Springfield Museums celebrates the release of a never-before-published Dr. Seuss book about art—Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum! Our Family Fun Book Release Party plays with the themes of horses and art to deliver all kinds of fun—from meeting horses face-to-face to creating original art to engaging in an equine scavenger hunt (see full list of activities below). And most importantly, we offer an opportunity to be among the first to see Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum (Random House, 2019).
“We’re so excited to have Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum to share with all who love Dr. Seuss. This book provides an inside look at how Ted thought about art, and how he viewed the world—which was with a creative eye, and a passionate belief in imagination,” said Susan Brandt, President of Dr. Seuss Enterprises and co-creator of the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum. “This new book will not only entertain as only Dr. Seuss can, but is sure to inspire conversations about the countless ways we each view the world around us. We happily expect that many children will be asking, ‘What do YOU see?’ after sitting with this latest creation by Dr. Seuss.”
“What an amazing gift to celebrate a Dr. Seuss book about a museum in the museum dedicated to celebrating Dr. Seuss!” said Kay Simpson, President and CEO of the Springfield Museums.
Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum is based on a manuscript and sketches by Springfield-native Theodor Seuss Geisel discovered in 2013, illustrated by Australian artist Andrew Joyner. The Seussian guide to viewing art features reproductions of famous horse artwork by Pablo Picasso, George Stubbs, Rosa Bonheur, Alexander Calder, Jacob Lawrence, Deborah Butterfield, Franz Marc, Jackson Pollock, and many others.
Taking inspiration from Dr. Seuss’s original sketches, Joyner has created a look that is both subtly Seussian and wholly his own. The book features cameo appearances by classic Dr. Seuss characters (among them the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, and Horton the Elephant).
Publisher’s Notes in the book discuss the discovery of the manuscript and sketches, Dr. Seuss’s interest in understanding modern art, the process of creating the book, and information about each of the artists and art reproductions in the book.
“Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum is the kind of wacky fun we love here at Springfield Museums!” said Jenny Powers, Family Engagement Coordinator. “I’m sure kids and grown-ups will be excited for a new Dr. Seuss book and I hope that will make them excited to read it together! I especially hope the book release party will inspire them to come to the museums and have some wacky fun together.”
Please join Springfield Museums for a day of family fun! Explore how different artists have seen horses and maybe even find a new way of looking at them yourself.
Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum Book Release Party—September 7, 2019
Free with museum admission!
Draw a Horse, 11 am, noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm
Learn basic drawing and anatomy principles and basic steps to create your own horse with our artist-in-residence Amanda. Her step-by-step instructions make it easy to create an amazing drawing even for beginning artists. Sessions start on the hour and last 20-40 minutes.
Meet the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2, 11 am-2 pm
Get a high five or a hug, and get your photo taken with this wacky and wild crew!
Meet Draft Horses on the Quadrangle, 11 am-3 pm
Get up close and greet the retired horses from Blue Star Equiculture! Learn about our shared history, the work these horses have done, and why some breeds are threatened.
Make Your Own Horse Museum, 11 am-3 pm
Curate a collection of miniature Currier & Ives prints of horses! Choose your gallery walls and arrange your prints, then add visitors and staff in this play-based station.
Horse Scavenger Hunt, 11 am-3 pm
Visit the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and find as many horses as you can, whether they are sculptures, paintings, or prints! Find at least five and win a book from the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library.