Loan Leblow, Interim Director of John Wayne Airport and the John Wayne Airport Arts Commission are pleased to announce the up-coming opening of the latest Airport art exhibition at the Thomas F. Riley Terminal. Titled "SALUTE TO ANIMATION," the exhibition opens February 8, 1999. It features unusual and fascinating aspects of the animation process, including imagery, artifacts and historic lore relating to animated film made in Orange County and Southern California.

Animation art and artifacts loaned to the exhibition represent work from Warner Bros., Chuck Jones, Walt Disney Studios, The Neverhood computer game company and private collections.

"Whenever possible, I included a local artist to provide an Orange County connection to the animation industry," said Bob Pece, Santa Ana artist, animated filmmaker and Guest Curator for the exhibition. "Chuck Jones lives in Orange County where he also operates a gallery. Similarly, The Neverhood is an Orange County-based computer game company, and one of the first animation festivals was organized and shown in Laguna Beach. And, the fact cannot be disputed that Walt Disney Studios has had a major influence on the region in ways too numerous to mention."

Air travelers, Airport visitors and the Orange County community are invited to view this highly entertaining and informative exhibition located on the Departure Level of the Thomas F. Riley Terminal opposite Gates 1 through 4 and 11 through 14. The exhibition is on display through March 28, 1999.