How the Dunn Museum was able to capture Marvel comic book artist

A huge fan of comic books, Steve Furnett started reading them as a young boy, follows the industry and regularly listens to podcasts about the topic. It makes sense that Furnett, exhibitions and collections manager at the Dunn Museum, was a driving force behind bringing one of the world's most famous comic book artists to the Libertyville museum for a new exhibit. The ball started rolling with a simple Facebook message to Alex Ross' manager, Sal Abbinanti, asking about the artist's availability for a temporary exhibition.

Ross, referred to as the “Norman Rockwell of comics,” has revitalized classic superheroes into works of fine art by illustrating characters including Spider-Man and Captain America. Furnett, like Ross, attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, and sent the initial message about six months ago. One thing led to another, and Ross accepted the offer.

Less than two weeks ago, Ross, who lives in the Chicago area, welcomed more than 600 fans to the opening of his exhibition, “Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross,” at the Dunn Museum, which is operated by the Lake County Forest Preserves. He autographed about 1,750 items on opening day.

There were many factors that played a role in accepting the deal, Ross says. The fact that the Dunn Museum is close to his home, making it easy for him to do signings and visit the exhibit with family and friends, was important to him. His team was also impressed that the Dunn Museum is nationally accredited — a distinction held by only 3 percent of American museums.

“This is quite an impressive operation,” Ross said while personally delivering and installing a one-of-a-kind, life-size statue he created of Captain America that he only keeps on display in his home. He joked that he can always return to the museum and visit the treasured piece.

Ross, 49, said this is his first museum exhibit in the Chicago area. Museums in Pittsburgh, Seattle and Virginia have also featured his work. His public appearances are rare. The signing on the exhibition's opening day earlier this month was one of two planned this year. The other is at the Dunn Museum on Aug. 10.

The local exhibition features about 75 pieces of Ross' work at all stages of his life, including figurines of superheroes he created when he was about 9 years old. Ross says his favorite character is Spider-Man. He added that he is inspired by the late Jack Kirby, regarded as the “King of Comics” and best known for creating Captain America in the 1940s.

The new exhibit gets its name from “Marvelocity,” a 312-page, hardcover book by Ross, designer Chip Kidd and photographer Geoff Spear.

Ross' exhibit a reality in Lake County was actually years in the making. The idea to consider a comic book exhibition developed about eight years ago when a former commissioner on the Lake County Forest Preserve board suggested the idea. At that time, the Dunn Museum was known as the Lake County Discovery Museum and had operated for 40 years at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. About a year ago, the Dunn Museum opened at its new location on Winchester Road and was renamed after Bess Bower Dunn, Lake County's first official historian.

Part of the plan in opening the new museum was that it would feature temporary special exhibitions.

“Our goal is to reach new audiences through these exhibits and expose visitors to the rest of the Museum,” said Andrew Osborne, superintendent of educational facilities for the Lake County Forest Preserves. “We wanted to launch our second year of being open with a blockbuster.”

And Alex Ross' work does just that.

“This is a dream come true,” Osborne said. “We were crazy excited when we learned that Alex Ross chose the Dunn Museum for his first museum exhibition in the Chicago metropolitan area.”

Osborne said a tremendous amount of homework and legwork took place before that first Facebook post was sent to Ross' manager.

Besides the fact that comics and superheroes are wildly popular right now, other factors played into obtaining the renowned artist. For example, the six-month exhibit that runs through Sept. 8 opened on the day the “Captain Marvel” movie was released in theaters. And two other Marvel movies are set to follow; “Avengers: Endgame” will be out April 26 and “Spider-Man: Far from Home” releases July 5.

Dunn Museum staff has been working with Dreamland Comics, a Libertyville business where Ross conducted his first public signing event years ago. Owner Charlie Balicki has been assisting staff and he will hold a free comic book event at the museum. A wide variety of other related superhero and comic book programs will take place during the six-month exhibit supported by the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves.

“It is really exciting to host an exhibit that has such broad appeal. Preschool students and their grandparents will both be mesmerized by the artwork with the same passion,” said Director of Education Nan Buckardt. “Superheroes cross all boundaries,” she said.

• Kim Mikus is a communications specialist for the Lake County Forest Preserves. She writes a bimonthly column about various aspects of the preserves. Contact her with ideas or questions at kmikuscroke@LCFPD.org. Connect with the Lake County Forest Preserves on social media @LCFPD.

Bess Bower Dunn Museum facts

1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, (847) 968-3400, <a href="http://www.DunnMuseum.org">DunnMuseum.org</a>

<b>Hours:</b> 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Open until 8 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of every month with free admission after 5 p.m., sponsored by USG.

<b>Price:</b> $6, $3 seniors and youth. Children under 3 free. Download $1 off single admission coupon at <a href="http://www.lcfpd.org/museum/planning">www.lcfpd.org/museum/planning</a>.