The New ToonSeum Opening in Downtown Pittsburgh November 14th
-The ToonSeum, Pittsburgh’s Museum of Cartoon Art, is excited to announce its
move to Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009,
the ToonSeum will open its doors at 945 Liberty Ave. The ToonSeum’s new home is
located in the Bruno Building, Downtown, just blocks from the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center and a stone’s throw from other stellar cultural institutions
and Downtown attractions.
The ToonSeum is one of only three museums in
the nation dedicated exclusively to the cartoon arts. The ToonSeum has been
hosted for the past two years by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Its new
location will more than triple the ToonSeum’s current space and allow for
expanded exhibitions, educational programs, a permanent gallery and a space
dedicated to local and independent artists. The move is made possible by a grant
from the Grable Foundation.
"We’re thrilled to welcome The ToonSeum to
the Cultural District, as the organization adds a new dimension to the diverse
programming in downtown Pittsburgh," said J. Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. "Their exhibits and hands-on, educational
programs provide a unique opportunity to engage the community and to celebrate
the art of cartooning."
The ToonSeum will feature new exhibitions every
two to three months, beginning with "Enchanted Drawings: A Century of
Animation." The exhibit will feature original art from Gertie the Dinosaur to
Spongebob and more. On display will be rare artifacts, including an original
animation director's desk from one of Disney’s early studios.
The ToonSeum
will present exhibitions of local and independent cartoonists. The first
featured local artist will be Ed Piskor. Piskor has worked with writer Harvey
Pekar on projects such as "Macedonia" and "The Beats." His independent work
includes the popular series "Wizzywig."
The ToonSeum has established an
ambitious exhibition schedule for its first year, including one of the largest
exhibitions of original art from the anime classic "Akira." Other exhibitions
for 2010 will feature cartoon canines, Ziggy by Tom Wilson, and a chance to
explore the social impact of the comic arts through "The Montgomery Story," a
controversial civil rights comic. The ToonSeum also will present an ongoing
lecture series and workshops for all ages.
"This new location is part of our
continued growth," says ToonSeum founder and Executive Director Joe Wos. "We are
honored to be a part of the Cultural District and look forward to a greater
exposure in the community and a chance to bring pop culture to the Cultural
District."
The expansion, while only a little more than 1,000 square
feet, includes a gift shop operated by Copacetic Comics. The ToonSeum’s archive
of more than 1,000 pieces of original comic and cartoon art is housed in
Guardian Storage’s climate-controlled facility in the Strip District.
The
design of the new space is being headed by ToonSeum board member Dan Vitalie of
Denham-Vitalie Design Associates, and the ToonSeum’s signage and branding is
being created by ToonSeum board Vice President Harold Behar of
Behar-Fingal.
Advance tickets for the opening weekend are available at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/87269.
Admission
is $4 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 17. Children younger than 5 are
free.
Visit us online at www.toonseum.org.
ToonSeum
945
Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
15222
Phone:412-232-0674
email:joe@toonseum.org
website:www.toonseum.org
Hours
of
Operation:
Monday-Closed
Tuesday-Closed
Wednesday10am-3pm
Thursday-
10am-3pm
Friday-10 am-5pm
Saturday 10:00am-5pm
Sunday
11am-4pm
Closed
New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day (Sept. 7),
Thanksgiving Day,Christmas Eve, and Christmas
Day
For interviews contact Joe@toonseum.com
Or 412-760-1896
Joe
Wos
Executive Director
The ToonSeum
www.toonseum.org
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