Studios, companies unite for Burbank museum

The Falcon Theatre, Walt Disney Co., Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon are among the creative forces that will contribute to an art exhibit at the Burbank Creative Arts Center that opens Aug. 5.

The center is celebrating 100 years of the city’s incorporation and wanted to feature prominent businesses that reflect how they bring art to the community and the world, said the center’s Regi Cutler.

“We’ve never done something like this before, and we thought it would be great to showcase these businesses because they do so much for the city,” Cutler said.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Warner Bros. Studios are also exhibiting.

Walt Disney has about 30 pieces of art in the exhibit, said Lella Smith, creative director of the animation research library.

She said whenever it’s possible, Disney reaches out to the city of Burbank.

“They are a big part of the studio,” she said. “The studio has been here since 1939 and Disney is important to Burbank.”

The first production created after the studio moved to Burbank — “Fantasia” — will be represented in the exhibit, Smith said.

Visitors to the center will see artwork from the production, as well as an original program and poster from 1940.

There are also a handful of photos of what the studio looked like in the 1940s, Smith said.

She also alluded to a former Burbank artist whose work is on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art — Tim Burton.

“And now there is art from around the city of Burbank,” she said. “I think people will be surprised as to the breath of creativity that comes from the city.”

For Cartoon Network, which opened an office in Burbank in 2000, the decision was easy, said Zita Lefebvre, director of operations and community relations.

“As an animation studio and (because this is) an art exhibit, it’s a perfect match for us,” Lefebvre said.

She picked things from The Powerpuff Girls movie because it was such a big hit for Cartoon Network and for girls., she said.

“And there is lots of artwork, I thought it would be a good display and I could frame the work in a way to tell a story and show a process,” she said.

Cutler said Warner Bros. will have album covers on display, among other items, and Lockheed Martin will have model planes featuring the different cartoon characters that adorned the sides of the planes in World War II.

The opening reception is from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 5, with the exhibit scheduled to run through Aug. 25.

The Burbank Creative Arts Center is located in George Izay Park, 1100 West Clark Avenue, and features a pottery studio, art gallery and classroom.

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For more information, call (818) 238.5397 or visit www.ci.burbank.ca.us.