The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity

A few months ago my daughter and I were checking out a new shopping center called the SoCo as a friend told me there was a shop there that had the best coffee in town. Now that’s a pretty big statement so I figured I would check it out. The center has some really fantastic and trendy shops and the design of the shopping area is very cool. I felt a bit like a hipster for the day which doesn’t happen too often these days.

We came across The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity that had a large statue of the Road Runner and Bugs Bunny out front. Inside the walls of the center are covered with illustrations and paintings by the famed Chuck Jones. It was great walking along and looking at each illustration as it was like walking down memory lane. Many of us grew up watching Bugs Bunny, Pepe le Pew (love him), and many other characters that Chuck Jones created in his lifetime.

Chuck Jones: Creator of Legendary Characters:

During the Golden Age of animation Jones helped bring to life many of Warner Bros. most famous characters—Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig. The list of characters he created himself includes Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin Martian, Pepe le Pew, Michigan J. Frog, and many others. He also produced, directed, and wrote the screenplays for “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” a television classic, as well as the feature-length film “The Phantom Tollbooth.” In addition, Jones was a prolific artist whose work has been exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide. (Source: www.thechuckjonescenter.org).

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is a nonprofit organization located in Orange County, California. Founded in 1999 by the four-time Academy Award recipient and legendary animation creator and director, Chuck Jones, the Center’s vision is to inspire the innate creative genius within each person that leads to a more joyous, passionate, and harmonious life and world. The center encourages a love of art and creativity by offering art classes, exhibitions, lectures, film festivals, and a strong online community, all of which spring from the material in the Chuck Jones archive. (Source: www.thechuckjonescenter.org). You can visit their website to get a list of classes they offer.

Encouraging Creativity:

There is an arts and crafts area for the kids with crayons, colored pencils, paper and a large bag of recycled materials that allow for kids to use their imagination and create what their hearts desire. My daughter had a great time and while she was creating her masterpiece I had a chance to speak to Chris Scardino, the Center’s Teaching Artist. He told me that it was Chuck Jones and his family who created several The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity back in 1998 to encourage a love of creating and creativity. This particular center had just opened at this location in the SoCo shopping area.

A Family Insight into Chuck Jones – as Grandfather and Father:

Last week I was fortunate to speak to Craig Kausen, the grandson of Chuck Jones who is President of the Foundation. He shared some wonderful stories with me about his grandfather who seemed to embody what it means to live your life in a dandelion fashion. Craig said Chuck took his work seriously but really embraced life and made those around him felt very special. Robert Patrick, the Director of Marketing and Wholesale, said that how Craig described Chuck was completely accurate. He told me “That’s exactly how Chuck was, whoever he was engaged with had all of his attention. It was so amazing to stand and speak with him because he made you feel like the most important person in his life at that moment. Magical!” You can read more about my talk with Craig in our new section called Musings.

Chuck Jones daughter, Linda Jones Clough, spoke to us about her father and how his worked influenced her life.

What is one of your favorite things about your father you would like to share with us.

That’s a tough question…to narrow it down to one of my favorite things! Perhaps I can say that the knowledge that he loved me so much, all my life, unconditionally (not uncritically) and that he never missed an opportunity to tell me so. When we lived near each other, he called frequently, just to check in and chat; when we lived farther apart, he wrote letters and sent recorded (taped) correspondence. I loved him dearly and I know he loved me, too. Is that a favorite thing?

How has his work inspired your own life journey?

Much of my life’s work was closely aligned with his. I worked at his studio during the 70s doing research and various preservation and conservation projects. In the late 70s he asked me to respond to requests for cel art for the newly discovered animation art business and I started a company called Linda Jones Enterprises, Inc., to produce and distribute cartoon art, mostly his for the first few years. Later, in the 1990s, he asked me to produce some films with him, saying he’d like to have a producer he could “kiss instead of curse.” We produced films for 20^th Century Fox, Paramount, and Warner Bros. together. Although I have retired from the art business, it still flourished under the capable leadership of my son, Craig Kausen.

In addition, the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, which Chuck founded in 1998, has been an inspiration and celebration of his work and life. I serve on the board of trustees for that public charity.

Any news you want to share with dandelion moms?

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, located in a wonderful, large facility in Costa Mesa at the corner of Hyland and Sunflower, in the SOCO shopping mall, offers many, many opportunities for exploration of creativity, for children and adults…as well as just being a really fun place to visit! And check out the many programs and workshops available for them and their families.

Thank you Chris, Robert, Craig and Linda for sharing some personal insight into this very talented man who created characters that have been enjoyed and will continue to be cherished by many!

You can read more at: www.chuckjonescenter.org