Explore the spirit of legendary animation director Chuck Jones this summer with three very special programs at the world-famous Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California!  Each seminar will meet on a Wednesday in August (3rd, 10th, 17th) from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at the museum, 2002 N. Main Street (just south of the 5) in Santa Ana.  Tickets for all three seminars are $50.00 for members and $80.00 for non-members.  Individual sessions are $20.00 members and $30.00 non-members.  

The first seminar, "Embracing the Line, Facing the Lion", will be led by Marian Jones, a gifted photographer, artist, and writer.   As the late Chuck Jones' beloved wife and creative co-conspirator, Marian will share insights into Chuck's imagination--and help you explore and learn to trust your own unique creativity!

According to Chuck Jones, "failure as success" is just one of several great contradictions of creative endeavors. In this seminar, learn the "grammar" of drawing - learn to control the line, not the other way around! Session includes viewing of short cartoons and clips from Chuck Jones interviews, as well as a lively discussion of what "success" really means.

This session will include a presentation of several of Chuck Jones's cartoons plus a hands-on art project for participants.  

The second seminar, "Bringing Life to the Characters: Its the Oddities that Count!", presented by Linda Jones Clough, Chuck's daughter and sole focus of Chuck's fatherly affection.  She is an innovative and skilled entrepreneur and producer who has found success both on her own and working with her late father (look her up on IMDB and be dazzled.) 

Whether you draw, write, or tell stories, what allows you to bring what you imagine to life?  What makes cartoon characters so believable?  This seminar uses Chuck Jones films and sketches to demonstrate the astonishing things that can be done with seemingly lifeless, inanimate objects. Each participant in this seminar will draw, describe, or create an original character--and find genuine inspiration along the way.

For the third and final session, "The Pencil, the Computer, Children and Creativity" you'll join Craig Kausen, grandson of Chuck Jones, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (and a founding member) of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, as he shares his own personal perspective on the life of the imagination.

Whether we work with the oldest or the newest tools, the human touch is an absolutely essential component of creativity. This seminar highlights the Chuck Jones brand of character study:  how to harness the most subtle details of human and animal movement to bring your creations to life. Everyone participating in this highly interactive seminar will discuss which tools to use, and why, and will leave with tips on fostering children's (and adults') natural enthusiasm for creating art.   It will also include an art project for participants.  

But wait! To wrap up this series of imaginative and fun programs (in a bright shiny bow) will be a Chuck Jones Film Festival hosted by Craig Kausen on Sunday, July 28th, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.  Starring all of your favorite cartoon characters, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, it will be a not-to-be-missed event at the Bowers!  

For more information, please email education@bowers.org , call 714.567.3677, or visit the Bowers website. 

What might be unique about my experience was perhaps the sounds that I remember so distinctly.  In addition to the music, the banter, the sproooing, or the splat, I distinctly remember the clackety-clackety-clack or Chuck's old, blue Bell & Howell 16mm projector adding a constant pillow of support to the frivolity that played out on the five foot floor-standing pull-up screen that adorned the corner of the room.

On regular occasion we would descend upon their home, if lucky with a friend in tow, to find a seat cross-legged on the floor front and center to witness the productions being shown on our own little silver stage.

The only question would be who would have the honor of playing projectionist for the evening.  If I were lucky (and I am regularly lucky), I would be the one to decide the order of the films taken out one at a time from their rectangular shaped film case placed below the side table which made for the makeshift projector stand.

I learned how to conduct a Bell & Howell before I could ride a bike.

First, turn the play knob only one notch so the bulb won't shine during the feed. Depress the top feed button until it clicks. Then gently feed the leading edge of the film into the tiny slit until the sprockets catch and rapidly draw the acetate into its belly.  Watching carefully as it makes its way through the gearing, down and around toward the back and eventually through, it's imperative to watch its escape to only allow a foot or two to dangle out its aft before switching the play knob back to off. Then there's a gentle tug on the film to release the feed button followed by a gingerly fed loop over the spring-loaded final gearing before inserting the film's edge into the take up reel's opening slit with a few turns to remove the slack. 

Only at that point would the lights be dimmed and the projector placed into its active play position igniting the brightest, and hottest, bulb in the house to flicker the 12 frames per second across the room.

I, as a responsible projectionist, would remain seated next to the projector to minimize the duration of the rhythmic slapping of the film's final tail as it exited its captor and continued to spin and hit the back casing.

The lights then would come up and the film was rewound, at surprisingly dramatic speed, only to find more staccato slapping as it slowed to a stop upon its completion.

I loved those film nights and any ensuing discussion about a character, a scene, or an inspiration during each mini-intermission.  But my most vivid memories from those evenings were the sounds of Chuck, the director, the creator of these films, laughing and enjoying them as if they were being seen for the very first time.

I know most of us have these wonderful memories of enjoying the cartoons again and again (for the very first time), but for me, these few sounds permeate mine more than anything else.

Craig Kausen

(A lucky guy...)

Hosted by the Center from 9 AM to 12 PM (most Saturdays, please call 949-660-7793 or 714-516-9540 to confirm) this opportunity to develop your or a child's creativity is open to participants from 3 years old to 103 (at the least, older most welcome, and those under 6 should be accompanied by an adult.)  The Center is located at 131 West Chapman Avenue (north side of the street, just 1/2 block west of the Plaza.  

The goal of the morning drawing class is to give young Rembrandts and Frankenthalers the space that will allow them to expand their creativity by having free reign to draw, sculpt, paint or construct anything that they wish with guidance from Chris as needed (or requested.)  All supplies and materials are provided by the Center; the nominal fee is $10.00 per child up to age 10 and $15.00 for everyone older. 

Let's get together and draw!  See you there!

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity's new website has incorporated this blog, Now Hare This!, into its platform.  We are in the process of transferring all of the posts to the new address, www.ChuckJonesCenter.org and hope you'll stop by often to read about our programs, events and upcoming exhibitions.  

See you there and thank you for your support!

A young artist works on her creative spirit in "Litter-Alley" last night at the grand opening of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity.

Craig Kausen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, makes an important announcement at last night's festivities.  That's Chuck Jones' daughter, Linda, to the left.

Marvin Martian stood guard over the hors d'oeuvres!

To learn more about the Center & it's programs, please visit it's new & improved website, www.ChuckJonesCenter.org. 

"When I reconnected with Julie [Julie Hudash, Team Kids CEO] late last year and was introduced to Team Kids, I could hardly imagine what depth and breadth the organization entailed. 

"After our first 'official' meeting between Team Kids and the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity I felt that I had just met a superlative force emanating from this lovely mother of five.

"Over the next few months I experienced Shop with a Cop, Lemon-Aid, Hearts for Haiti, and the closing festivities of the Team Kids Challenge at Alderwood Elementary School and imagine was all that I could do when it came to the possibilities of Team Kids. 

"The vision and humility that exists, not only with Julie, but throughout the organization is profound.  I am inspired by each and every person I come into contact with who devotes their time, resources, and spirit to the growth and development of Julie's vision.

"That each young person can find the confidence, the experience, and the encouragement that they can and will make a difference in our world is a singularly important dream that Team Kids not only sees, but brings to fruition again and again.

"Someone asked me recently why I agreed to be the Chairperson of the Imagine Event.  My answer was simple, "How could I not?

"I laud, not just the achievements of Team Kids, but the methods and attitudes that bring its success to bear.

"My grandfather, Chuck Jones, said that any worthy endeavor was 90% hard work and 10% love and, if done right, only the love would show.

"Team Kids is truly a worthy endeavor."  With utmost respect, Craig Kausen

Linda Jones Clough (left) Trustee of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and Julie Hudash (center,) CEO of Team Kids at the May 23rd afternoon event at Il Fornaio in Irvine, California. 

"I went because of the gallery showing of the work of Chuck Jones. Jones has always been my favorite cartoonist in animation. I love the way he draws characters from his versions of Bugs and Daffy to the Grinch..."  To read the rest of Mike's post, click here. 

The Friday night crowd (May 14th) at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Grand Lobby Gallery taking in the exhibit, "Chuck Jones: An Animator's Life From A to Z-Z-Z-Z".  AMPAS is located at 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills.  The exhibit is free to the public and open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday / Sunday from noon to 6 PM.   The gallery is closed on Mondays.  Click here for more information. 

The exhibition was curated by Ellen Harrington, the Academy's Director of Exhibitions and Special Events, and was culled from the archives of Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and the Chuck Jones Collection of the Warner Bros. Museum.  It includes layout drawings by Jones, along with storyboards, backgrounds, pre-production concept art & other related ephemera from Jones' seven decade career.  It is the first (and largest) exhibition of the art of the animated film ever assembled solely devoted to the work of one man.  

On hand to welcome the opening night crowd were Jones' daughter, Linda Jones Clough (pictured 4th from left below) along with her children and their spouses, grandchild and Jones' widow, Marian Jones (4th from right.)

From left: Krista Kausen, Todd Kausen (Jones' grandson,) Jim Clough, Linda Jones Clough (Jones' daughter,) Jessica Kausen (great-granddaughter,) Marian Jones (wife,) Valerie Kausen (granddaughter,) Kimberley Kausen, Craig Kausen (Jones' grandson.)  Photo by Stephen Russo.

Marian Jones places Chuck Jones' Oscar® for his 1965 short animated film, "The Dot and The Line" on its pedestal for the opening of the exhibition.

Oscar® takes his place of honor during the opening ceremonies surrounded by Jones' family, from left: Todd, Craig, Valerie Kausen with Marian Jones (3rd from right,) Linda Jones Clough and Jessica Kausen.  

Tracy Tanner, President of the Chuck Jones Council for Creativity (far left) with her husband John (2nd from right) and friends.

Craig Kausen (2nd from right) Chairman of the Board of Chuck Jones Center for Creativity takes a moment to pose here with (from left) Laura Baden, member of the Board of Directors for Team Kids, Julie Hudash, CEO and Founder of Team Kids and Kimberley Kausen, far right, Craig's wife. 

Valerie Kausen, co-producer of the bio-doc "The Magical World of Chuck Jones" and Jones' granddaughter, takes a moment to speak with author Rick Ball and Stephen Fossati, animated film producer, director and writer.

Marian Jones (l) with Kimberley Kausen (and Linda Jones Clough, left background.)

Cheryl Posner (l) Executive Director of Chuck Jones Center for Creativity pauses during the festivities to speak with Robert Patrick and Tracy Tanner, President of Chuck Jones Council for Creativity, the outreach arm of the non-profit Center.  

Smiles all around!  Fans of Chuck Jones, from left, Hannelore Palcsik, Darrell Park and Susan Palcsik enjoy the exhibition.

Leigh (r) and John Yetsko revel in all things Chuck Jones.

Jessica Kausen, great-granddaughter of Chuck Jones and Valerie Kausen, great, granddaughter of Chuck Jones share the joy of the evening.