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Curious George Saves the Day at the CJM

Curious GeorgeGenerations of children and their parents love the classic Curious George books authored by the husband-and-wife team of Margret and H. A. Rey. This fall, San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum (the CJM) presents the fascinating exhibition Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey, which opens on Sunday, November 14, 2010 and runs through March 13, 2011.

The story of the Reys is an adventure in itself. H. A. Rey (born Hans Augusto Reyersbach, 1898–1977) and Margret Rey (née Margarete Waldstein, 1906–1996) were both born in Hamburg, Germany, to Jewish families. They lived together in Paris in the late 1930s, and fled Europe after the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, eventually settling in New York City by way of Brazil. They went on to publish over 30 books, including their iconic series about the little monkey with insatiable curiosity (and his friend the Man with the Yellow Hat, of course).

The exhibition includes something for the whole family, and features nearly 80 original drawings and watercolors of Curious George and other characters created by the Reys, many of which have never been displayed in public before. Also on view are vintage photographs and documentation relating to the Reys' daring escape from Nazi-occupied France. Highlights of Curious George Saves the Day include drawings and watercolors for Raffy and the 9 Monkeys (in which Curious George first appears as "Fifi"), as well as for Fifi: The Adventures of a Monkey, which eventually was published in America as Curious George.

Margret and H. A. ReyAlso featured is an interactive timeline, accessed via a touch-screen kiosk, about the Reys' life in France and their escape from Europe in 1940. You can view photos, listen to an interview with Margret and H. A. Rey, and view historic video footage. On another computer kiosk you can share your own personal journey and explore those of others in the Bay Area via a large interactive map.

Accompanyting the exhibition at the CJM are numerous family-friendly programs and activities. Drop-in art-making takes place every Sunday and special holiday weekends from 1 to 3 pm—make your own travel tags on November 14 and 21, create one-of-a-kind linoleum-print holiday cards inspired by the Reys on December 19 and 26, and make wire sculptures on December 27, 28, 30, and 31.

Other programs include preschool gallery hour on second Sundays from 10 to 11:30 am, when the CJM is open early just for preschoolers and their families. Celebrate the opening of the exhibition on Sunday, November 14, with "By George, You've Arrived", where you can tour the exhibition, listen to Curious George stories, and monkey around with musical guest Circus Finelli. On December 12, celebrate San Francisco Public Library Day with "De-Light-Ful George" and tour the exhibition, listen to stories and music, and create shadow puppets.

Sketch of Curious GeorgeFor a full schedule of actvities relating to Curious George Saves the Day, visit www.thecjm.org.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum is located in San Francisco at 736 Mission Street, between 3rd and 4th streets. It's open daily from 11 am–5 pm, Thursdays from 1–8 pm, and closed on Wednesdays. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors (with valid ID), and $5 on Thursdays after 5 pm. Admission to the CJM is always free for youth 18 and under!

To get there from Marin, try taking the Golden Gate Ferry to the city from Larkspur or Sausalito, and then traveling up Market Street to 3rd Street on an historic F-Market streetcar. The museum is just a short walk from there down 3rd or Yerba Buena Lane. Convenient parking can be found at the nearby 5th and Mission Garage or at the SFMOMA garage on Minna Street.

Images courtesy the Contemporary Jewish Museum.