The private art of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, will be unveiled this week on O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island, as part of a major retrospective and touring exhibition.

In only its second showing worldwide, "The Art of Dr. Seuss Retrospective and National Touring Exhibition" opens at Dolphin Galleries' Tapa Concourse location at Hilton Hawaiian Village. Portions of the exhibition also will be on concurrent display at Dolphin Galleries locations in Lahaina and Waikoloa (see box).

The exhibition showcases Seussian imagery from every facet of Geisel's varied career, including rare early works and poetry, advertising works, World War II editorial cartoons, magazine covers from the 1920s and 1930s, his collection of "unorthodox taxidermy," the Secret Art, and never-before-seen works from Geisel's personal archives.

The exhibition is a rare glimpse into the artistic life of Geisel, a celebrated American icon, and chronicles a side of him that most readers have never seen.

Geisel's widow, Audrey, wrote in a note to the collection: "I remember telling Ted that there would come a day when many of his paintings would be seen and he would thus share with his fans another facet of himself — his private self. That day has come."

The show is part of the "Seussentennial" celebration in honor of Geisel's 100th birthday March 2, 2004. Dozens of major events are planned nationwide, including book releases, children's museum and library exhibits, celebrity book reading events, and the first-day issuance of the Theodor Seuss Geisel postage stamp.

Following the exhibition, the tour will move to the San Francisco Cartoon Museum in February as part of a nationwide museum tour.