Art museum announces Jim Henson exhibit

Local News

Discussion

December 18, 2009

from staff and wire reports The Meridian Star Fri Dec 18, 2009, 11:36 PM CST

In a scene that surely would have pleased Jim Henson, a group of children sang the ‘‘Sesame Street’’ theme song Friday to announce an exhibition of ‘‘The Muppet’’ creator’s work in his native Mississippi.

Henson, a Greenville native who developed an astounding imagination while exploring the wilderness near his childhood home in Leland, is the focus of an exhibition at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

A news conference Friday at the museum in Jackson opened with a group of children from Galloway Elementary School singing the ‘‘Sesame Street’’ song. Henson was the driving force behind the successful children’s program.

Museum director Betsy Bradley told the gathering, which included reporters, children and the young-at-heart, the show begins today and runs through March 14.

‘‘Jim Henson’s Fantastic World’’ will include 130 objects, from puppets to preliminary sketches and movie props, she said.

‘‘Prepare to be delighted, impressed and amazed,’’ she said. And ‘‘see how he made the magic that has uplifted and thrilled us for so many years.’’

Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) on Friday announced the opening of an exhibit highlighting MPB’s contributions to puppetry at the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA). Located in the museum’s Closer Look Gallery, MPB’s Mississippi Puppetry Connection runs in conjunction with the exhibit, “Jim Henson’s Fantastic World,” until March 14.

Mississippi Puppetry Connection celebrates puppetry in Mississippi, emphasizing MPB’s 40 years of educational television puppet shows for children. Since MPB hit the television airwaves in 1970, the network has produced a long line of quality children’s puppet series including “The Clyde Frog Show,” “The Measuring Show” starring Mississippi’s own Miss America 1959 Mary Ann Mobley, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” “The Write Channel,” “Pennywise,” “The Magic Place,” “Funnybones,” “GeoScout,” “Media Mania,” and “Ticktock Minutes.”

“MPB shares the values of preserving, promoting, and celebrating our state’s diverse visual culture with the Mississippi Museum of Art. What a natural partnership! Mississippi has a unique heritage, especially in the artistic realm, and it’s imperative to expose and educate all ages about such contributions. We’re honored to collaborate with the museum to showcase the creative world of puppetry with the citizens of Mississippi,” said Dr. Judy Lewis, MPB Executive Director.

The installation features actual puppets, production photos, interactive displays, and video pieces. Featured puppets include Clyde Frog, the main character from the 1970s shows “The Clyde Frog Show” and “About Safety,” R.B. Bugg from the late 1970s “The Write Channel,” and Dr. Ticktock from the 1990s national Emmy® Award-winning “Ticktock Minutes.”

After Mississippi, the Henson exhibit will travel to 12 other sites across the country.

Henson, a prolific puppeteer, filmmaker and producer, died in 1990, but left a legacy that lives on in the hearts of children. He’s the creator of such memorable characters as Kermit the Frog and Big Bird.

‘‘It’s such a treat to get to know Jim Henson through his doodles and drawings, his puppets and his fantastic performances,’’ Karen Falk, curator of the exhibition and archivist and Jim Henson Company, said in a news release.

The exhibition is being put on as part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Jim Henson Legacy. It’s sponsored by Mississippi native and Netscape founder Jim Barksdale and his wife, Donna.

Text Only

Local News

Voters face Saturday deadline
February 10, 2012
Site of sub commissioning changed
February 10, 2012
Dulaneys to reign over 2012 Meridian Mardi Gras Weekend
February 10, 2012
Local law enforcement officials honored
State Rep. Greg Snowden said he remembered as a child looking up to those "men in blue."
He said police officers in uniform were larger than life, riding in their patrol cars and carrying guns to protect and serve the population. Today, he said he is still in great admiration of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that citizens can feel safe.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
MPD probes vehicle crash
Evidence of a mother's desperate attempt to save her children from harm were spread all over a car lot — and could be seen on her as well in the form of bruises, cuts and scrapes.
Tuesday night, a vehicle with three children inside crashed through a plate glass showroom floor window damaging four new cars and totaling the vehicle the children were in.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Skeleton found in residence
Members of the forensics team of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) were called to a dilapidated home in Chunky to probe the discovery of a skeleton.

February 9, 2012
Police search for robbery suspects
Two men who reportedly robbed a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot of a local bank are still being sought.
Mike Vick, public information officer with the Meridian Police Department, said the two men approached a woman about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the ATM of Regions Bank on North Hills Street. Vick said one of the suspects was armed with a handgun and after taking an undetermined amount of cash and the victim's car keys, the two suspects fled on foot.

February 9, 2012
City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday.

February 8, 2012
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits.

February 8, 2012
Team Spirit
February 8, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Art museum announces Jim Henson exhibit

Site Map

Contact Us