With Help From COLLINS, The Muppets Take Astoria

Brian Collins, founder and chief creative officer of independent brand and design agency COLLINS, has always credited Jim Henson with helping to form his perspective on storytelling and creative technology. In fact, he keeps a Kermit on display in his office.

Now, COLLINS has launched its first museum exhibition — on Henson’s career — in collaboration with the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, New York. The museum's executive creative director, Carl Goodman, heard that Collins was a major Henson fan and sought an introduction to explore his agency's participation. 

This new exhibition features more than 300 artifacts related to Henson’s career, including 47 puppets, character sketches, storyboards, scripts, photographs and iconic costumes.

Film and television clips and behind-the-scenes footage are presented on 23 monitors and three large-scale projections throughout, plus two video installations at entry and exit.

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Two interactive experiences allow visitors to try their hand at puppeteering on screen and designing a puppet character.

The puppets, licensed merchandise and some 2-D material in the exhibition are drawn from a collection of nearly 500 objects donated to the museum by Jim Henson’s family in 2013. The project saw the museum expand its gallery space with the help of city funding and restore the iconic puppets thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that surpassed financing goals.

The exhibition is organized by Barbara Miller, curator of the collection and exhibitions. Wendell Walker is the director of production and design. Creative direction & exhibition design by COLLINS | NY & SF.

 

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