John Canemaker: The Art and Flair of Mary Blair

If you’ve experienced the “It’s a Small World” ride at a Disney theme park, you’ve experienced the designs of influential artist Mary Blair. In this presentation, Oscar-winning animator and prolific animation historian John Canemaker discusses the career of the influential art director and designer, best-remembered for her mid-century modern approach to concept art for such Walt Disney films as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and more. The presentation will include examples of Blair’s beloved work in film and in Little Golden Books including Baby’s House (1950) and I Can Fly (1951). Canemaker is the author of The Art and Flair of Mary Blair (2003) and Magic Color Flair: The World of Mary Blair (2014). (program approx. 60 mins.)
 
Canemaker will be available to sign books during a reception at 6 PM in the Mershon Auditorium lobby following the talk. Please join us for the reception and stay for the screening of Hercules at 7 PM. Canemaker will be joined by Hercules codirector John Musker for a discussion about the film’s artistry after the screening. The day’s events are presented in conjunction with the annual citywide Cartoon Crossroads Columbus festival.

See the 2025 Cartoon Crossroads Columbus lineup at the Wex.

IMAGE CAPTION
Left to right: The Art and Flair of Mary Blair book cover, courtesy of Disney Editions; John Canemaker, photo: Ken Greenwood.