by donald dusinberre imartsyfartsy@gmail.com
Did I ever tell you how lucky you are? Well, let me tell you my friend, a pleasant time is not far. Hop on your bicycle and get on a train, ‘cause you can see art from a genius’ brain. He’s no longer with us but as you will see, his pictures are in R. Roberts Gallery.
It’s true. The R. Roberts Gallery is currently hosting a sizeable collection of sculptures, bronzes, and graphic transfers of all your favorite Dr. Seuss characters. In fact, the R. Roberts Gallery is the first gallery ever to feature the bronze statues and the large-scale print of the Grinch on Mt. Crumpit.
Theodor Geisel wrote and illustrated dozens of children’s books and other media as Dr. Seuss. In addition to the well-known images we’ve all grown to love, the exhibition also includes a number of personal and “secret” images that he created just for himself.
Although he died in 1991, Geisel instructed his wife on releasing his secret art to the public. As a result, we are able to experience a series of images that have never been seen in public before, allowing us to learn more about one of the most beloved authors and illustrators in history.
A highlight of the exhibition is the collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy sculptures, which were conceived by Seuss after his father, a zookeeper, would send him horns, antlers, and other animal parts. Seuss would incorporate each part into a sculpture that gave the animal a new form. Also intriguing were the “secret” paintings, some of which look quite different from the lighthearted drawings in his popular books. It’s always fascinating to learn private things about a person, especially someone as creative as Seuss.
Read this carefully, because it is the most important thing to remember about all of the Seuss art you’ll see at the R. Roberts Gallery: Dr. Seuss’ hand has never been on any of them. Every piece of work on display was created after Geisel’s death. Even more definitively, virtually all of the originals are and will remain solely in Mrs. Geisel’s possession.
So how can they call this the art of Dr. Seuss if he didn’t actually make it himself? Well, technically it’s not, but it is derived directly from Seuss’ work. In other words, every work in the gallery is an authorized replica or recreation. Seuss’ wife hired a company to colorize his drawings, create printing plates and run a limited number of hand-pulled prints. Then they destroyed the plates to preserve the value of the prints. They also printed digital copies of Seuss’ paintings as well as cast replica sculptures and hand painted them to look exactly like the originals.
I went into the gallery knowing this information, so I wasn’t disappointed. I wondered how forthcoming the R. Roberts Gallery staff would be with that information, so I decided not to tell them what I knew. I asked a few questions that I believe anyone would have asked, but mostly, I listened.
Much to my surprise, nobody ever attempted to deceive me into thinking that Dr. Seuss painted on any of the canvases or personally drew any of the drawings. The exhibition is called The Art of Dr. Seuss, and I suppose it could fool anyone at first, but you should always pay attention to what you’re looking at, especially when you’re in a gallery that sells the art they display.
Yes, the artwork imagery was definitely conceived by Dr. Seuss himself, but he didn’t finish it. It was interpreted and completed by some other person with no reputation of his own. That being said, it doesn’t mean the work has no entertainment or monetary value. I had a great time looking at Dr. Seuss’ imaginative pictures and sculptures, and even though I knew they weren’t made by him personally, I still wished I could take one home with me. They are still unique in their own, albeit small, way.
There is a reason why I was aware of the fact that none of the artwork in the Dr. Seuss exhibit was actually made by Seuss himself. I was informed of a local man named Gary Arseneau, who has built a reputation on uncovering art fraud. His website, garyarseneau.blogspot.com, outlines his position:
The 72,000 or more so-called “lithographs,” “serigraphs” and edition “sculptures,” attributed to Theodor Geisel by Audrey Geisel, The Chase Group and participating art galleries, are not only non-disclosed -FAKES-, posthumously reproduced after 1997 but they have posthumously applied counterfeit “Dr. Seuss” signatures and edition numbers to foster the illusion that Theodor Geisel a.k.a. Dr. Seuss either created them and/or at least approved them when in fact he hasn’t even seen them.
I wholeheartedly appreciate Arseneau’s diligence in protecting the unknowing public from deception. Although his arguments are overly dramatic, he calls appropriate attention to important facts that are often skirted. He carefully dissects the wording used by art brokers, galleries and museums to uncover what he believes is intentionally hidden. His arguments seem sound and logical, even citing legal precedents, but they only offer substance to certain people. If you’re an art collector, then heed his words and pay attention before you pay for artwork. But if you simply enjoy the art of Dr. Seuss, then feel free to enjoy the exhibition at R. Roberts Gallery. Perhaps you don’t need to look at the original to smile.
Whether someone is out to convince you of lies or truth, keep your eyes and ears open. Do a little research and you’ll be okay. As it is with everything in life, you can’t be fooled by what they’re selling unless you’re buying. Decide for yourself what the word “art” means.
Visit the Dr. Seuss exhibition at the R. Roberts Gallery until October 25th. It might also do you some good to check out Arseneau’s blog to get some perspective before you go. That’s what I did, and I still had a great time.
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