The iconic facade and sets of Disneyland’s It’s a Small World attraction were designed in the late 1960’s and bear the unmistakable markings of that time (and the couple proceeding decades). But I wanted specifics. What had Mary Blair, the attraction’s main designer, been exposed to that may have inspired the famous styling of that ride? Here’s a sampling of what I found:
Top image below: Mary Blair, Small World concept art, 1965. And below, two pieces by Auguste Herbin, 1951 and 1950, that are undeniably similar to Blair’s work.Below is a collage by Ray Eames in 1949. Besides a similar styling to Blair, the collage technique and use of transparent layers was something Blair would later use in many of her Small World collages.Below is another Blair illustration, and below that, a Paul Klee painting, Burg und Sonne, 1928I saw many similarities between Klee and Blair, like the three images below. The first image, Klee’s Landscape with Yellow Birds, 1932, uses leaf shapes seen in the Blair piece below it. The third piece is also a Klee and has some subtle similarities to the work above it.The Small World attraction debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair with a an enormous kinetic sculpture at the entrance called the Tower of the Four Winds (second image below). Designed by Rolly Crump but I see inspiration in an unproduced Do Nothing solar-powered kinetic toy designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1957 (first image below).And lastly it seems It’s a Small World continues to inspire others, like perhaps Rex Ray (second image below) whose work possesses the same sense of retro-whimsy seen in Blair’s art for the finale scene in the attraction (below).SEE ALSO MY: Patty Wickman Paints Women Wrestling and I’m All Hey that’s from Epcot
For some reason when I agreed to let Dave publish my old journal entries in his new Mortified book I didn’t accept that people would read the book. People I know. People I work with. People who will be surprised I wrote about them. And people upset that I didn’t write about them.
Oh well, too late now. At least my friend GJ’s piece is raunchier. (I never describe a partner’s ass as “an inverted heart that my dick will make into a spade.”)
If you want to see me recite my section live, I’ll be doing it at the Doomed Valentines Mortified show in LA next month, Feb 14, 8 PM. Get tickets here, it always sells out.
Saw this Patty Wickman painting last night at the super crowded opening for LA Weekly’s “Some Paintings” show. My friend and I immediately recognized the setting as a photograph of a model for a scene in the (now gone) Imagination ride at Epcot, sans Figment the dragon.
I’d probably get pissy about her using the work of vintage Disney Imagineering designers but I sort of blew my wad on Dan Colen earlier. What I can muster makes me say, “So Patty, why didn’t you just sculpt your own little set and use that as your source material? Because I highly doubt you meant to reference a Kodak-sponsored creativity pavilion when you painted ‘Struggle Garden’ in 1998.”
Meh, who cares but me anyway. Everyone else will think it’s from a Tord Boontje installation. His whole oeuvre seems inspired by that scene. Maybe that’s what both Patty and Tord are really saying - “Hey Disney, we liked the old Imagination ride, could you bring that back please.”
And yes, that’s the same Aunt Joan who improves Monet’s paintings with scrapbooking stickers.
Also, if you happen to pass through the center of North America anytime soon, stop by her farm and see my Uncle Gene’s art installation/performance happening all over their property, consisting of: pantyhose stuffed with human hair hanging from trees, electrified metal plates smeared with peanut butter, strobe lights (some on motorized bases), talk radio broadcast over outdoor amplifiers, and nighttime aerial fireworks shells launched horizontally into the surrounding trees. He doesn’t know it’s art but he calls it, “Stay away you damn deer and stop eating my bushes!”
This Sunday, celebrate my birthday in sasquatch style at the Bigfoot Lodge starting at 8 p.m..
Join the gang anytime after 8, I’ll be there ’till at least midnight - It’s all very casual - come introduce yourself!
Try the famous flaming “Toasted Marshmallow” - it’s a bonfire, dessert, and drink all in one!
The lodge doesn’t have food, but I’ll make sure we have some lovely nibbles. Hope to see you!
The Bigfoot Lodge a block east of the 5 (the Glendale side), on south side of Los Feliz Blvd.
If you insist on gift giving and need ideas, here’s my Amazon wish list.
But really, your crooked, inebriated smile is all I need for a good birthday.
It’s one of the best things I saw in Vegas. It’s designed in-house under the direction of Audra Danzak, lighting design by Daivd Hersey, and scenic elements designed by Stephen Stefanou. The display is changed five times a year (but constantly refreshed) and takes about a week to change out.
Holiday show: Dec. 1 Chinese New Year: Jan. 12 Spring celebration: March 15 Summer garden party: May 17 Harvest show: Sept. 13
He’s part of the nightly shows at the “Lake of Dreams” inside the resort and the highlight of my Vegas trip (as was the entire Wynn resort). The shows have an oddness to them that makes me think the designer was French but I can’t find any info on who the deserves the creative credit. [I shot the picture below but not the videos.]
One of six shows happens every hour and half-hour. The large “screen” is a waterfall when the show isn’t happening, and the lake is filled with bubbles during the show so the submerged LED units have something to bounce light off of. Here’s another show with a bullfighting theme:
Below is a collage by Ray Eames in 1949. Besides a similar styling to Blair, the collage technique and use of transparent layers was something Blair would later use in many of her Small World collages.
Below is another Blair illustration, and below that, a Paul Klee painting, Burg und Sonne, 1928
I saw many similarities between Klee and Blair, like the three images below. The first image, Klee’s Landscape with Yellow Birds, 1932, uses leaf shapes seen in the Blair piece below it. The third piece is also a Klee and has some subtle similarities to the work above it.
The Small World attraction debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair with a an enormous kinetic sculpture at the entrance called the Tower of the Four Winds (second image below). Designed by Rolly Crump but I see inspiration in an unproduced Do Nothing solar-powered kinetic toy designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1957 (first image below).
And lastly it seems It’s a Small World continues to inspire others, like perhaps Rex Ray (second image below) whose work possesses the same sense of retro-whimsy seen in Blair’s art for the finale scene in the attraction (below).
SEE ALSO MY: Patty Wickman Paints Women Wrestling and I’m All Hey that’s from Epcot
Video o’ the collection:
