A Feminist's Guide to Disney: Mary Blair

THE ANIMATION OF MARY BLAIR: A FEMINIST'S GUIDE TO DISNEY
Disney films have historically been built of images of women - those iconic, if deeply problematic Disney Princesses. Yet the animation world has historically been overwhelmingly male dominated, and when women have fought their way into this space their work has often been uncredited and their careers short.

Mary Blair (1911 - 1978) was a remarkable exception to this rule, an artist, illustrator and designer who played a key role in shaping some of Disney’s most iconic images. Through her work as a concept artist and art director on classics such as Dumbo, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland, Blair pushed the boundaries of the genre. Blair’s influence pulses through contemporary animated film and although you might not know, you’ve almost definitely encountered Blair’s work already. Her distinctive style and unique use of colour helped elevate animation to the status of art, laying the groundwork for our current Golden Era of the form.

In this richly illustrated lecture, archive activists Invisible Women will present the story of Blair’s life and career, contextualising her work within the history of US animation and Disney Studios. We will dive into the many influences that fed into Blair’s creative practice, discussing how surrealism, classical ballet, contemporary fashion design and gothic architecture fed into her spellbinding imagery. We will also explore how a fateful government funded propaganda trip to South America had a lasting impact on her artwork, and how her personal demons - including struggles with relationships, mental health and addiction - brought an edge of darkness and melancholy to her fairytale worlds.

Most of all thought we will showcase and celebrate Blair’s magical artwork, offering an inspiring primer to a legendary artist. Prepare to be enchanted!

We are committed to making our sessions as accessible as possible. If you are unable to pay the full amount for this class, please reach out to us via email at [email protected] and we will provide you with a discount code.