A Carnival of Animals: Beasts, Birds and Bugs in Original Illustrations from Children's Books

January 29 – April 18, 2004

A Carnival of Animals: Beasts, Birds and Bugs in Original Illustrations from Children's Books will be on view at the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery January 29 through April 18, 2004. The exhibition includes 80 works by living and historic artists from the United States and abroad.

Drawn from the historic Mazza Collection at the University of Findlay (Ohio), A Carnival of Animals invites viewers to explore art in children's literature and helps to deepen their understanding of the process by which original art becomes part of a printed book. Viewers will be greeted by the sometimes whimsical, sometimes dramatic and always tender portrayals of the animal world. The exhibition also aims to remind visitors of all ages of the profound connections between humans and animals and the importance of safeguarding the world’s precious natural resources.

Sponsored by:


Organized by The University of Findlay’s Mazza Collection and Meridian International Center.

View the press release for this exhibition.

Tour some of the works that will be on display!

There are 8 images contained within this archive which are intended for personal/educational use only. These images are protected by a 2003 photographic copyright which belongs to the Ohio Arts Council. They, therefore, are not in the public domain.

Cecil Aldin “Smiling Cats”; Portfolio, 1898 Watercolor, 21.5” x 31.5”	Victoria Chess “Cover”; The Bigness Contest, 1993 Watercolor, pen and ink, 14.5” x 24”	Ruth Heller “Giraffes”; Many Luscious Lollipops, 1988 Felt-tipped pen, color pencil, 18.75” x 27”	Wendell Minor “Cover”; The Kissimmee Kid, 1988 Acrylic on masonite, 22” x 26.75”

Tony Chen “Rides on Mother’s Back”; Little Koala, 1978 Watercolor, 18.5” x 15”	Feodor Rojankovsky (Russia) “Swans in River”; The Ugly Duckling, 1945 Graphite, pen and ink, watercolor, 18.5” x 15”	Lois Mailou Jones “The Wise Owl”, The Picture-Poetry Book, 1935 Pen and ink, 16.5” x 14”	How The Ostrich Got Its Long Neck,” 1994 Watercolor and marker on hot press board 20.5” x 25”

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