That’s not all folks

Suzie Harrison

“The Art and Entertainment of Chuck Jones,” a body of work by the

late animation director Chuck Jones will premiere Thursday at Laguna

College of Art and Design, which seems fitting since he thought of

the college as family.

Lesser known works by Jones’ include his classic art pieces --

those are some of the jewels in this exhibit, including his extensive

work in watercolors, charcoal, as well as his drawings of animals and

their cartoon counterparts.

His wife of 20 years, Marian Jones, daughter Linda Jones Clough

and Aubry Mintz, Laguna College animation chair and professor

collaborated on the project.

“We wanted to make it a representative group [of works],” Jones

said. “Not a lot have been seen before ... sketches, archives and oil

paintings.”

Jones said her husband thought it was absolutely essential for

artists to learn to draw the fundamentals first.

“A lot of people have not seen anything he has done but cartoons,”

Jones said. Mintz said the college’s affiliation with Jones,

especially regarding the animation department, triggered his interest

to head the animation program.

“Chuck was my idol, as he is most people’s,” Mintz said. “I teach

his philosophies and writings so it seemed a perfect fit for me.”

Craig Kausen, Jones’ grandson delivered exhibit works Tuesday and

reflected about the person his grandfather was.

“He was professor emeritus and asked by the college to become

involved with the animation program,” Kausen said. “The school came

to understand, as family understood, Chuck is more than animation.

They very quickly got to know his incredible fine arts background.”

In ’99 he received an honorary doctorate degree from the college

and spoke at graduation.

Animation was Jones’ excuse to fall in love with the school, Mintz

said. But the college’s teaching methods and principals that instill

a classic background in art made Jones grow more fond.

“He really enjoyed working closely with the students,” Marian

said.

“Animation student Dan Weeks was inspired by Jones’ cartoons and

Looney Tunes “wacky edge.” “I have been drawn to him for as long as

I’ve known I’ve had the ability to draw,” Weeks said. Jones’ methods

remain a large part of the curriculum.

“It’s sad that Chuck’s gone, be we can keep him alive with his

philosophies and teachings,” Mintz said. “We can keep him alive with

the students’ work really.”

Jones created many cartoon characters, such as Wile E. Coyote and

the Roadrunner and was co-creator of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.

His cartoons were a reflection of himself and his ideas from

within, Marian said.

“They were exaggerated expressions of his qualities, more of a

reflection of Chuck,” Marian said. Over his career Jones received

four Academy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The college and the Chuck Jones Center are presenting “The Art and

Entertainment of Chuck Jones” for Creativity. The exhibit will open

Thursday and run through Jan. 28 with a lecture series at 11 a.m.

Nov. 20 by famous animation director Eric Goldberg, followed by a

reception from 7 to 9 p.m. His wife and family will be in attendance.

Laguna College of Art and Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road. For

information, call (949) 376-6000.