June 26 – September 25, 2013

August 1, 2013, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination

Take and look and you’ll see into your imagination

We’ll begin with a spin traveling in the world of my creation

What we’ll see will defy explanation….

There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination

Living there you’ll be free if you truly wish to be

–Willy Wonka

Since the introduction in 1957 of a mischievous cat donning a red and white hat and a bow tie, readers of all ages have been captivated by stories that spark the imagination and transport them to new worlds where anything is possible.  From the celebrated works of Dr. Seuss to new stories and updated renditions of beloved classics, Pure Imagination features artists who tell fantastical stories through a myriad of different visual styles.  This exhibition will feature contemporary artists working in the field of children’s book illustration, artists who address themes of childhood and storytelling, and complementary works from the museum’s permanent collection.  A reading room and interactive installation will also be included. 

Michele Urton is an independent curator and Project Manager at Metabolic Studio, The Annenberg Foundation. Prior to joining Metabolic Studio, she was with Gemini G.E.L., the groundbreaking Los Angeles printshop, and spent seven years as Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art where she coordinated the inaugural exhibition of contemporary art in the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) building.  During her tenure, she curated Allan Kaprow: Fluids and EATLACMA and assisted in the organization of Beyond Geometry: Experiments in Form, 1940s – 70s and Tim Hawkinson.  She has also worked at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.  She received her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her M.A. from Brown University.