“Saturday Morning Art” show opens tonight at MoCCA

“Saturday Morning: Art and Artifacts from a Golden Age of Television.â€? The exhibition, which opens on November 18th, 2006 will celebrate nearly sixty years of television animation with a focus on the “Golden Ageâ€? of Saturday morning cartoons, which lasted from 1966 to 1990. The opening reception is scheduled for the evening of November 18th. The private reception is from 7 to 8pm and the doors are open to the public from 8 to 11pm. Admission is $15.

Over 100 pieces of animation artwork and memorabilia have been culled from the collections of private supporters and MoCCA members, in addition to the representative pieces that the museum has on hand in its own permanent collection.

With a month left, over 75 television programs are already represented in the exhibition and artwork is still on its way to MoCCA for framing in preparation for the mounting of the show, which is MoCCA’s first major exhibition of animation art.

The list of shows currently represented in the exhibition includes: Looney Tunes, NBC TeleComics, Casper, The Woody Woodpecker Show, Tom & Jerry, The Huckleberry Hound Show, The Yogi Bear Show, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Mr. Magoo, The Alvin Show, Jonny Quest, The Pink Panther, Underdog, Space Ghost, The Herculoids, Speed Racer, The Archies, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Harlem Globetrotters, SeaLab 2020, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Schoolhouse Rock, Star Trek, Super Friends, Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, Captain Caveman, Godzilla Power HourBattle of the Planets, New Fantastic Four, New Adventures of Flash Gordon, The Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Show, The Smurfs, Amazing Spider-Man & The Incredible Hulk, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, GI Joe, Inspector Gadget, Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies, Dennis the Menace, Hulk Hogan’s Rock and Wrestling, The Wuzzles, Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears, The Ewoks, The Care Bears, My Little Pony, The Real Ghost Busters, The Original Ghost Busters, Rainbow Brite, Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures, ALF Tales, Garfield and Friends, New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Beetlejuice, The Simpsons, Bobby’s World, Darkwing Duck, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Where’s Waldo, Doug, The Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy, ProStars, Batman: The Animated Series, X-Men, Pinky and the Brain, Sonic The Hedgehog, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego, The Tick, The Powerpuff Girls, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Samurai Jack, Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, and The Batman. As well as pieces from Frosted Flakes and Frankenberry television commercials among others.

Matt. Murray, the exhibition’s lead curator and MoCCA Chief Operating Officer, expresses excitement over the show because “it contains examples of almost every kind of animation art – from character roughs, to model packs, storyboards to drawings, as well as scripts and series bibles. It’s a great chance for the public to see how much work goes into the making of an animated cartoon, and hopefully will give them some perspective on the art form when they watch a cartoon on TV or see a pretty cel for sale in a gallery.â€?

Also on display will be comic art and collectibles including posters, limited edition artwork, and toys that helped contribute to the cultural phenomenon that was Saturday morning, including a 3’x 3’ Smurf village on loan from Schleich.

“Saturday Morning: Art and Artifacts from a Golden Age of Televisionâ€? will remain on view at the museum through March 16th, 2007. The museum is still seeking monetary donations and sponsors to help support the show’s four month stay at the museum.