Baton Rouge residents will get a chance to view the life and work of Jim Henson on Friday at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. "Jim Henson's Fantastic World," a traveling Smithsonian exhibit, sheds light on the career and work of the American puppeteer who is best known as the creative mind behind "The Muppets" and "Sesame Street."
The exhibit is "a retrospective look at Henson's life as a person and creator," according to Jesse Hoggard, LASM marketing director.
While audiences may be most familiar with "Muppets" and "Sesame Street," the exhibit also show advertisements from Henson's early career.
More than 130 original works of art composed by Henson will also be on display, including cartoons, drawings and sketches.
Fans of Kermit the Frog will be able to trace the creation of the famous frog from his early life in television to the icon he has become.
Audiences will also get to learn more about other fan favorites such as Bert, Ernie and Big Bird.
Hoggard said audiences will be able to "go through the exhibit numerous times and see new things each time."
One of the new additions to the museum is the use of iPods in the exhibit. Through a grant with AT&T, LASM will have 18 iPods to rent to audiences, providing commentaries and interviews with Henson's daughter, Cheryl Henson, and other colleagues of the puppeteer, according to a press release.
Hoggard said LASM hopes to offer audiences a wider range of insight and information so they can get a better experience.
The actual audio from the iPod will also be available for download from LASM's Web site in mid-April.
The exhibit can be enjoyed by both the older generations that grew up with "The Muppets" and "Sesame Street" and the younger ones less familiar with it, according to Hoggard.
Younger children will get a chance to dress up in costumes at the exhibit and perform with puppets.
The museum will be the first in Louisiana to host "Jim Henson's Fantastic World" exhibit and will run it from March 28 to June 22.
The exhibit will then continue on its nationwide tour through 2010 and will later return to the Smithsonian Museum, according to the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
---- Contact Alan Verdin at averdin@lsureveille.com
Be the first to comment on this article!