Thursday, May 12, 2022 | 5pm
ADMISSION: This online program is free with advanced registration.
From Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and Fraggle Rock to The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and The Storyteller, Jim Henson’s creative imagination and enthusiasm for new technologies and collaborations expanded the uses of puppets and brought his unique sense of humor and storytelling to audiences all around the world. Join Cheryl Henson, daughter of Jim and Jane Henson and President of the Jim Henson Foundation, as she looks at her father’s contributions to puppetry, his dedication to the art form, and his engagement with international puppeteers.
This online Zoom event is free. Please note that a Zoom account is required to register for the program. If you do not have a Zoom account, please create one by clicking "Sign up free" at the top of the registration page.
The CJM strives to provide a welcoming and accessible environment to all who attend our digital programming and online content. To request live captioning or American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for Zoom programs, please email access@thecjm.org at least two weeks in advance of the program.
Cheryl Henson is the President of The Jim Henson Foundation, an organization dedicated to contemporary American puppet theater which has made over 1,000 grants for the creation of new work. From 1992–2000, Cheryl executive produced the award winning biennial Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater, presenting 136 productions from 31 countries in 24 theaters. Cheryl is on the board of directors of The Jim Henson Company and the Center for Puppetry Arts.
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited celebrates the legacy of Jim Henson (1936–1990), trailblazing puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, and filmmaker. Featuring more than 150 objects drawn from the beloved worlds of Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, and more, the exhibition highlights Henson’s groundbreaking work for film and television, his indelible mark on popular culture, and the profound social impact of his work. It also includes material from Henson’s experimental film projects and his early work, presenting him as a restlessly creative performer and technical innovator. Discover how Henson and his team of builders, performers, and writers created an unparalleled body of work, sharing characters and stories that represent diverse backgrounds and abilities. These stories continue to delight audiences and inspire people of all ages to look beyond differences and cultivate a more compassionate, inclusive world.
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited is a traveling exhibition organized by Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria, New York) in cooperation with The Jim Henson Company, The Muppets Studio, and Sesame Workshop.
Major support for The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited is generously provided by The Jane Henson Foundation.
Public Programs at The CJM are made possible thanks to generous support from Grants for the Arts and the Walter & Elise Haas Fund.
Header image: Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog in 1978 on the set of The Muppet Movie. Kermit the Frog © Disney/Muppets. Courtesy The Jim Henson Company/Museum of the Moving Image.
Exhibition image: Jim Henson and his iconic creation Kermit the Frog, in front of a mural by Coulter Watt. Kermit the Frog © Disney/Muppets. Courtesy The Jim Henson Company/Museum of the Moving Image. Photo: John E. Barrett.