Winters’ work on display at Fashion Show mall

Friday, Feb. 13, 2004 | 8:36 a.m.

In addition to being a brilliant comedian, 78-year-old Jonathan Winters is an accomplished artist.

More than 30 of his drawings and paintings are on display at the Art de Vignettes Fine Art Gallery at Fashion Show mall -- including 16 acrylic on canvas, 20 pen-and-ink drawings and five limited-edition autographed prints.

Winters was in Las Vegas earlier this week to attend the opening of his exhibit.

Tuesday night at a cocktail party in his honor he was presented with a key to the city by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. Wednesday evening and Thursday morning he met with the public at the gallery, signing autographs.

Winters, best known for his improvisational comedy, has been painting for almost 60 years. After a three-year tour of duty with the Marines in the South Pacific during World War II he spent two years studying art at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

His style is described as abstract, with a touch of the surreal and primitive.

Winters was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1925 and joined the Marine Corps at age 17. He has been a favorite guest on talk shows hosted by Steve Allen Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, David Lettermen and others.

One of his most notable films is 1963's "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World."

He made several appearances on "Mork and Mindy," which aired on ABC television from 1978 to 1981.

The Art de Vignettes Fine Art Gallery was opened six months ago by Barbara Lee Woollen.

The gallery features original paintings, sculpture, glass art, one-of-a-kind jewelry, fashion art and exclusive Lalique crystal.

Among works on sale are several pieces of bronze sculpture by actor/sculptor Paul Sorvino.