BatB-ANM Art - NYC Gallery Display/Event
Rec-Arts
Mouse toothbrushes to complete wedding packages. The Disney theme parks
derive a major portion of their income from the near mall-like atmosphere
created in shops in the themed lands. The recent development of the chain
of "Disney Stores" has brought the heady atmosphere of everything-Disney to
malls across America. Everyone from toddlers to Disneyana collectors can
find something that fits their desires and budget, all "marked with the
Mouse".
Originally, the "cel" images drawn to create Disney's renowned animated
feature films were discarded, given away or sold for a pittance. In recent
years, cels and other original artistic creations of the Disney company
have become the focus of collector's interests, and the market for Disney
collectibles has soared. Disney has branched out into the rarefied air of
collectible art editions, creating a division that commissions and markets
Disney animation art through Disney theme parks, Disney's retail branch
"The Disney Store", and traditional art galleries.
The recent opening in New York of "Beauty and the Beast--A New Musical",
Disney's first Broadway musical, has provided a new opportunity for Disney
to market its art. Ann Hould-Ward, costume designer for "Beauty and the
Beast", created some of the richest, most extravagant, and finely detailed
costumes ever developed for a Broadway show. For Disney Art Editions,
Hould-Ward has developed original art that will be debuted at a champagne
reception this weekend in New York.
Animazing Gallery, owned by animation art collector Heidi Leigh, is a
successful and respected animation art dealer on the East Coast. This
reception, on May 1, celebrates the opening of the gallery's second
location in the stylish SoHo section of New York. Gallery director Mark
Christian Subias comes to New York with experience selling animation art in
Los Angeles.
Some of the pieces for sale at the special gallery event include two
watercolor sketches of costumes from the show. The first depicts "Belle",
the intelligent, strong-willed young girl who transforms the Beast's heart,
in her second of two remarkable ballgowns from the show. This gown appears
in the show during the closing moments when Belle and the transformed
Beast-prince are ready to live happily ever after. The second sketch
illustrates the costumes of the character Lumiere, the flamboyant Maurice
Chevalier of candlesticks who attends Beast's castle. The three views of
Lumiere's costume depict his progressive change from human to candlestick,
as the spell on Beast and his attendants deepens. The watercolors will be
available as limited-edition lithographs which Hould-Ward will sign and
dedicate at the reception.
During the gallery special event, ten original works produced by Hould-Ward
as part of "Beauty and the Beast's" costume designs will also be sold.
Reproductions of some of Hould-Ward's costume design work are on display
for a limited time at Bloomingdale's in New York City, in conjunction with
Bloomingdale's exclusive "Beauty and the Beast" boutiques, open through May
11th.
Most importantly, in memory of "Beauty and the Beast" lyricist and
executive producer Howard Ashman, Animazing Gallery will donate a portion
of the gala opening's sales to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BC/EFA
addresses the challenges of AIDS in response to the tragic toll the disease
has taken on the Broadway creative community.
Ashman's career in theatre included Artistic Director of the Broadway WPA
Theatre, where he and composer Alan Menken wrote the most successful
Off-Broadway show of all time, "Little Shop of Horrors", and won the New
York Drama Critics Circle award for Best Musical in 1983. "Little Shop of
Horrors" The London production of also received the Evening Standard
Award for Best Musical, and in 1986 was adapted into a film directed by
Frank Oz for the David Geffen Co. Ashman also penned and produced a
critically-acclaimed but short-lived Broadway musical "Smile" with Marvin
Hamlisch.
Ashman is best known to the film world for the lyrics to the smash Disney
animated features "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin" as well as "Beauty and
the Beast." The latter was an artistic triumph, being the first animated
film to be nominated for the Academy Awards "Best Picture" category, and
was the first blockbuster animated film, earning over US$100 million in
United States box office receipts. Tragically, Ashman died of
complications related to AIDS just months before the film opened. His
death was an incredible loss to the stage and screen communities.
Fortunately, his memory lives on in Disney's Broadway show, which is sure
to be a monster hit worldwide.
The champagne reception and special event is by invitation only. For more
information, contact Animazing Gallery at 212-226-7374.
(C)1994 Arnold Tang
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Rec-Arts Magazine copyright (c) 1994 Arnold Tang and Olivia C. Williamson.
This article may not be reposted without permission and attribution.
Selected articles (plus pictures) are available as Hypercard stacks via
anonymous FTP to Rec-Arts.Stanford.Edu, directory \pub\Rec-Arts