Sunday, August 11, 2013

Practically Perfect Mary Poppins Snow Globe


The Walt Disney Archives has a stunning collection of familiar film props, costumes and artwork at the D23 Expo in Anaheim this weekend.  There are some wonderful treasures here, including the iconic St. Paul's snow globe from Mary Poppins.

For decades the glass globe with its miniature cathedral and birds has resided in the Archives in Burbank but, unfortunately, without its footed base.  The intricately filigreed brass piece might have been lost long ago— perhaps right after filming of the "Feed the Birds" sequence was completed in the 1960s.  I always felt a small twinge of sadness to see the incomplete globe, with a few of the little boomerang-birds trapped between the glass and the plug.


For D23's "Treasures of the Disney Archives," the Studio requested a replica of the lost base so that the globe could finally appear complete. Working from film frames and production stills, I attempted a "practically perfect" copy assembled from antique metal parts found around Los Angeles.  The glass neck fits snug inside a wool-lined "collar" so the globe and base may be easily separated, if necessary.  

If you didn't know the secret, the whole thing looks pretty great.  I hope the cathedral's "saints and apostles" that Mary Poppins sings about, are looking down and smiling.

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Rocks for CHOC

"Fancy Pants" painted rock by Kevin Kidney

I can't remember the last time I painted on a rock. It could have been when I was ten years old.  Luckily I just re-discovered the simple joy of painting on a small, smooth stone about the size of a bar of soap.  It's surprisingly fun, and I might not wait so long before I attempt another one.

The rock is for a unique fundraiser benefiting the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). The CHOC Rocks tradition began with a little girl named Timmaree who painted rocks to pass the time while enduring extensive chemotherapy.

 Now, a bunch of different artists have each painted a CHOC Rock, which will be auctioned off through eBay's Giving Works program to help raise some money for CHOC. Starting on Friday August 9, 2013, anyone can view and bid on the rocks at the MousePlanet auction page. 100% of the proceeds will benefit CHOC Children's.

 My rock is all red, and has an elephant dressed in pants and a hat (honestly, it was the first thing that came to my mind!) The elephant's body is actually a negative-space painting, with the rock's natural surface showing through.