When it’s Seuss’ birthday: bring on the foofooraw

To celebrate the 116th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel -- the Dr. Seuss of children's book fame -- Ann Jackson Gallery in Roswell is throwing a party. CONTRIBUTED: ANN JACKSON GALLERY

To celebrate the 116th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel -- the Dr. Seuss of children's book fame -- Ann Jackson Gallery in Roswell is throwing a party. CONTRIBUTED: ANN JACKSON GALLERY

To celebrate the 116th birthday of the great Dr. Seuss, one needs cake, costumes, outlandish creatures and clever rhymes.

Ann Jackson Gallery, in an act of enormous enormance, will have all these elements in play Feb. 29 and March 1, lacking only green eggs and ham for the perfect Seussian occasion.

The Grinch will make an appearance, along with that trouble-maker, the Cat in the Hat. And there will be treats and prizes for the best Seuss-inspired costumes.

The party is in conjunction with the exhibit, “The Art of Dr. Seuss” on display at the Roswell gallery, which has been dealing in prints from works by Theodor Seuss Geisel since 1997.

The gallery boasts what owner Valerie Jackson says is the “world’s largest collection” of Seuss prints.

Few pieces of Geisel’s original art entered the market, said Jackson, adding that her gallery was among the first to begin selling limited edition prints, produced by his estate.

Geisel died in 1990.

Theodor Seuss Geisel in his studio with one of his creations, the Cat in the Hat. CONTRIBUTED: ANN JACKSON GALLERY

icon to expand image

Some 100 Seuss works will be on display, including prints of paintings that the artist did for his own amusement, that were not included in books or otherwise published. “He had his own secret art, his midnight paintings,” said Jackson. “He did them for stress relief just for fun.”

Also among the artwork on display will be three-dimensional cast-resin copies of certain unlikely Seussian sculptures that he called “Unorthodox Taxidermy.” Expect to encounter such creatures as the Carbonic Walrus, the Two-Horned Drouberhannis, and the Goo-Goo-Eyed Tasmanian Wolghast.

Jackson said visitors should come in their best Seuss-inspired costumes.

Those curious about the career of the famous artist/author/poet will be able to pepper Jackson with questions. “I  could talk to you for days,” she said. “I think he’s a genius.

If you go: "The Art of Dr. Seuss," 1-7 p.m. Feb. 29; 1-4 p.m., March 1; Ann Jackson Gallery, 11101 Alpharetta St, Roswell; annjacksongallery.com