New Exhibition features Dr. Seuss’s little-known Collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy and unveils the World Premiere of his “Powerless Puffer”
This Father’s Day weekend, Ocean Galleries (9618 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor/609.368.7777) is delighted to present a compelling selection of limited edition artwork from The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection.
“If I Ran the Zoo” opens at Ocean Galleries on Friday, June 16 and runs through Monday, June 19, 2017. Exhibit hours are 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with artwork available for acquisition. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy curatorial lectures by noted Dr. Seuss expert, Jeff Schuffman, at receptions taking place 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM on Saturday, June 17 and 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 18.
Eighty years have passed since Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, produced what he called his “Collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy,” an amazing menagerie of Seussian animals often constructed from real animal beaks, antlers, horns, lions’ teeth, rabbit ears, and turtle shells. In a long forgotten 1938 article featuring his extraordinary taxidermy sculptures, Look magazine dubbed Dr. Seuss “The World’s Most Eminent Authority on Unheard-Of Animals.”
Celebrating the release of Dr. Seuss’s Powerless Puffer — the final Marine Muggs cast-resin sculpture in the Collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy — a traveling exhibition is being launched to feature all 17 of these incomparable artworks. This new exhibition, “If I Ran the Zoo,” marks the first time all 17 sculptures have been presented together in an exhibition dedicated to Dr. Seuss’s sculptural heritage.
The exhibition highlights Dr. Seuss’s little-known sculptural legacy and spotlights the fascinating correlations between his two-dimensional artworks and three-dimensional sculpture. A featured example of this relationship will be presented as a special tour edition, re-created from Ted Geisel’s 1931 pen and ink drawing depicting two gentlemen in tuxedos and top hats, unsuccessfully attempting to hunt down more than 25 wonderfully Seussian animals.
The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection is relatively unknown by the general public, however, art aficionados have avidly followed and collected estate-authorized editions from the collection for nearly two decades. More than half of the collection’s 17 taxidermy sculptures are sold out, making the exhibit’s premiere of the Powerless Puffer an enormous event for art collectors and fine art galleries around the world.
At a recent exhibition dedicated to Theodor Seuss Geisel’s artwork, collection curator Jeff Schuffman spoke directly about these artworks: “Originally created in the 1930s during Ted Geisel’s most prolific sculpting phase, Dr. Seuss’s little-known collection of taxidermy rivals some of the hippest postmodern sculpture on the art scene today. Without question, the Unorthodox Taxidermy is a gem of Dr. Seuss’s career, and the authorized estate editions have become one of the most exciting and collectible elements of his entire artistic legacy. Kudos to those who have recognized these avant-garde creations as important and substantial artistic contributions from one of the world’s most important literary icons.”
“The Wonderful World of Dr. Seuss,” Robert Cahn’s July 6, 1957 Saturday Evening Post article said it best, “Ted’s animals are the sort you’d like to take home to meet the family.”
Along with the sculptures, the exhibition will feature rarely seen estate authorized limited editions from the Secret and Archive Art Collections. “If I Ran the Zoo” will be at Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor (9618 Third Avenue/609.368.7777) beginning Friday, June 16 through Monday, June 19, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with artwork available for acquisition. Curatorial lectures by Dr. Seuss expert, Jeff Schuffman, will take place during receptions 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Saturday, June 17 and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday, June 18.
In addition to an extraordinary collection of artwork and custom-framing, Ocean Galleries also offers a variety of hand-made crafts from local, regional, and national artists in America, such as glass, pottery, jewelry, and furniture. All summer exhibitions take place at the Stone Harbor location of Ocean Galleries (9618 Third Avenue), which is open from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM throughout the summer season. The Avalon, NJ location of Ocean Galleries (2199 Ocean Drive) is open daily from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. For more information, call 609-368-7777 or visit oceangalleries.com
ALL ARTWORK TM & © 2017 Dr. Seuss Enterprises. All rights reserved.
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Click here to read a few of the articles on ”If I Ran the Zoo – The Art of Dr. Seuss”
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For more than 30 years, Ocean Galleries has provided quality art by contemporary artists to their clients while practicing the highest standards of credibility and integrity in a comfortable and unpretentious atmosphere. With locations in Stone Harbor and Avalon, New Jersey, the distinguished art galleries feature an ever-changing display of artwork that includes local artists’ watercolors, nationally recognized artists’ originals, popular beach prints, and limited editions. Ocean Galleries also carries fine furniture and hand-made crafts from America and around the world. Both locations have on-premises custom framing with design specialists and professional framers who can offer a wide selection of mouldings and an endless combination of traditional and custom-designed matting to complement and preserve any art. For more information, please call 609.368.7777 or visit www.oceangalleries.com