Riverhead artist Don Duga celebrates animation career Saturday at the Dark Horse

Most people are happy to have one anniversary to celebrate, but Riverhead artist Don Duga is celebrating two big anniversaries this year.

This is his 55th anniversary in the world of animation, and it is the 45th anniversary of his creation of the famous “Frosty the Snowman” character, seen by over 100 million people for generations. Duga, was part of a team of animators at Rankin, Bass Agency in New York City who helped to invent “Frosty,” which led to the many TV movies, and books.

He also collaborated on many other well-known animation films, including “Mad Monster Party” with Phyllis Diller and Boris Karloff, “The Last Unicorn” with Mia Farrow, “The Last Drummer Boy,” “Smokey the Bear,” “Mr. Magoo,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Duga also helped to create the “Jackson Five” TV Show, and “Saturday Night Live” with the Coneheads.

Duga will be exhibiting his “Frosty the Snowman” and other paintings tomorrow at the Dark Horse Restaurant in Riverhead. The public is invited to this exhibit, which will stay up for the month, and they are welcome to hear him share his iconic memories in animation, between 12 Noon and 2:30 p.m.

“This time of year, I like to show my work of “Frosty the Snowman,” since it fits in with our wintery weather and holidays,” he said. “I never realized, when we created him, how far he would go in the films and books.”

Over lunch, Duga will also draw families and children with “Frosty,” as a souvenir to take home.

“I have done this at other art exhibits, and the kids all love to see their picture with Frosty,” he said. “They line up for it.”

Over the years, Duga has veered off in other directions, such as his more recent paintings of the Beatles’ era. He became friends with Albert Maysles, famous New York City filmmaker, who documented the first arrival of the Beatles at Kennedy Airport in 1964, with his late brother, David Maysles. They jumped in the car and followed the Beatles to the Ed Sullivan Show, which they also included in their first film, “Meet the Beatles.”
Listening to the stories of Albert Maysles, now 87, Duga captured their images in his wonderful, whimsical paintings of the Beatles. He is also showing several of these unique paintings at the Dark Horse Restaurant, along with his other animations.

Another of these is his paintings of the famous “Grey Gardens” mansion in East Hampton, which was the subject of the 1976 documentary film by the Maysles Brothers, called, “Grey Gardens.” It was owned and inhabited by the eccentric and colorful cousins of Jackie Kennedy, and Duga captured this in his art as well.

One special thing about Duga is that he also paints the frame of his paintings, incorporating them into the entire image. His frames instantly become part of the painting as a whole, and it works quite well with his artistic expression.

The Dark Horse Restaurant will be offering a special kids’ lunch on Saturday in conjunction with Duga’s show. The restaurant is located at 1 E. Main St. (on the corner of Peconic Avenue) in Riverhead. (For reservations: 631-208-0072.)