Page 52 - CelebrationsSpring2020

The American Adventure Art Gallery
The American Adventure queue also includes a beautiful art gallery with numerous paintings displayed in both the first floor and second floor rotunda areas that depict various scenes of American life through different historical periods. It is notable that these beautiful works of art are all Disney originals:
“Defending Freedom” by Tom Gilleon depicts a large airplane manufacturing facility during World War II. Gilleon contributed to many project during this time as a Disney Imagineer, including New Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. He was also an artist on the 1990 film Dick Tracy.
“Passing the Baton” by Blaine Gibson shows a baton being passed in a relay race. This piece is actually a bass relief sculpture rather than a painting. Gibson was Disney’s expert sculptor who worked on the Partners and Sharing the Magic statues on Main Street, U.S.A., the busts of the Audio-Animatronics in The Hall of Presidents, as well as the Audio-Animatronics in the Haunted Mansion. Gibson was named a Disney Legend in 1993.
“Election Day” by Clem Hall shows a political candidate giving a speech in a town square while citizens look on. Hall, who also created two additional paintings described below, contributed art that was used to develop some of Disney’s most famous attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland and Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
“A Lesson for the Future” by Guy Deel portrays a teacher giving a lesson to children in a country field with a schoolhouse in the background. This painting is described as “a romantic visualization of American educational ideals.” Deel was an artist and illustrator who had a wide-ranging career with Disney. He was a layout artist on The Rescuers (1977), a character designer for both Pocahontas (1995) and The Lion King (1994), and made contributions to many other Disney films including Tarzan (1999), The Emperor’s New Groove (2000), Treasure Planet (2002), and Brother Bear (2003).
“Staying the Course” by Michael Lloyd depicts multiple ships fighting treacherous seas “representing Trans-Atlantic European immigration.” Lloyd is an Oscar-nominated artist who made contributions to numerous blockbuster films including Raiders of the Lost Ark (1983), Dick Tracy (1990), Return to Oz (1985), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), and James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster Avatar.
“Reaching for the Stars” by Robert McCall is dedicated to space exploration and depicts several scenes of astronauts and space shuttle launches. McCall is perhaps best known as being an illustrator for LIFE magazine in the 1960s and creating a series about the future of space exploration. His work on space history is displayed at the National Air & Space Museum, the Pentagon, and Johnson Space Center. In Disney circles, McCall is remembered for the beautiful murals he created for the now extinct Horizons pavilion at Epcot depicting the future human settlements Nova Cite, Brava Centuari, and Sea Castle, and “The Prologue and the Promise” mural displayed in the Horizons exit space.
“Building a Future Together” by Clem Hall portrays construction workers building a skyscraper during the 30s. “The Promise of America” by Herb Ryman depicts Ellis
Island with the Statute of Liberty in the background, showing the immigration experience in approximately 1890-1900 for the thousands of people coming to America. Herb Ryman is a Disney Legend who, among other accomplishments, created the first illustration of Disney’s original theme park, Disneyland.
“Westward Ho” by Jack Martin Smith features several wagons crossing a river during the Westward expansion period of American history. Smith was an Oscar award winning production designer who made significant contributions to many famous films including The Wizard of Oz (1939), Easter Parade (1948), On the Town (1949), Cleopatra (1963), Planet of the Apes (1968), and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), and Pete’s Dragon (1977).
“Compassion Knows No Boundaries” by Clem Hall depicts a group of men and women providing medical assistance and comfort to South American families.
“Giving Thanks” by Sam McKim shows a modern family sitting at a large dining table during a pre-meal prayer. McKim was a Disney Imagineer who joined WED Enterprises (the predecessor to Walt Disney Imagineering) in 1954. He made contributions to all of Disney’s attractions at the monumental 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, as well as contributions to attractions and shops in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
“Seeds of Hope” by Bill Fleming, 1982 depicts a Native American showing Pilgrims how to plant crops. The next time you are walking around World Showcase, be sure to visit The American Adventure. In addition to a moving show, you can also discover some of these patriotic and inspirational secrets.
52 · Celebrations
Photo ©Tim Foster