Jones Clough. “It has been our family’s dream to develop locations where creativity could flourish. We established the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity in Orange County, CA, as a first step in bringing this vision to life. The opening of The Chuck Jones Experience represents a delightful next step in making creativity accessible to everyone, whether they’re visiting Las Vegas, or living nearby.”

“We are pleased to be joining forces with such a great partner as Circus Circus to make this project a reality,” continued Kausen. “Creative inspiration can be achieved in a very short time and being on vacation is a perfect time to tap into it.  Circus Circus is well known for the fun and wonderment it inspires in guests, and it’s a crossroads for travelers from around the world. These qualities make it a great location for The Chuck Jones Experience.”

“The Chuck Jones Experience is an exciting addition to our assortment of family-friendly entertainment offerings at Circus Circus and we are honored to become home to such a fascinating interactive attraction,” said Don Thrasher, president and chief operating officer of Circus Circus. “This experience is unlike anything else in Las Vegas and it is certain to create hours of fun and enlightenment for guests of all ages.”

"Speaking on behalf of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, I am very excited that the programs which have been so successful here will be accessible by a much broader group of people at The Chuck Jones Experience,” said Tracy Tanner, president of the Chuck Jones Council for Creativity.

About Chuck Jones:

Chuck Jones created the legendary Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for Warner Bros. Tom & Jerry cartoons and the TV version of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas for MGM, along with many other well-known classics such as The Phantom Tollbooth, George Selden’s The Cricket in Times Square, Rudyard Kipling’s Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and The White Seal.

About Circus Circus Las Vegas

The hallmark of the 3,767-room Circus Circus Las Vegas lies under the legendary Big Top, where celebrated circus acts perform on the Midway Stage as part of the world's largest permanent circus.  The Adventuredome, America’s largest indoor theme park, offers five acres of climate-controlled fun for all ages.  Guests of Circus Circus may dine in a variety of restaurants including THE Steak House, rated the best steakhouse by Zagat and recognized a record 20 times in Las Vegas Review-Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” awards, and Rock & Rita’s, where flair bartenders and live music enliven the scene.  Circus Circus also offers a casino, wedding chapel, meeting and convention space and a 30-acre RV park.  Circus Circus is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International™ (NYSE: MGM).  For more information and reservations, visit www.circuscircus.com or call toll free at (800) 634-3450 or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Bugs Bunny Takes Center Stage in Irvine

By ZACHARY TAFOYA / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

On top of a mountain, a horned figure manipulates lightning in perfect accord with a thundering score of percussion and winds. As the lightning and music climax together, the figure raises his arms to the heavens before stopping outright so that the audience can hear the terrible truth that he must reveal.

He clears his throat before announcing in a flurry of w's; "Be vewwwwy qwiet, I'm hunting wabbits!"

"Bugs Bunny at the Symphony" will feature the Pacific Symphony performing the scores of Chuck Jones' iconic Warner Bros. cartoons, which will be shown on an overhead screen at Pacific Amphitheatre.

MORE PHOTOS »

Wagner as performed by Elmer Fudd.

The animation of Chuck Jones is arguably among the greatest produced in the roughly hundred-year frame that animation has existed. Jones' tenure from 1935 to 1963 as an animator at Warner Brothers yielded some of the most iconic cartoon characters ever, including Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Michigan J. Frog, Wile E. Coyote, the Roadrunner, and Pépé Lepew. Of the four Looney Tunes shorts inducted into the National Film Registry, three were directed by Jones, the most animation works in the archive by a single director.   Read the rest of the story, via www.ocregister.com