Silly Chapeaus in the Garden!

 Tea time in the Garden

Aside from meaning 'hat' in French, the word chapeau is also used when giving someone respect, a short way of saying "hats off" or "I'm so impressed, I take off my hat."

But, the famed children's author Dr. Seuss also saw hats as transformational, using them in a variety of his children's stories, as well as in his private art. What isn't widely known is that Theodor Seuss Geisel had an extensive hat collection. Throughout his lifetime, Geisel created paintings and collected hats which he secreted away in a closet at the Seuss Estate.

  

Ted Geisel in his studio

In honor of the 75th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’s second book, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, a special Hats Off to Dr. Seuss! Traveling Exhibition has been mounted that combines these two secret collections -- hats and original art. The free exhibition, perfect for families, opens Friday, August 30 and will be on display through Sunday, September 15 at Petri's Fine Arts, 690 Bridgeway, Sausalito. All artwork will be available for acquisition.

The first recorded mention of Dr. Seuss’s hat collection came from his sister, Marnie, who visited Geisel in New York in the autumn of 1937. She reported in the Springfield Union-News, November 28, 1937, “Ted has another peculiar hobby—that of collecting hats of every description. Why, he must have several hundred and he is using them as the foundation of his next book. I have seen him put on an impromptu show for guests, using the hats as costumes. He has kept a whole party in stitches just by making up a play with kitchen knives and spoons for the actors.” 

  

That “next book”—Dr. Seuss’s second of 44—became The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. If you haven't read it, the story is set in feudal times in the Kingdom of Didd, when King Derwin is riding through a street past Bartholomew Cubbins, a poor boy in the market. Bartholomew removes his hat, according to the law, but another hat mysteriously appears and then another and another.

Threatened with death due to his disrespect to the King, it's the jewel-studded 500th hat that so awes the king that the now bare-headed Bartholomew's life is spared. King Derwin grants him reprieve and trades Bartholomew 500 gold coins for the 500th hat.

The Art of Dr. Seuss curator, Jeff Schuffman, will be on hand to unveil the hat collection at the opening evening event from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Saturday, August 31, 2013 at Petri’s Fine Arts.  He will deliver a speech about the exhibition at 7pm.

Sneak Peak:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lnJM0JlS_fo

WHERE: Petri's Fine Arts

                 690 Bridgeway

                 Sausalito, California 94965

Phone: (415) 332-2626

FREE Admission

WEBSITE:            http://www.petrisfinearts.com

Seuss Estate.          http://www.drseussart.com/hatsoff/

New York Public Library Debut: http://www.keyc.tv/story/20972304/seuss-event-sets-record

P.S. Good News: The Lorax statue returned to the Dr. Seuss' family estate. Read San Diego Union Story to find out who dun it.

Lorax Returned to Dr. Seuss' Family