The Browns & The Van Pelts: Siblings in Peanuts
January 29 through June 19, 2011
Downstairs Changing Gallery
Though he himself was an only child, Schulz recognized the potential for drama and humor inherent in sibling relationships, which are among the most influential and enduring associations in our lives. Over the years Peanuts portrayed many familial antics, including bossy older sisters, embarrassment caused by a brother’s inept kite-flying or chronic blanket-toting, and the petty bickering that can be a staple of brother/sister interactions. However, Schulz’s comic siblings were also capable of tenderhearted softness—help with homework, sage advice, comfort, and understanding. In addition to revisiting their own childhoods through original Peanuts comic strips, visitors saw selected excerpts of sibling interactions from the Peanuts animated television specials.