Something finally clicked yesterday while at Disneyland, and now I love Mary Blair more than ever. Of course we all love her illustrations, so charming and whimsical. And I knew that she worked closely with Walt Disney, producing concept art and color styling for films such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella. But I didn't know Walt personally asked Mary Blair to head art direction on the attraction, "It's a Small World" ~ which should have been so obvious to me. We go on it every time we go to Disneyland. It's especially magical at Christmas time, when they throw on all the trimming.
But, whether you love it or hate it (how about you?) I will always love that ride. Long ago, while aboard "the happiest cruise that ever sailed," the man who became my husband asked me to marry him. No kidding. He put a ring on my finger in one of those little boats. The ring was much too big and I was deathly afraid it would fall off my finger... I also couldn't hear him well what with that silly song playing in the background... but I was grinning from ear to ear when the ride was over. It was the best. Ever.
(image from www.boingboing.net)
(image at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/255421005/)
Here are some of my favorite illustrations from her books:
(all above images from: www.animationarchive.org)
So while I've loved the art, and my children love the books, now I love that wonderful Mary Blair even more... because I know it was she who decorated one of the happiest moments of my life.
Do you have a fun engagement story?
xo amy