EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University is offering a special look into “King Kong at Ninety: Visualization in the Art of Stop Motion Animation,” one of the largest exhibitions of original artworks featuring the art of Willis O’Brien. The exhibition is showcased at the University Gallery in Eastern’s Student Center, located at 900 Oakwood St in Ypsilanti. The show, which runs until Feb. 23, celebrates the 90th anniversary of King Kong and its legacy by showcasing original film production and concept art.

“The 1933 original version of King Kong represents a milestone in cinematic history both in technical and artistic terms,” Tom Suchan, professor of art history and co-curator of the exhibit. “Our exhibit tells a story encompassing some of the key figures involved in the making of King Kong and those influenced by it, such as the late great Ray Harryhausen, and tells the story of the transition from hand and mechanically manipulated stop-motion animation to computer-generated imagery.”

Suchan plans to engage students interested in Eastern’s Simulation, Animation and Gaming (SAG) program in the School of Art and Design. The exhibition will help with recruitment by showcasing a portion of the program's capabilities for students interested in pursuing a career in film and animation. The artwork contained within the exhibit provides examples and models for students to connect with projects within the SAG, including time-based media curriculums and many other studio disciplines, such as conceptual planning and visualization. The concepts will also reinforce the importance of drawing in artmaking.  

“Being able to experience the design elements first-hand, especially having such a historical connection to art and animation, is enough to showcase how much technology has advanced over the years,” said Suchan. “What’s most important is that we inspire current and future students to leave an impact like those before them.”

According to Suchan, the genesis for the exhibit was derived through informal conversations with his childhood friend and early 8mm filmmaking collaborator, Greg Kulon, who is now a retired aerospace engineer, published author and scholar of stop-motion animation, and avid specialized collector of cinematic art. 

“Greg and I have known each other since the first grade and called ourselves ‘Sulon Films’ when we started making our amateur stop-motion films in middle school in the 1970s,” said Suchan. “Our conversations led to his gracious decision to co-curate this exhibition featuring many of the gems of his collection using the 90th anniversary of the original King Kong as a pretext for holding the exhibition to correspond with the date of its original release in the winter of 1933.”

“I have long been fascinated at the creative process behind making motion pictures with fantastic visual elements and looking at the artwork generated early for the films, often before the first script, provides an interesting insight into how the imagery and story were developed,” said Kulon. “I am excited that EMU has been so supportive in helping us tell this story that covers not only my favorite film of all time but the influence that the film had on other projects over the next several decades up to today.”

As added inspiration for the exhibition's genesis, Suchan and Kulon brought additional artworks from Brigham Young University to supplement the exhibit. Willis H. O’Brien was the creator of the artistry and technical magic of the original King Kong. The original film production and concept art is curated by O’Brien, Ray Harryhausen, Jim Danforth, Mark McCreery, and Tim Burton. Suchan and Kulon are also co-curators.

“This is one of, if not the largest exhibition of original artworks ever held featuring the art of Willis O’Brien, the creative genius behind the visual effects for King Kong,” said Suchan. “Such a significant out-of-state inter-university collaboration is the first for the University Gallery.”

For more information, visit the exhibition website.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.