By Emma Zomerman
On Monday, December 12, D23 Gold Members got an inside look at Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts, a collection of 18th century French decorative art that inspired some of Disney’s most celebrated animated films and theme park elements at Inspiring Walt Disney: The Animation of French Decorative Arts at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California.
The international traveling exhibition, organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Wallace Collection in London in association with The Huntington, showcases a treasure trove of European decorative art and design alongside seminal hand-drawn artworks and works on paper from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Archives, Walt Disney Imagineering Collection, and The Walt Disney Family Museum.
To begin, D23 Gold Members were transported to the heart of France with delicate French pastries, teas, coffee, and more before being invited to walk around the gardens under the night sky. Afterwards, they found their seats while listening to peaceful renditions of Disney classics and enjoying a glass of wine or other beverage of choice.
After enjoying pastries and mixing and mingling with other members, the behind-the-scenes presentation began. Becky Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives and Mary Walsh, Director of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library shared insight into how this beautiful exhibit came to life. Members were excited to learn that, although this is a traveling exhibit, each museum has their own version that makes it uniquely their own.
As the presentation ended, Cline welcomed everyone to enter the exhibit to experience all the beauty and history for themselves. Once inside, members could choose their own adventure by deciding which gallery they wanted to step into first. The exhibition focuses on the art behind Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast, with a few other surprises in store for Disney fans!
Astonished members left the exhibit admiring the journey of creativity that brought these films, and so many Disney dreams, to life. Members also got to take home a little bit of magic with an event-exclusive print inspired by the exhibit.
On behalf of the D23 team, we hope the memories made that night help get you ready for the Disney100 celebration. We know we will be based on the magnifique night we had.
To purchase tickets to this amazing exhibit, please visit this page!
To find out more about the exhibit, click here.
