Charles Schulz’s cartoons focus on environmental issues
Charlie Brown is in trouble with the Environmental Protection Agency, Lucy knows the Earth has 48 suns and Snoopy and Linus are planting french fries in the garden. These are just a few of the misadventures and explanations gone wrong as the Peanuts Gang explores the natural world in Peanuts…Naturally, an exhibition being hosted by Harford County Public Library January 29 to April 24.
The main exhibition of Peanuts…Naturally takes place at the Bel Air Library. A smaller part of the exhibition, titled Charlie Brown and the EPA, will be on display at the Abingdon Library during the same time.
Peanuts…Naturally takes a light-hearted look at Charles Schulz’s exploration of the natural world through Peanuts’ comic strips, videos, objects and interactive stations.
Visitors to the exhibition will get a Peanuts-eye view of the universe, “web of nature,” trees, birds, the elements (snow, wind, rain and clouds) and gardening. Activity stations (focusing on the water cycle, birds and recycling) will allow kids of all ages, from pre-school to adults, to learn more about and appreciate the wonders of the natural world.
Charlie Brown and the EPA, at the Abingdon Library, will feature items that deal specifically with Schultz’s EPA/Johnny Horizon involvement and a series of comic strips where Charlie Brown gets in trouble with the EPA.
Also on view will be a 1978 “Peanuts” animation special, “Charlie Brown Clears the Air.” The film was produced by Schulz in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Lung Association and focuses on air pollution dangers associated with burning leaves, motor vehicle emissions and other pollutants.
Schulz, who created the Peanuts comic strip for nearly 50 years, was immensely curious, an avid reader and took a keen interest in the latest research findings in a variety of fields. It is not a surprise that many of these findings and facts found their way into Schulz’s comic strip, carefully interpreted through his characters’ unique, and sometimes wacky, understanding of their world.
Peanuts…Naturally is organized and toured by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, Calif.
Peanuts…Naturally will be open during the same hours as the Bel Air Library (Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.). The Bel Air Library is located at 100 East Pennsylvania Avenue in Bel Air.
Charlie Brown and the EPA will be available for viewing when the Abingdon Library is open (Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 1 to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.) The Abingdon Library is located at 2510 Tollgate Road in Abingdon.
Harford County Public Library operates 11 branches located throughout Harford County. The library serves more than 181,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of more than 3.8 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading in the community. For more information, visit hcplonline.org.
