Peanuts is chock full of pint-sized philosophers. From Sally’s irreverent “three” philosophies— “Life Goes On,” “Who Cares,” and “How Should I Know”—to Linus’ frequent pontifications on the meaning of life, the Peanuts Gang holds forth on their personal beliefs in 70 original comic strips.

Though Schulz is best known for his comic art, he also enjoyed sketching the scenery around him, especially while vacationing in Europe. A Change of Scene presents never-before-exhibited en plein air sketches Schulz created during the several trips he made to England and France.

[left: sketch Schulz made of a church in LeHeron, France, c. 1977]

"Who Let the Dots Out"
by Tom Everhart

This exhibition examines the intersection between fine art and cartoon art in the works of such artists as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Co-curated by the Sonoma State University Gallery Director and Professor of Art History, Michael Schwager, Pop'd From the Panel will feature two and three-dimensional works of art.

This exhibition explores how, in addition to sports, play is portrayed in Peanuts.  Early strips find the Gang involved in imaginative play as they prepare for a martian attack, and a later series of strips find them engrossed in a rousing game of “Ha Ha Herman.” In between they shoot marbles, build snow forts, and fly kites.

In Charles Schulz’s storied career he won not one, but two Reuben Awards (1955 and 1964) given by the National Cartoonists Society for outstanding cartoonist of the year, the highest honor that the profession bestows. Discover who the past winners have been and who, along with Schulz, has won on multiple occasions.

November 30, 2011 through April 2, 2012
Strip Rotation Gallery

In addition to his numerous road trips—including striking out for a visit with Spike in Needles, California; walking south with Woodstock during the migration season; and his ill-fated travels to the Grenoble Olympics in France—Snoopy also set off for the moon! Snoopy’s most famous road trips will be revisited in the 65 original Peanuts strips featured in this exhibition. The full-length animated feature, Snoopy, Come Home!, will run concurrent with this exhibition in the Museum's Theater.

The 40th anniversary of Title IX is in 2012, and although Schulz didn’t lead the campaign for equality for women’s sports, he did bring attention to women athletes in a variety of ways. Schulz’s girl characters played sports (some quite badly!), he mentioned women’s sports stars, and he even gave a nod to Title IX in some Peanuts strips. This exhibition will also detail Schulz’s daughters' involvement in sports and the women’s tennis tournament he sponsored at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena.

It's a Fine Line portrays an examination of Schulz’s pen line and includes a display and description of his “tools of the trade.” This exhibition also incorporates how Schulz learned his technique and how his pen line changed over the years due to health considerations.

How does clothing reflect a character’s personality or persona—like Peppermint Patty’s sandals or Snoopy’s goggles and helmet for instance? When and why do the characters change from their normal attire? And what’s up with the Gang's winter clothing? It remained virtually unchanged for nearly 50 years! Play Clothes examines the different clothes and corresponding situations with a display of original Peanuts strips.

How effectively does Peanuts translate to different languages and cultures? In some cases even the title, Peanuts, is changed! International Peanuts will allow Museum and “cyber” visitors to weigh in on the “translation” of the characters and humor of the strip in other cultures and languages.

A Peanuts reader never knew who they might meet in Schulz’s famous strip. Schulz shone the spot light on politicians, sports stars, actors, authors, scientists, and even his hockey playing buddy. In addition to original Peanuts strips, this exhibition also includes photographs of and correspondence with some of these famous folks.

The Peanuts strip entered a new realm of abstraction when Sally’s schoolhouse, the soft ball mound, trees, and Charlie Brown’s kite and baseball glove, all started to do the talking (or thinking!). The exhibition takes a closer look at Schulz’s use of anthropomorphism in 70 original Peanuts strips.

This exhibition is for everyone who remembers the endless grind of book reports, show and tell, and science and art projects in elementary school. School Projects follows the trials and tribulations of two of Schulz’s girl characters, Sally and Peppermint Patty, as they struggle through a typical school year.

Enjoy the holidays as celebrated by the Peanuts Gang! Halloween, Veterans Day, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, and more have all been observed in Peanuts strips. The 70 original strips in this exhibition feature the Great Pumpkin vigil, the Easter Beagle’s joyous romp, and ringing in the New Year with Snoopy and Woodstock.

Learn the fascinating history of the development of Schulz’s art into three-dimensional products, and the key role played by entrepreneur Connie Boucher and her company, Determined Productions, Inc., in developing the branding and merchandising of Peanuts products in the early 1960s.