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ratings:
Length:
13 minutes
Released:
Sep 23, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Mary Blair was a fine artist, commercial artist, concept artist, and Disney Imagineer. After graduating from Chouinard and marrying Lee Blair, Mary was set to build a career as a regionalist watercolor painter like her husband. Due to World War 2, fine art was not working out, and the two entered the world of commercial art and animation. Both landed positions at Ub Iwerks Studio. In 1940, Blair joined Walt Disney studios as a sketch artist. The job frustrated her, and she quit shortly after. A few months later, Walt Disney animators went on strike in 1941, right when Walt left on a Goodwill tour of South America. Lee Blair was invited to go with a group of Disney artists. Mary desperately wanted to go, so she convinced Walt to bring her. The South American tour was where Mary Blair flourished as an artist and developed the style we know of today. Walt supported and encouraged her work and involved her in a number of projects back at the studios. Blair was the art director on the films Three Caballeros and Saludos Amigos, and concept artist for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. Blair left the Disney studios and moved to New York to pursue freelance commercial art. She illustrated for Little Golden Books, did set designs for Radio City Music Hall, and designed ads for Bakers Cocoa and Pall Mall. Mary returned to Disney for her biggest project yet: creating the look for a new Disneyland attraction called “It’s a Small World.” Mary Blair’s modern style had a huge impact on the way Disney created their films and her influence at Disney can be seen to this day. TIMELINE1911 – b Mcalister, Oklahoma1918 – moved to Morgan Hill, California1933 – Graduated Chouinard Art Institute1940 – hired at Disney Studios 1941 – quit Disney1941 – Animators Strike at the Walt Disney Animation Studios1941 – Disney’s South American Goodwill Tour~1940-1960 – Mary Blair worked on Saludos Amigos, 3 Caballeros Peter Pan, Cinderella,  etc.1953 – Left disney to begin freelance commercial artist work in New York1951 – Illustrated “I Can Fly” golden book1963 – Walt asked Mary Blair to art direct “It’s a Small World”1964 – World’s Fair1967 – murals for Disneyland’s Tomorrowland1970 – moved to Soquel, California1971 – mural for Disney World Contemporary Resort1978 – d Soquel, California1991 – Awarded Disney Legends award REFERENCESBemis, B. (2018, October 18). Mickey Mouse morale: Disney on the World War II home front. National Museum of American History. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/ww2-disneyCanemaker, J. (1996). Before the Animation Begins: The Art and Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists (1st ed.). Hyperion.Canemaker, J. (2012). Mary Blair Treasury of Golden Books. Golden Books.Canemaker, J. (2014). The Art and Flair of Mary Blair (Updated Edition): An Appreciation (Disney Editions Deluxe)(Updated ed.). Disney Editions.Chatting with Hal Ambro and Lee Blair. (2016, June 28). Cartoon Research. https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/chatting-with-hal-ambro-and-lee-blair/Cook, G. (2016, February 15). Modernist Cute: Mary Blair’s Art For ‘Dumbo,’ Golden Books, ‘It’s A Small World’ | The ARTery. WBUR.Org. https://www.wbur.org/artery/2016/02/15/mary-blairThe Life Behind the Color: A Brief Biography of Mary Blair. (2014, March 19). LaughingPlace.Com. https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2014/03/19/the-life-behind-the-color-a-brief-biography-of-mary-blair/Hanke, L. (1945, March). What Is the Good Neighbor Policy? | AHA. Historians.Org. https://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-and-archives/gi-roundtable-series/pamphlets/em-14-is-the-good-neighbor-policy-a-success-(1945)/what-is-the-good-neighbor-policyHillcrest Press, Inc. (2002). Lee Blair Biography – California Watercolor. Californiawatercolor.Com. https://www.californiawatercolor.com/pages/lee-blair-biographyKinder, B. (2015, November 7). There’s Something About Mary: The World of Mary Blair. EatDrinkFilms.Com. https://eatdrinkfilms.com/2014/07/23/theres-someth
Released:
Sep 23, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (36)

The nature of history is that it is never “complete”, new information is gained every day that changes our understanding an interpretations of history. The mission of Incomplete Design History is to explore areas of graphic design history that are overlooked or ignored; to expand our knowledge in the field and to include all sides of the story. Incomplete design history seeks to be inclusive, inclusive not only of people but of ideas and technologies that advance the field of graphic design. History is messy. History is incomplete.