Siran BabayanLast year, Google honored Chinese-American artist Tyrus Wong (1910-2016) with a Google Doodle on what would’ve been his 108th birthday. Born Wong Gen Yeo, Wong and his father immigrated to America in 1920 and eventually settled in L.A. His artistic capabilities, inspired by Chinese classical art, especially calligraphy, led to a scholarship at Otis Art Institute, where he supported himself working as a janitor. Wong was hired at Walt Disney Studios during animation’s early days and would be best known as the lead illustrator on the 1942 film Bambi. (Wong was also a greeting card artist for Hallmark Cards, kite maker, set designer and storyboard artist, whose other credits included Rebel Without a Cause, Around the World in 80 Days, The Wild Bunch and Rio Bravo, among others.)
The Huntington hosts co-authors Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki, who’ll sign Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist, their illustrated children’s book on Wong’s life and art.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino; Sun., Oct. 27, 2-3 p.m.; free. (626) 405-2100, huntington.org.
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