By Angelica Acevedo
The much-anticipated Jim Henson Exhibition, featuring an array of more than 300 artifacts from his renowned film and television career, will permanently open to the public Saturday in the Museum of the Moving Image.
The museum, located at 36-01 35th Ave., hosted a press conference Tuesday giving members of the media the chance to see the exhibition before the opening.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the Jim Henson Exhibition is the appearances of the popular puppets he created, including Kermit the Frog — who greets patrons as they walk through the entrance — Miss Piggy, Rowlf, Big Bird, Elmo and other favorites. Patrons will also be able to see character sketches, handwritten storyboards, scripts, old photographs and costumes, all of which will give them a chance to see the extensive creative process that the iconic filmmaker and technical innovator possessed.
Barbara Miller, the curator of the collection and exhibitions, said it was a “privilege to work in this project.”
“There’s something really extraordinary about his work that I think tells a deeper story as well,” Miller said. “The creative leadership, the innovation, the ability to bring out the best in the people that he worked with … has been a tremendous example and I hope it comes out in our work.”
She added that she hopes that those who visit the museum will “come with an idea of who they think Henson was, but leave with a sort of complex idea of who he was, leaving people with more questions than what they had.”
In addition, guests will be able to try their hand at puppeteering in two interactive experiences. Whether you are five or 50-years-old, you may be able to puppeteer on screen and design a character.
Carl Goodman, the executive director of the museum, spoke about the history of the project and how it took many years to bring it all together.
“Over the past three years, people here at the museum made it a priority,” Goodman said. “This is not just an exhibition, it’s a property and it has an identity, which will travel beyond here and millions of people will know about it.”
He also thanked the Henson family, The Jim Henson Legacy, as well as the more than 2,000 donors, for their support.
Tickets will be $15 for adults (18 and over), $11 for senior citizens (65 and over) and students with a college ID, $7 for youth (3-17), and free for children under 3 years old. For more information on museum hours and additional programing, visit the website at www.movin
