The Minister of Education, Sen. The Hon. Crystal Caesar, JP, toured The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet, an incredibly well-received retrospective of the life and work of Bermudian Michael K. Frith, currently on view at the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG).
The exhibition chronicles the genius of an internationally recognised Bermudian whose career highlights include working as a children's book editor and illustrator with Dr Seuss and Sesame Street books, followed by a 20-year stint as a key player with The Jim Henson Company during which time he designed countless Muppet characters and was the co-creator of Fraggle Rock, for which he took inspiration from his childhood growing up in Bermuda.
The show was curated by BNG Director of Exhibitions, Eve Godet Thomas. Ms Godet Thomas said, "The Art of Michael K. Frith: From Pencil to Puppet celebrates the life and work of one of Bermuda's greatest living creatives and his enormous contribution to the worlds of entertainment, education and popular culture. The exhibition traces not only Michael's extraordinary career, but also the evolution of an idea, which often starts, quite literally, on the back of a napkin, told through over 350 artefacts including original artworks, puppets and moving footage."
The exhibition is made possible by several sponsors, including the title sponsor, Masters Limited, and additional support from the Ministry of Education.
Minister Caesar said, "The Ministry of Education recognises the importance of supporting art experiences within the educational context. This exhibition provides an incredible opportunity for local students to learn and be inspired through the exploration of a Bermudian artist who has achieved great success on a global scale. Beyond the Muppets and the Fraggles, Frith's nonprofit No Strings Productions, which makes life-saving educational puppet films for at-risk populations in developing countries, highlights the power of puppets to educate and heal."
Executive Director, Jennifer Phillips noted, The first two weeks of the exhibition's opening saw over 1,100 visitors to the Gallery, including 40 students who have participated in school tours thus far, with more bookings confirmed through the remainder of the year. BNG will also be hosting a professional development day for BPSS teachers next week.
School tours, which are offered free of charge for students of all ages, can be booked online at www.bng.bm/school-tours/
The Bermuda National Gallery is located in the City Hall and Arts Centre. Open Tuesday to Friday 10 am-4 pm, and Saturdays 10 am-2 pm. Admission is free, thanks to the generosity of The Christian Humann Foundation.