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Meet the candidate: Dr. Seuss

Features | 7 weeks 2 hours ago | Comments 5

By Carolyn Miller

The Jones family, Newtown Square, Pa., would cast their vote for Seuss.

Theodor Seuss Geisel, the famous cartoonist, author and sculptor, is running for president.

Just in time to coincide with the presidential election, Seuss’ ‘campaign manager’ is exhibiting rarely seen works of art from this prolific genius. This time the focus is not on his whimsical side but rather on his politics. And, yes, it is safe to say, the two are never far apart.

In the documentary, The Political Dr. Seuss, released in 2004, filmmaker Ron Lamothe traced Geisel’s art and political philosophy and showed how he combined his delightful, otherworldly creations with moral parables and progressive ideas.

“He had a keen eye for hypocrites, bullies and demagogues, and ridiculed them whenever he got the chance…A man who struggled to remain hopeful in spite of the "dissemination of stupid-ity" he saw all around him. Above all, Dr. Seuss and his work were intrinsically political,” reports Lamothe.

“From condemning isolationism and attacking anti-Semitism to his later works for literacy, the environment, and against the arms race, Dr. Seuss’s most popular works reflect his passion for fairness, democracy and tolerance. Dr. Seuss’s 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 political side of Seuss is on exhibit at Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor. It’s a fascinating look at the Dr. Seuss often overlooked. In a random (unscientific) sampling of guests at the ex-hibit, I asked the question: “Why would Dr. Seuss make a good president?’ The answers were all in favor of a Seuss candidacy.

The gentleman from Court House said, “Seuss invokes memories of a simpler time.” The young man from West Chester, Pa.: “He must be smart; just look at his work.”

The young mother from Newtown Square, Pa. was especially positive about a Seuss presidency. “Sure, he’d make a good president. He’s very funny and I think a good president needs a sense of humor. And he talks in rhyme…like most politicians.”

The child told me, “Seuss was a good story teller and a president needs to be a good storyteller.” (Hmm.)

The couple from Berwyn, Pa. considered the cartoon “Knotty Problem on Capitol Hill.” “Just look at this. It’s a description of the state of Washington right now.”

The praise for Seuss’ politics was high. “He had a social conscience.” (Brigantine)

“He could win the election based on his international stance alone.” (Exton, Pa.)

“If he ran, he’d get elected. Just look closely at his work. Besides, he would reduce the economic situation to rhymes and then we could all understand it.” (Stone Harbor)

“Definitely, he’s better than what’s out there now.” (Reading, Pa.) Interestingly, this comment was heard from three other respondents as well.

Take a break from the political ads that are all around us, and visit the Dr. Seuss for President exhibit on display now until election day, Nov. 4. It will give you a fresh, positive approach to what we Americans believe.

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Comments (5)

We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article.

»

Tue, 10/21/2008 - 6:12pm

Lithographs are original works of visual art "wholly executed by hand by the artist" and "excludes any mechanical and photomechanical processes." (U.S. Customs regulations)

Therefore, since Theodor Geisel died in 1991, he could not have -wholly executed by {his} hand- the creation of lithographs in 1997.

Under U.S. Copyright Law 101a, works of visual art to be considered limited must be "signed and numbered by the author."

Once again, since Theodor Geisel died in 1991, he could not have -signed and numbered- the so-called limited edition promoted for sale by The Chase Group and participating galleries.

By an legal definition, much less ordinary sense, signature must autographed by the artist own hand.

Yet, since 1997, some six or more years after Theodor Geisel's death in 1991, all the 72,000 or more so-called "Art of Dr. Seuss," posthumously reproduced is promoted in their so-called Certificates of Authenticity as having a "Dr. Seuss signature." How'd he do that/

Finally, The Chase Group is not just photomechanically reproducing Theodor Geisel's work and misrepresenting those reproduction/posters as original works of visual art ie., lithographs, serigraphs ans sculptures, all with counterfeit "Dr. Seuss" signatures applied, The so-called Art of Dr. Seuss are chromist-made -fakes-. What that means is someone -a chromist-. is forging by their hand reproductions that look like Theodor Geisel work but with slight and/or overt differences that Theodor Geisel could not have approved, much less created because he was and is still dead.

The Chase Group and all participating galleries do not want you to know the very work they promote as the Art of Dr. Seuss has never been seen by the artist himself.

In other words, the dead Theodor Geisel's career ended in 1991 but The Chase Group and participating galleries for $225 to $9.000 or more each would have you believe otherwise.

In closing, don't be a victim, for additional documentation to this fraud, link to: http://garyarseneau.blogspot.com/2007/05/art-of-dr-seuss-coverup.html

And remember, the dead don't create art.

Gary Arseneau
artist, creator of original lithographs & scholar

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Mon, 10/20/2008 - 12:32pm

We enjoyed the Dr. Seuss for president exhibition last weekend at Ocean
Galleries and were surprised to learn about the political side of his
artwork. Growing up with Dr. Seuss, I've always been a fan or his books and
loved his illustrations. What an interesting collection of pieces!
Definitely worth the ride to Stone Harbor.

»

Wed, 10/15/2008 - 9:20am

Author's Note: Anyone interested in finding out more about the Art of Dr. Seuss is directed to drseussart.com and click on FAQ.

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Wed, 10/15/2008 - 9:03am

How is this artwork a fraud? Both the gallery and the publishing company openly state that the lithographs were produced posthumously, with Audrey Geisel’s permission and involvement.

Despite the verbose self-promotion in the link you provide, there is harldy a scandal in uncovering the well known fact that Dr. Seuss' art has been brought back into public display through the creation of posthumous lithographs from his original artwork.

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Mon, 10/13/2008 - 11:37pm

The Art of Dr. Seuss is a -fraud-.

The non-disclosed fakes offered for sale at $225 to $9,000 or more were posthumously reproduced after 1997.

Theodor Geisel died in 1991. The dead don't create art.

Therefore, there is -no- "Art of Dr. Seuss" ***

To empower you and your readers to understand facts behind this fraud, link to:

http://garyarseneau.blogspot.com/2006/09/art-of-dr-seuss-fraud.html

With full and honest disclosure, there is a possibility of informed consent by the public whether to attend this ***, much less purchase at $225 to $9,000 or more each one the tens of thousands non-disclosed fakes falsely attributed, by the Chase Group and the participating galleries, to a dead Theodor Geisel, much as as the Art of Dr. Seuss.

Remember, the dead don't create art.

In closing, I hope the Cape May County Herald might consider, for the sake of its' community and readers, a followup article addressing these contentious issues of authenticity.

Respectfully,.

Gary Arseneau
artist & scholar
Fernandina Beach, Florida

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