PEANUTS Executive Producer, Lee Mendelson, Special Guest at PEANUTS™ Art Exhibition

San Diego, CA: The Chuck Jones Gallery, located in the center of the historic Gaslamp District at 232 Fifth Avenue, announced today that Lee Mendelson, executive producer of many of the beloved PEANUTS ™ animated television specials, will be their special guest, Saturday, March 15 from 6 to 8:30 PM, at the opening night reception for an exhibit of original production art from the classic PEANUTS ™ films. The event is free and open to the public. RSVPs suggested at 619-294-9880 or [email protected].

Mendelson’s career began in San Francisco at television station KPIX where he created public service announcements. His first production, a documentary on the baseball legend, Willie Mays, lead to his meeting Charles Schulz. The resulting documentary, Charlie Brown & Charles Schulz premiered in 1965. When Mendelson was approached by Coca Cola about producing a Christmas television special, he naturally thought of his friend, Schulz. A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on December 9, 1965 and began a 30 year-long relationship between the two.

Over 50 original works of animation art will be on display and for sale at the gallery through April 7th, many of them signed by Bill Melendez, the director of all of the PEANUTS™ specials up until his death in 2008.  Included in this exhibit will be “Get ‘Em Next Time” a three-panel fine art reproduction on paper of original layout watercolors by Bill Melendez; Mr. Mendelson will be signing this edition. As a special addition to the exhibit of PEANUTS works, art from other endelson/Melendez productions including the “Babar” and “Betty Boop” cartoons will be on view and for sale. Dedications are available, contact the gallery for details.

The exhibition will introduce “Triple Play” a limited edition fine art reproduction on paper, hand-signed by Lee Mendelson. See image below.

“We are thrilled to be able to exhibit these historic works of art,” said Kate Bowerman, the gallery’s assistant director, “each cel represents an actual moment of time, almost as if you were able to capture the character’s heartbeat in a painting. To evoke those special memories is wonderful.”

The Chuck Jones Gallery is the only gallery in San Diego devoted to the art of the animated film, representing not only the work of its namesake, four-time Academy Award recipient and legendary animation director and creator, Chuck Jones, but also art work by Dr. Seuss and all animation studios. Included in the ongoing gallery exhibits are original paintings and fine art editions by artists such as Mike Kungl, Bob Elias, Mike Peraza, Eric Goldberg, and Fabio Napoleoni. The gallery is open seven days a week from 10 to 8 PM, except on Sunday when they close at 6 PM. The gallery website is at ChuckJones.com. Chuck Jones Gallery, 232 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101.

Mr. Mendelson is available for interviews before the event. To arrange an interview or request images, contact Erin Liddell at 619-984-9880 or [email protected].

“Triple Play!”, a signed limited edition fine art reproduction on paper. Created from three hand-painted color-key panels; the concept art for scenes 57, 65A & 67 in the 1969 Academy Award-nominated animated film, “A Boy Named Charlie Brown”. Lee Mendelson, longtime producer of the Peanuts films, has endorsed this art with his signature.