BNG To Host Michael Frith Exhibition Finale
Michael K. Frith will be joined by Lisa Henson, Kathryn Mullen and Jennifer Barnhart for a Bermuda National Gallery event on August 15 marking the close of his record-breaking retrospective exhibition.
A spokesperson said, “Join Michael K. Frith in conversation at the Earl Cameron Theatre on Saturday, August 15, as the record-breaking run of The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet comes to an end. To celebrate the close of this landmark exhibition – the first retrospective of one of Bermuda’s most accomplished living creatives and one of the Bermuda National Gallery’s most popular shows to date – Michael K. Frith will be joined on stage by Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company [and like Frith, a former president of the Harvard Lampoon], as well as puppeteers Kathryn Mullen and Jennifer Barnhart, with whom he has collaborated throughout his career.”
The exhibition, which displays over 350 items, including original sketches for Dr Seuss, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock alongside a host of puppets, has been a source of inspiration for many since it opened in October, bringing in record breaking visitor numbers and over 100 school tours, alongside professional development days for public school teachers, puppet making workshops, and even a visit from King Charles II. “The response to the show has been phenomenal,” says BNG Executive Director Jennifer L. Phillips. “17,000 visitors have been to the Bermuda National Gallery since the exhibition opened 10 months ago. This, when we usually see on average 10,000 visitors a year.”
The event on Saturday, August 15, includes a reception in the gallery before the talk, which will be held downstairs in the Earl Cameron Theatre. “It’s always sad to see a show come down,” says Eve Godet Thomas, Director of Exhibitions at BNG. “But this one particularly so as it has been so joyful and such a wonderful celebration of creativity. This will be the very last chance to see the exhibition before it closes and a way for us all to thank Michael for his incredible generosity in opening up his personal collection for the first time and in sharing his story in such a meaningful way.”
Michael K. Frith says, “This whole experience has been so touching and so gratifying! When the BNG first proposed it, I was pretty doubtful: would anyone actually be interested in a bunch of drawings of frogs and pigs, Fraggles and whatevers? It seems so; to see the reactions of so many Gallery visitors of all different generations, many with joy, some near tears, to the origins and evolution of all those characters they know and love has been truly moving. And the messages behind it all, the rewards of creative collaboration, the possibility of an artform such as puppetry going beyond entertainment to make real differences in people’s lives, seem to have had a real resonance. Most gratifying of all has been to see Bermudians young and not-so-young [but especially the young] come away with an inspiration to explore their own creative potentialities in ways they might never have before. That would be a legacy to truly treasure. And so, I look back with great gratitude on the foresight, determination and creativity in putting it all together of our own national treasure, the Bermuda National Gallery, for proving me wrong. I feel so very privileged to have been given this opportunity. Thanks to them, and to all who took a moment out of their day to stop by, and gift us with a smile.”
Lisa Henson, who will be attending the closing celebrations in person, added, “Michael Frith, simply put, is a legend. It is impossible to overstate his creative contributions to some of the world’s most beloved characters. With this exhibit, the Bermuda National Gallery has created an amazing tribute to a lifetime of work that is deeply inspiring. I look forward to celebrating with Michael and his cherished Bermuda community.”
The spokesperson said, “Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance and are available at www.bng.bm. Tickets are $30 for BNG members, $45 for non members.”
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