The Pacific Northwest may not be the first location that comes to mind when thinking of a vast array of Hollywood artifacts and history, but starting later in the year, Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture will be a go-to destination for an exhibit presented in a partnership with the Walt Disney Archives, The Art of the Disney Costume.
What’s Happening:
- The costuming of Disney characters has dazzled us for years, and now you have a chance to see some of the most stunning pieces up close. Today, The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop) in Seattle, Washington announced the October opening of Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume in partnership with the Walt Disney Archives. Through more than 70 original items, including ball gowns, sorcerers’ capes, military uniforms, tiaras, and, of course, glass slippers, the exhibition immerses visitors into the world of Disney and shows how our understanding of its iconic characters is shaped through the artistry and creativity of its costumes.
- The exhibit, which guests were first able to experience at D23 Expo 2019, includes costumes from some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers, past and present, including 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. Check out our video from the exhibit at the D23 Expo!
- Visitors will experience “Cinderella’s Workshop,” a gallery featuring the beloved fairy-tale character’s dresses from her numerous Disney incarnations, including 1997’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella; 2014’s Into the Woods; the 2015 live-action reimagining of the animated masterpiece Cinderella; and the ABC hit series Once Upon a Time.
- The main gallery will be divided into three sections: “Disney Heroes,” “Disney Villains,” and “Spaces Between,” reserved for the antiheroes whose fascinating journeys make them among Disney’s most complex characters. There will also be interactive elements and plenty of chances for photo ops.
- Among the costumes included in the “Disney Heroes” section are Belle’s village dress and ballgown from 2017’s Beauty and the Beast; Giselle and Prince Edward’s costumes from Enchanted; and two iconic Mary Poppins “traveling dresses”: one from the 1964 original film and the other from 2019’s Mary Poppins Returns. “Disney Villains” ensembles include the trio of wonderfully wicked witches from 1993’s Hocus Pocus, the duo of dresses worn by the stepsisters in 2015’s Cinderella, and the dress worn by the incomparable Bette Davis in 1978’s Return from Witch Mountain. And “Spaces Between” includes Maleficent’s gown from the 2014 film, as well as the Evil Queen and Hook’s costumes from Once Upon a Time.
- MoPOP is the first museum to show the exhibition, which premiered at last year’s D23 Expo. More information on the exhibition, including the opening date in October and press preview opportunities, will be announced later in the year.
What They’re Saying:
- Alexis Lee, MoPOP Executive Director: “In film, television, and theater, costuming is a tremendously powerful tool for storytelling and character development. Disney in particular is a master of the art and sets a standard for using wardrobe as a device for creative expression.”
