The legacy of popular children’s character Winnie the Pooh spans over 90 years, and the books have become a global phenomenon that has been translated into more than 50 languages.
The Museum of Fine Arts tackled the daunting challenge of creating an exhibit in honor of the stories for “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic.”
A wooden bridge, plastic slide and fiberglass balloons transformed the fictional world to reality.
Starting Saturday, museum patrons can follow through six stages of the exhibit to examine the global impact of Pooh, the author A.A. Milne, his son Christopher Milne (whom the books are largely based on) and illustrator E.H. Shepard.
The exhibit features nearly 200 works that connect the viewer to the real people, real places and original art that came together to create the recognizable Winnie the Pooh character.
The world of Pooh is brought to life through the multi-sensory and interactive parts of the exhibit. In addition to the aforementioned slide and wooden bridge, the museum’s younger visitors can explore many nooks, play games, draw and read. Ambient noise from a forest further engage with visitors and immerse them into the experience.
“Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic” marks the second collaboration between Meghan Melvin, the MFA’s Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf curator of design, and Kyla Hygysician, a MFA exhibition designer and a Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alum.
The two worked together previously on another exhibit inspired by a children’s book in 2016 titled “Make Way for Ducklings: The Art of Robert McCloskey.”
The exhibition’s artworks, letters and original proofs were organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as they had access to many of the original drawings of Pooh done by E.H. Shepard.
“The exhibition and design team installs all the exhibitions,” said Olga Khvan, content editor with the MFA’s Public Relations department. “They decided with the curator how the exhibition is going to be organized, where they need to build any things for the gallery and all the little details.”
In addition to Shepard’s original drawings, the exhibit features letters, photographs, cartoons, ceramics and a child-sized re-creation of Pooh’s home in the Hundred Acre Wood and Christopher Milne’s childhood bedroom (with a bed for kids to climb on). The gallery also includes a record of Milne reading “Winnie-the-Pooh” from 1929.
Frances Camacho, a junior in CAS, watched “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” show when she was younger and is familiar with the character, and though she hasn’t seen the exhibit, she said she was excited about the theme.
“… I definitely think it will take me back to certain memories of my childhood!” Camacho wrote in a Facebook message. “… I think Winnie the Pooh is a wholesome children’s show that many ages can enjoy. I think this will translate well into the exhibit.”
The exhibit attracted visitors drawn to its nostalgic value and parents with children in tow. Saili Kline, of South Boston, brought her 3-year-old to the MFA for the family preview this past Tuesday, and she said her toddler seemed to be enjoying the exhibit.
“Probably [the best part of the exhibit is] that it’s geared towards adults and kids, so it’s fun to see what you grew up with as an adult and for the kids to enjoy it in a different way,” Kline said.
Exhibit curator Melvin said she feels connected with Winnie the Pooh because her mother remade Shepard’s drawings and gifted them to her. The drawings now hang in her own son’s room.
“My mother copied E.H. Shepard drawings before she had kids,” Melvin said. “She sketched them for the family of one of the kids she taught, and when my mom had kids, that family gave the drawings back, and so those are now in my son’s room.”
The new exhibit, which offers special “timed-entry tickets” to allow everyone to get a full experience, has been on preview for museum members since Sunday. On the public opening day this Saturday, there will be a celebration featuring family friendly activities and games on the MFA lawn, as well as milk and cookies courtesy of the exhibition’s sponsor, Hood Milk.
“Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic” will be on view in the Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery at the MFA from Sept. 22 to Jan. 6, 2019.
