The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons at the AGA

Photo by Shawn Martin

Last evening 4/7 of us attended the exhibits of the Art Gallery of Alberta.  It was a hot humid day of at least 31 C!!!  Thank goodness for air conditioning.  We arrived about 6:30 pm and were grateful we did as the line-up behind us for admission doubled back on itself.

The exhibits were all really great but the one I yearned to see was the Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons.  The gallery certainly did it justice.  With "cel" drawings, coloured animations, and presentations of cartoons, it was all I expected and more.  One large wall had a timeline of Warner Bros. from conception to the premiere of their last animated cartoon.  In the foyer one could sit and watch a theatre screen size showing of one of the cartoons.  While we were there a Wile E Coyote and Roadrunner cartoon was entertaining the multitudes awaiting entrance.

I asked the opinions of those who accompanied me last evening and 'S' said he liked the exhibit on the top floor, being Timeline, the best because it appealed to his taste.  Vibrant colours, abstract, out of the box.  Fresh.

'M' said he preferred The Warner Brothers "Marvin the Martian" because he was the coolest of the characters.

'A' said she liked PIRANESI’S PRISONS: Architecture of Mystery and Imagination and Timeline, particularly the sculpture of a house (name unknown).  Piranesi's paintings were very detailed and illustrated depth.  There's so much there.  In Timeline, she enjoyed the unique sculptures and the intestines sculpture, the seashell display and "Wilderment 2010" by Rita McKeough.  She and I both favored David M.C. Miller's "White Fence at Night 2010".

Aside from the throngs of patrons which makes one feel rushed and less able to savour the experience, all in all it was a great cultural event for our family.