EXHIBIT

It’s the Charles M. Schulz exhibit, Charlie Brown!

— Sometimes silly, sometimes poignant, sometimes heartbreaking in its deceptively simple stories, the Peanuts comic strip and its creator, Charles M. Schulz, touched on something universal, from the warm comfort of a security blanket to the horror of kite-eating trees. With its cast of lovable characters, it was and still is hugely popular, even 12 years after Schulz’s death. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the gang are still everywhere, from television holiday specials to toothbrushes and dolls.

As of Friday, they’ll be at the William F. Laman Library for “Inside Peanuts: The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz.”

The exhibit was created by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, Calif., Laman exhibit and events manager Debra Wood says: “They’ve done a wonderful job bringing to life the creative genius behind the drawings.” This exhibit is designed to appeal to all ages of Peanuts fans, Wood says. “Parents loved it and shared that love with their kids, and the Peanuts message was just something that reached far and wide,” she says. “The exhibit description mentions the strips ranging from friendship and faith to tolerance and disappointment. Those topics transcend time and are as relevant today as they were when each character and comic strip was created. And within the Peanuts gang, there are characters that everyone can relate to.”

She particularly hopes this exhibit will motivate young artists, “as the exhibit itself focuses on Charles M. Schulz’s creative process and artistic life ... I think a lot of kids might be inspired to push their art talents a little more and to realize that ideas and dreams can turn into something really wonderful if you work hard at it.”

The exhibit will include dozens of Peanuts objects, digital reproductions of comic strips, comics that influenced Schulz’s work and several preliminary text and character panels Schulz used in designing and developing his characters.

Wood says she’s particularly excited about the panels: “To see how simple drawings evolved into some of the most beloved characters in our time will be very interesting to see. These elements create an experience for visitors that will illuminate the story behind the creation of one of the most popular and influential cartoon strips of all time.”

As she puts it, “You just can’t go wrong with Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown!”

‘Inside Peanuts:

The Life and Art

of Charles

M. Schulz’

Friday-May 13, William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock

Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

Opening reception: 6-8 p.m. Friday with The Gentleman Jazz

Admission: Free

(501) 758-1720

Weekend, Pages 30 on 03/29/2012

Upcoming Events