Dr. Seuss throws his ‘hat’ into the ring

The “Dr. Seuss for President” exhibit opens at Ocean Galleries, Stone Harbor on Friday, Oct. 10.
Featuring imagery from politically charged artworks, books and editorial cartoons, the “Dr. Seuss for President” art exhibition offers an unusual glimpse into the sociopolitical-minded imagination of one of the world’s most celebrated icons of popular culture.
One of the world’s most beloved characters, the “Cat in the Hat,” will serve as the face of the Dr. Seuss for President campaign.
The exhibit opens runs through the Nov. 4 election and will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The gallery owners will offer insight on the value and significance of the artwork, including the socio-political elements in Dr. Seuss’s artwork, during special receptions on Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11 from 7 to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 12 from 1 to 4 p.m.
The exhibition will feature the first-ever release of Knotty Problem, a thought provoking cartoon focused on the issue of taxes and Capitol Hill created by Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) in 1942.
The first-ever print of the Triple Sling Jigger from Seuss’s controversial Butter Battle Book, which focused on nuclear proliferation, will be included in the exhibition.
Finally, four environmentally-friendly prints from The Lorax book will be released to promote Seuss’s platform on conservation and the environment. Each of these prints is as relevant today as when they were penned decades ago.
According to a PBS documentary on the “political Dr. Seuss,” his true genius may lie in the fact that all of this was done with such humor and finesse, that few realized he was being political at all.
The Lorax was written as an argument for corporate responsibility and resource conservation. Yertle the Turtle was an argument against Fascism. The Sneetches was as an argument against discrimination. Horton Hears a Who was a parable on democracy. The Butter Battle Book was a visionary tale on nuclear proliferation and even The Cat in the Hat was written as a statement against illiteracy and conformity.
“In the end, what drove Ted, I think, was to be useful to the world. He sent those wacky warriors he created out to wage the battles of the underdog, with whom he always felt a kinship-the battles against illiteracy, against environmental ruin, against greed, against conformity, against the arms race.
“He taught generations of children that it was fine to be different, and it was even better to do good, but that it all should have some fun about it,” said Neil Morgan, co-author of Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel.
The show, which features over 50 artworks from the Art of Dr. Seuss collection, is free and will open to the public at Ocean Galleries, 9618 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.
For more information call 609-368-7777 or visit www.oceangalleries.com.
For background on the “political” Dr. Seuss, visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/politicaldrseuss/