Today, the Arlington Museum of Art in Arlington, TX, announced the September 14 opening of Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume and All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives. Both exhibitions are presented in partnership with the Walt Disney Archives.

“Whether on television, in a movie theatre, or at a Broadway show, when we meet a Disney character for the first time, we instantly begin to understand them. That is how extraordinarily important costume design is to conveying persona,” said Chris Hightower, President & CEO of the Arlington Museum of Art, “and how Disney truly sets the standard of excellence. By bringing these two exhibitions together for the first time, the Arlington Museum of Art surrounds visitors in the transformative power of wardrobe while celebrating the artists whose creativity and talent is conveyed in every design, every stitch, and every jewel.”

This will be the first time that the two collections will be exhibited at the same time by a single venue. Together, they feature more than 300 stunning pieces spanning over 65 years.

Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume

Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume immerses visitors in the textural storytelling and character development woven into Disney’s iconic costumes. The exhibition is organized into three Disney archetypes: heroes, villains, and the spaces between, dedicated to the complex and intriguing antiheroes of Disney storytelling.

The exhibition features a stunning collection of original costumes, including the Sanderson Sisters’ wicked wardrobe from Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), Mary Poppins’ delightful traveling dress from Mary Poppins Returns (2018), Belle’s ball gown from 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, the Evil Queen and Hook’s costumes from Once Upon a Time (TV, 2011-2018), and the dress worn by Bette Davis as Letha in Return from Witch Mountain (1978).

Through original items including ball gowns, sorcerers’ capes, a pirate’s jacket, and iconic glass slippers, Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume celebrates the artistry of some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers. Included in the exhibition are costumes created by Academy Award® winners Colleen Atwood, Sandy Powell, and Tony Walton, as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.

All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives

All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives dazzles with prized pieces of jewelry and accessories. From crowns and tiaras to watches, rings, and necklaces, this exhibition gives visitors the rare opportunity to see these iconic jewels up close, while gaining an understanding of how integral they are to completing the ensemble and informing the character.

The exhibit is presented in five parts: “Every Little Detail” brings together over 80 small pieces from earrings, cuff links, rings, and more; “The Feature Vault” is an incredible collection of crowns, tiaras, necklaces, and pendants; “Watches Through the Decades” chronologically showcases the Walt Disney Archives’ collection of wrist and pocket watches; “Made for Screen” gives visitors a peek behind the curtain to see the process of creating some of the most iconic jewelry props; and “Reflections of Reality” showcases jewelry and accessories that were heavily influenced and inspired by real life people and stories.

Bringing together some of the best of old and new, All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives includes King Brian’s crown from Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) used by Jimmy O’Dea, Elizabeth Swann’s pirate medallion necklace from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl(2003) used by Keira Knightley, Mia’s coronation crown from Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement(2004) used by Anne Hathaway, and Ursula’s shell necklace from The Little Mermaid (2023) used by Melissa McCarthy to capture Ariel’s voice.

More information, including press preview opportunities, will be announced later this spring. Tickets for the exhibitions will be available starting in June, only at arlingtonmuseum.org. Museum members will have early access to free tickets as a part of their membership benefits.

The post JUST ANNOUNCED: Two Exhibitions Featuring the Artistry of Disney Costumes, Jewelry, and Accessories to Open in Texas appeared first on D23.

Continuing a cross-country tour that launched at D23 Expo 2019, Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume makes its Southeastern U.S. debut on February 17, when the exhibition opens at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Produced by the staff of the Walt Disney Archives, the 6,000-square-foot exhibit examines the craftsmanship and artistry of Disney costume designers, offering visitors up-close looks at more than 70 iconic costumes and props from some six decades of Disney films and television programs.

“So much has been said and documented about the incredible work of filmmakers, musicians, and animators who have brought our favorite films and TV shows to life,” says Kelsey Williams, Exhibitions Creative Lead for the Walt Disney Archives. “But we think it’s fair to say that Disney costume designers have not had their work examined, or appreciated, with the same level of attention. We’ve been excited to finally shine that spotlight with this traveling exhibition.”

Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume marks the first Disney experience to debut at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Previous stops for the exhibit have included the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Washington (in 2021), and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan (in 2022).

“What’s great about producing and traveling this exhibit is that it’s flexible,” shares Matthew Adams, Manager of Exhibitions for the Walt Disney Archives. “It’s been featured in a variety of different spaces across the country, each with its own unique configurations, but the exhibit has been designed like that intentionally.”

No matter the venue or layout, costumes from some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers are on full display, including Academy Award® winners Colleen Atwood and Sandy Powell, as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy® nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose. Their work has been worn by the likes of Nicolas Cage, Glenn Close, Angelina Jolie, Geoffrey Rush, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey.

“You get to see costumes from our collection up-close,” Williams explains, “which is really quite spectacular. To take in the fine detailing, the stitching, the textiles, the colorful fabrics, the costumes’ lightness or heaviness—it’s all the work of costume designers who put an incredible amount of thought, consideration, and skill into every detail you see… the elements that help shape and define who the character is.”

Visitors will first enter “Cinderella’s Workshop,” a gallery that examines how several designers have each applied their own unique style and artistry to different interpretations of the fairy tale heroine—from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997) and Into the Woods (2014) to the ABC hit series Once Upon a Time (2011–2018) and the 2015 live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic starring Lily James.

“It’s a really cool case study,” says Williams, “and through our gallery elements, you’ll also get to hear from the designers themselves as they explain their creative process and what they brought to their variation of the character.”

The exhibit continues upstairs, where dozens of iconic costumes are revealed in three sections: Heroes, Villains, and Spaces Between—a category reserved for the antiheroes whose fascinating journeys make them among Disney’s most complex characters.

This week’s opening in Birmingham welcomes several first-time additions to the exhibit, such as the costumes of Peter Pan and Captain Hook (Alexander Molony and Jude Law) from 2023’s Peter Pan & Wendy, the village dress worn by Belle (H.E.R.) in 2022’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration on ABC, and the bewitching dresses donned by the Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) in 2022’s Hocus Pocus 2.

The Alabama premiere also marks a homecoming for Adams. “I’m personally really excited about this venue because Birmingham is where I was born and raised,” he relates, thinking back to school field trips to the museum. “So it’s really a full-circle moment to have a project I’m working on follow me back to my hometown.”

The significance of exhibiting treasures from the Archives’ collections isn’t lost on Adams. “We can take them to places where there traditionally is not a big Disney experience, such as a theme park,” he continues. “We can take them into communities where there’s a high affinity for Disney. So it’s been rewarding to go to those places and share a little bit of Disney magic for fans who would otherwise need to go far to experience it.”

Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume is on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama from February 17 through August 18, 2024. Stay tuned to D23.com as future venues are announced.

The post <em>Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume</em> Arrives at the Birmingham Museum of Art appeared first on D23.

The show is presented in partnership with Exhibition Hub and Fever, both leaders in global live-entertainment operations. Guests can experience ten immersive galleries with visual, audio, and interactive elements, as well as more than 250 unique and rarely seen works of art, artifacts, memorabilia, costumes, and props from the historical collections across the many realms of Disney, all on display as The Walt Disney Company celebrates its centennial anniversary on October 16, 2023.

“It took several years to plan and assemble the artifacts for Disney100: The Exhibition, and many of them will be on display for Disney fans for the first time,” said Christoph Scholz, Director, Semmel Exhibitions. “Most of the artifacts are presented from the Walt Disney Archives collection with some additional treasures from Marvel Studios, the Pixar Living Archives, the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, and Walt Disney Imagineering, including some that will be displayed for the first time in Chicago.”

The city of Chicago plays an important role in the Disney story: Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood; Walt purchased his first motion picture camera in Chicago; he attended McKinley High School where he divided his attention between drawing and photography; and attended night classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. The Windy City provided inspiration for the project that eventually became known as Disneyland® Park, including by way of the Chicago Railroad Fair.

“We are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to Chicago,” said Rebecca Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives. “We can’t wait for guests to experience some of their favorite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”

Visitors will be taken on a visual journey where they can explore seldom viewed works of art including visual development drawings for Sleeping Beauty (1959), created by artist and Disney Legend Marc Davis. A very special piece of art from Mary Poppins (1964), which can also be seen in the opening titles of Mary Poppins Returns (2018), created by artist and Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw will also be on display. Also included in the experience are some of the iconic props from various films such as the Mad Hatter’s teapot from Alice in Wonderland (2010); the poisoned caramel apple from Enchanted (2007) used by Timothy Spall and Amy Adams; and the dinglehopper from The Little Mermaid (2023) used by Halle Bailey. Fans won’t want to miss seeing Disneyland® Park Employee Badge #1, issued to Walt Disney in 1955, and early photography of Walt Disney’s birthplace in Chicago. Disney enthusiasts will have the chance to leave with both memories and memorabilia, as the exhibition will include several extraordinary backdrops and photo opportunities along with exclusive merchandise offered inside the Disney100: The Exhibition gift shop.

“Chicago is proud to host Disney100: The Exhibition, returning to the very city where the Walt Disney legend first began,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “We welcome Disney fans from all corners of the world to enjoy this immersive exhibition and spend time in the city that inspired the imagination of a young Walt Disney, one of the 20th century’s most influential Americans.”

The waitlist for tickets opens today, September 6, 2023, and ticket sales will begin on September 12, 2023, at 10 a.m. CDT. For images, please visit the press kit here. Disney100: The Exhibition is scheduled to be open throughout the holiday season and into 2024.

The Exhibition Hub Art Center in Chicago is located inside the Lincoln Park neighborhood at 2367 W. Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647 and is easily accessible from Chicago’s public transit system. For more information, please visit https://disney100exhibit.com/chicago

The post <em>Disney100: The Exhibition</em> to Open November 18 in Chicago—Birthplace of Walt Disney appeared first on D23.

Walt Disney Archives

Archive Exhibits

Headlines

Event Recaps

Event Recaps

Event Recaps

Event Recaps

Headlines

Just For Fun

Discounts & Offers

The post Disney100: The Exhibition appeared first on D23.

Archive Spotlight

Walt Disney Archives

Archive Spotlight

The post <em>Walt Disney Archives Presents: Step in Time</em> at D23 Expo 2022 appeared first on D23.

Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume explores the craftsmanship and artistry required to produce costuming elements that represent nearly six decades of film and television production at The Walt Disney Company. Having debuted at the 2019 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, this traveling exhibition incorporates more than 60 costumes from over 30 films worn by the likes of Disney Legend Julie Andrews, Bette Davis, Glenn Close, and Angelina Jolie.

Showcasing the work of over 20 different designers, the exhibit aims to provide visitors a rarely seen, up-close look at some of Disney’s most memorable costumes, shining a spotlight on not only the incredible garments, but the artisans who helped bring them to cinematic life. Much has been said and written about the significant work of the artists, animators, performers, composers, designers, and Imagineers who have brought forth the sorcery of Disney to generations around the world, but Disney costume designers have not had their work examined—or appraised and appreciated—with the same focus, nor has their art been as celebrated as their creative contemporaries. This exhibition allows guests to hear from the designers themselves, getting added insight into how costumes go from concept to reality.

The 6,000-square-foot traveling exhibit is on display at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation^® in Dearborn, Michigan, through January 1, 2023.

The post <em>Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume</em> at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation® appeared first on D23.

In partnership with the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, the Walt Disney Archives has designed and curated four main gallery spaces in which viewers will have the chance to experience an in-depth look at the world of costume jewelry and accessories. These galleries explain what sets costume jewelry apart from real world jewelry and how these pieces help accentuate a costume as a whole. Within this new exhibition, viewers get an up-close view of some of our favorite pieces from Disney, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox projects.

With over 200 dazzling items from over 100 productions, we are very pleased to take you through this exciting look at this often overlooked, yet integral part of movie and television magic. Our premier costume jewelry exhibition, All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives, will be on display at the Bowers Museum through June 19, 2022.

D23 Gold Members receive a discount on tickets and merchandise!

The post <em>All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives</em> appeared first on D23.

Walt Disney World merchandise has always been more than just something to be purchased—it’s a tangible reminder of specific memories tied to “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” This chronological exhibition provides a glimpse into Walt Disney World Resort past and present through several merchandise memories that bring the magic home with us. While it’s impossible for the Archives to have saved every piece of resort merchandise created, the goal has always been to have a sampling of key objects to exemplify a given point in time. These exhibit displays represent some of the most iconic and collectible pieces from over the years, showcasing the trends of the times and key celebrations, all set to evocative shopping-bag-graphic backdrops of the decade.

We hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane with Walt Disney Archives Presents: 50 Years of Bringing Home the Magic.

1970s
Even before the Walt Disney World Resort opened, curious fans began purchasing select merchandise in January 1970 with the opening of the Walt Disney World Preview Center. Some of the most popular “before park opening” products included the first souvenir guidebook, various groovy hats like Donald Duck with a squeaking bill, and extra-long pencils with character toppers.

1980s
The 1980s brought the opening of two new tubular theme parks to Walt Disney World Resort, EPCOT Center (currently known as EPCOT) in 1982 and the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park (currently known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios) in 1989. Upon opening, the wide range of newly created characters and logos for EPCOT made for some of the most unique Disney merchandise ever created and remain fan favorites to this day.

1990s
From figurines to fanny packs, many fly merchandise trends came out of the 1990s. Mix these with Walt Disney World 20th and 25th anniversary celebrations, and you get light-up visors and sparkling snow globes. The opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in 1998 brought a new type of merchandise into the Disney world, focusing on nature and the park’s icon, the Tree of Life.

2000s & 2010s
As time progresses and technology evolves, so, too, has Walt Disney World merchandise offerings —electric monorails race around tracks, interactive Mickey plush share fun facts about theme parks, and even park tickets are a fashion statement with the creation of MagicBands in 2013. The 2000s helped to further turn collecting merchandise into an activity with the introduction of Pin Trading during the Millennium Celebration and later continued with the Vinylmation craze. Classic Minnie Mouse ear headbands became more popular than ever with the start of color collections like Rose Gold and Millennium Pink, perfectly pairing with fan favorite spirit jerseys.

50th Anniversary
The Walt Disney Archives collection is constantly growing; the celebrations of today are history captured for tomorrow. When it comes to significant anniversaries—like “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” for the resort’s 50th—saving examples of related merchandise is imperative for the future understanding of the resort’s past, serving as research for the Company to build from and nostalgia for audiences to look back on and enjoy.

Dream-Catching Machine
Originally used to collect sparks of imagination with Dreamfinder and his pal Figment, this Dream-Catching Machine was first seen when the EPCOT attraction Journey Into Imagination opened March 5, 1983. After the original incarnation of the attraction closed in 1998, it was moved to the shopping location Mouse Gear to delight Guests as a bit of “easter egg” set décor. The Dream-Catching Machine became one of the Walt Disney Archives’ newest acquisitions when it was removed for the shop’s re-imagining in 2020.

The post Destination D23–50 Years of Bringing Home the Magic appeared first on D23.

Almost 50 years after the Walt Disney studio created a mouse named Mickey, Walt’s brother Roy O. Disney established the Walt Disney Archives at the company’s headquarters in Burbank, California. Its mission—to collect, preserve, and make available for research the history of Walt Disney and the company he founded, so that it can continue to inspire artists, audiences, dreamers, and doers of all ages. With more than 13,000 boxes of documents and merchandise items, a library of over 20 million photographs, more than 12,000 catalogued books, and several thousand historic props and costume pieces—from the first Mickey Mouse Club series to the latest feature films and Disney theme park attractions—the Walt Disney Archives documents Disney history as it happens. While not open to the public, Disney cast members, employees, Imagineers, and outside researchers working on official projects can visit the Archives to study and understand the past to help them create the Disney magic of today—and tomorrow!

This exhibition gives visitors a chance to get a glimpse into Disney’s storied past as they walk through a special recreation of the Archives, including a dazzling display of more than 450 historical objects, including original artwork, costumes, and props that tell the story of the department, The Walt Disney Company, and Walt Disney himself. The 10,000-square-foot traveling exhibit will be on display at the Graceland Exhibition Center in Memphis, Tennessee, from July 23, 2021, through January 2, 2022.

The post <em>Inside the Walt Disney Archives</em> – Graceland Exhibition Center appeared first on D23.

Much has been said and written about the significant work of the artists, animators, performers, composters, designers, and Imagineers who have brought forth the sorcery of Disney to generations around the world, but Disney costume designers have not had their work examined—or appraised and appreciated—with the same focus, nor has their art been as celebrated as their creative contemporaries. And yet, in all the varied narrative media from Disney, costumes and clothing are  as significant and memorable an element of building a character and telling a story as any other aspect, from script to sound, or from performance to production design.

This exhibition explores the craftsmanship and artistry required to produce costuming elements that represent nearly six decades of film and television production at The Walt Disney Company. Incorporating more than 60 costumes worn by the likes of Disney Legend Julie Andrews, Bette Davis, Glenn Close, and Angelina Jolie, and representing over 20 different designers, the exhibit aims to showcase for visitors a never before seen, up-close look at some of Disney’s most memorable costumes, shining a spotlight on not only the incredible garments, but the artisans that brought them to life. Guests are able to hear from the designers themselves, getting added insight into how costumes go from concept to reality.

The 6,000-square-foot traveling exhibit will be on display at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, Washington, from June 4, 2021 through April 17, 2022.

The post <em>Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume</em> – MoPop appeared first on D23.