Snoopy Flies in for a Visit to Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum

New exhibit Opens Jan. 30 in McMinnville, Ore.

MCMINNVILLE, OR. - In the 1950s, when comics were dominated by action and adventure, slapstick and gags, Minnesota cartoonist Charles M. Schulz dared to confront a lifelong sense of alienation and insecurity by drawing the real feelings of his life and times. His Peanuts characters’ insights on life’s struggles and disappointment have resonated with readers for more than 50 years. Snoopy (who was based on Schulz’s childhood black-and-white dog, Spike) possesses a unique view of the world that stands out to readers, even in the quirky Peanuts cast.

The traveling exhibit, Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace, opening on Wed., Jan. 30, 2008 at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, presents Charles M. Schulz’s lovable beagle, Snoopy, as his alter ego, the Flying Ace. The exhibit showcases 40 of Snoopy’s most exciting adventures in his transformed doghouse—now a Sopwith Camel airplane —from the time he faced a deadly bout of influenza to sparring with the Flying Ace’s archenemy, the Red Baron. Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace is toured by ExhibitsUSA, the national touring division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a non-profit regional arts organization based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Schulz served as a sergeant in the Army and had always wanted to draw adventure comic strips but had been told to stick with what he did best—funny kids. However, after 15 years as a cartoonist, on Sun., Oct. 10, 1965, he finally had the opportunity to create his hero: Snoopy, the World War I Flying Ace. Visitors to this exhibit can follow Snoopy on his imaginary adventures through the skies of Europe. Forty digital prints from the original drawings done by Schulz are on display, along with accompanying photographs of the artist.

The Snoopy exhibit will be on display until Mar. 10. Children’s activities will be featured on Saturdays. See the museum website for more information. The first children’s cartoon activity is Feb. 2. Regular visitor admission prices are required to view the exhibit.

Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace is organized by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center and toured by ExhibitsUSA. The purpose of ExhibitsUSA is to create access to an array of arts and humanities exhibitions, nurture the development and understanding of diverse art forms and cultures, and encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities. ExhibitsUSA is a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1972. For more information on ExhibitsUSA please refer to: http://www.maaa.org/exhi_usa/faq.html.

The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is best known as the home of the world’s largest wooden airplane, the” Spruce Goose”, SR-71 “Blackbird”, the Titan II SLV Missile and the Grumman F6F-3 “Hellcat”. In addition, there are more than 80 historic aircraft and exhibits on display, along with artwork, traveling displays, the Spruce Goose Café, the Rotors, Wings & Things store and Oregon’s largest 3D IMAX Theater. A world-class Space Museum is scheduled to open June 2008. The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, daily except when it is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Easter. The IMAX Theater hours vary and can be found on the website. The Museum campus is located at 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, across the highway from the McMinnville Airport and about three miles southeast of McMinnville, Ore., on Highway 18. Regular visitor admission is required. Call (503) 434-4180 for more information, and visit www.sprucegoose.org.

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