The Art of Jim Henson



For many of us, it's hard to imagine a world without Sesame Street© and now a first-hand look at the art and inspiration for that cherished neighborhood will come alive in South Florida as Young At Art Museum presents "The Art of Jim Henson Featuring The Muppets©" which opens on Saturday, May 28 and continues through Sunday, October 2.

"The Art of Jim Henson Featuring The Muppets," organized by Young At Art Museum in partnership with Jim Henson Legacy, explores the artwork behind the evolution of the Muppets and features "guest" appearances by three of the most charming characters ever to grace Sesame Street: Elmo©, Prairie Dawn© and Sherlock Hemlock©.

Inspired by the art Jim Henson

used to create Elmo, visitors will use their imaginations to design their own puppets; inspect art masterpieces with Sherlock Hemlock; and star in a puppet show like Prairie Dawn.

"With this exhibition, we have a great opportunity to inspire children by

giving them a behind-the-scenes view of Jim Henson and the amazing world of characters he created which have delighted generations of children," said Adrienne Chadwick, director of education for Young At Art Museum. We've incorporated so many ways for visitors to use their own imaginations and participate in fun, educational hands-on activities with the art of puppets and more."

"The Art of Jim Henson Featuring The Muppets©" includes:

· The Puppet Theater: Visitors can create, direct and stage their own puppet shows. Design a puppet or choose from a selection of puppets and props and then simultaneously view their show on a nearby TV screen.

· Puppet Workshop: Here, visitors can make their own puppets using different recycled materials.

· Create a Character : Using light tables to trace from a variety of facial features, hairstyles and body shapes, visitors can design original characters or enjoy the felt board and create characters with precut pieces.

· Masterpiece Art Gallery: Visitors will learn about different styles of art from, Renaissance to Modern, and view the art of Jim Henson and several of his most beloved Muppets: Elmo, Sherlock Hemlock, and Prairie Dawn, which will be on display through the duration of the exhibition.

· The Young At Art Storefront: This early-learning area features blocks, videos and a special stoop where visitors can sit and look at books and gather for special story times.

· Special Features: Two videos, "Creating Characters," which explores how Jim Henson made the Muppets seem real and "Creating Worlds and Telling Tales," which discusses the vast and wonderful worlds Jim Henson created in the stories he told, such as Fraggle Rock, will be shown at specific times throughout duration of the exhibit. Call Young At Art for show times.

"When we relocated Young At Art to our current Davie location in 1998, we hosted "The Vision of Jim Henson," the museum's first-ever national traveling exhibition, said Mindy Shrago, executive director of Young At Art Museum. "How fitting that our last major exhibition before we move into our new, permanent facility next spring also is themed around Jim Henson and the Muppets. We truly have come full circle."

"The Art of Jim Henson Featuring The Muppetsundefined" was made possible with the help of local sponsors including, KidVision, WPBT, Funding Arts Broward, Jerry Taylor and Nancy Bryant Foundation, Maroone, Geico and Crowne Plaza At Sawgrass.

Young At Art is located at 11584 W. State Road 84 in Davie. Hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 per person. Children under age two are admitted free. For more Museum membership and other information, call 954-424-0085 or visit YoungAtArtMuseum.org.

<p style="text-indent: 45pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt -45pt; background: white"> About Young At Art Museum 

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1">The Young At Art Museumis located at 11584 W. State Road 84 in Davie. Hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission: $8 per person. Members and children under age two are free. Annual Museum family membership: $75 per family and includes free admission, discounts, preview parties and more. For more information call, 954-424-0085 or visit YoungAtArtMuseum.org.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Young At Art is currently in the midst of a $21 million capital campaign, entitled “The Art Answer,” to build a new Museum and Broward County Library that will extend the reach of Young At Art through a partnership with Broward County Libraries, Broward County and the State of Florida. The new 55,000 square-foot GOLD LEED-certified Young At Art Museum is under construction at I-595/State Road 84 at N.W. 121 Ave. in Davie. It will be the epicenter of cultural arts education for families and feature four permanent galleries: GreenScapes, CultureScapes, WonderScapes and ArtScapes. The YAA Institute Studios will offer painting/drawing, ceramics, printmaking, digital photography, 4D video design and a preschool curriculum. The new facility will include a 10,000 square-foot Broward County Library, a National Traveling Exhibition Gallery, Presentation Theater, Teen Center and Recording Studio, Museum Gift Shop, Creative Café and a preschool classroom to accommodate 22 children. The Young At Art Museum and Broward County Library will officially open to the public in spring 2012.