You will not find it in a box

Suzie Harrison

Complete with snappy dialogue and surrealistic illustrations, the

Fingerhut Gallery will be the place for Dr. Seuss aficionados.

Visitors will be able to hear readings from Dr. Seuss books by

professional actors for the next two Saturdays. There will be a free

drawing following each reading for the theatrical performance of

“Seussical the Musical” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The Fingerhut event is free and will feature an exhibition of

limited-edition prints based on the illustrations for his books,

including artwork he did for himself after writing or illustrating

now known as “The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss.”

“This is the art that Theodore Seuss Geisel did for his own

satisfaction, he painted in his studio often late at night,” said

Nancy Morris, Fingerhut Gallery’s director. “He always illustrated

his own books and this art has never been put up for sale.”

Morris said that there’s an organization that works closely with

Seuss’ widow, Audrey Geisel, and they have put together a company

with great integrity to the artwork.

“People are enchanted with understanding the depth and breadth of

his work,” Morris said. “Most of his artwork is very sophisticated,

and the majority of people who collect it are adults and are

collecting it for themselves.”

The gallery is excited to bring this event to the Laguna

community. “It’s community oriented, and we want the community to

enjoy the enhanced imagination, words and a sense of visual literacy

that Dr. Seuss gave us all,” Morris said.

The Fingerhut Gallery event will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and

Dec. 21 at 210A Forest Ave. Information: 376-6410.

The performance at the Center will run from Dec. 25 through Jan.

4.