Friday, August 24, 2012

Dinotopia at the Lyman Allyn

Yesterday a truck picked up the artwork for the Dinotopia 20th anniversary exhibition coming up next month in Connecticut.

This exhibition of about 100 works will be by far the largest and most comprehensive showing of my original artwork. It will feature never-before exhibited works from all four Dinotopia books, including, for the first time, Dinotopia: First Flight. 

The curators took a special interest in the creative process, with a detailed examination of preliminary sketches, hand-made maquettes, reference photos, and plein-air studies. Plus there will be a few non-Dinotopia landscape paintings, National Geographic illustrations, and science fiction works.

If you've already seen the Dinotopia exhibitions at the Norton, the Delaware, or the Norman Rockwell art museums, this show will feature a completely different set of work, most of which has never left the studio.

There will be a whole slate of special programs, including book creators Walter Wick and Bruce Degen, presentations on dinosaurs, and an American Girls Tea Party. I'll be doing a presentation and book signing on October 13.

"DINOTOPIA: Art, Science, and Imagination" will be at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut from September 22, 2012 through February 2, 2013.

21 comments:

Tom Hart said...

Congratulations James!! This is a well-deserved honor. You have no idea how many of your blog friends and fans wish we could be there to cheer you on in person!

jeffkunze said...

That's awesome! I would love to make it out there.

Unknown said...

Gah, it wouldn't happen to be traveling to other museums, would it?

Super Villain said...

Wouldn't miss it! Luckily enough will be on vacation the first week of October in Connecticut!

Daroo said...

Congrats!

Juan Carlos Barquet said...

I would love to go, I just finished reading Color & Light and Imaginative Realism (although I have been following your blog for quite some time now) and you have a new huge fan from Mexico :)

Mike K said...

This is great news! One day I hope to see your work in person. Do you have plans at some point in the future to exhibit somewhere in Western Canada or the Northwest US?

Eileen Keelan said...

Well done James! Wish I was there to see it but not possible living over here in Ireland!

Julia Ergane said...

My husband and I will be going as we live just around the corner, as it were, in North Stonington, which is about 18 miles away.

jill polsby said...

Congratulations on this wonderful show. You deserve it!!

Christian Schlierkamp said...

Congratulations! How I wish I could go there!

Janet Oliver said...

I agree with Tom! And would add that it would be wonderful if a museum somewhere out this way - Colorado - decides to assemble this exhibition.

Unknown said...

Finally, a Dinotopia exhibit I can get to by train! Must catch this one...

Tomas de Zarate said...

¡¡bravo, felicidades!!

mdmattin said...

Was chagrined to miss you at the Howard Pyle opening (did see the show though, which is worth a pilgrimage) but am planning to make it to this one. Congratulations on the show - will there be a published catalogue?

James Gurney said...

MD Mattin, No catalog, but the new Dover editions of Dinotopia and World Beneath have a big behind the scenes section that includes a lot of the sketches and maquettes that will be in the show.

Mike and everyone in other states and countries: If you know people the art museum or natural history museum in your area, and they seem interested, please have them contact me (or they can contact the Rockwell Museum, which is touring the other Dinotopia exhibition).

Kelleewynne said...

I have the first edition signed by you from 1992...I have been a fan for a long time. I think I might need to take a trip to conneticut!

Susan Havey said...

Would love to see that in person!
A fall trip to Connecticut may be in order...

Ronaldogold said...

Congratulations! How I wish I could go there!

molliekatie said...

Hoping to make it out to Connecticut in October for the exhibit! Any chance that "Dinotopia: First Flight" will get the special edition treatment? Missed it the first time it was published and it's out of print now. I thought it might be worth waiting before I buy a used copy if there will be a behind-the-scenes edition forthcoming. Any news on that front?

James Gurney said...

Molliekatie, First Flight is planned, but not on the schedule yet. A new edition would have a back section that would take us behind the scenes, but also bring us deeper into the origins of Dinotopia.