TOP: Line block print, hand colored by E.H. Shepard, 1970 © Egmont UK Ltd, reproduced with permission from the Shepard Trust.
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High Museum, Alliance Theatre plan ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ exhibition and family musical this spring/summer.
THE ALLIANCE THEATRE and the High Museum of Art will join forces once again this spring/summer to showcase the work of children’s book authors and artists. This year’s squeezable special guest: Winnie-the-Pooh.
Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic makes its first U.S. visit and runs June 3-Sept. 2 at the High Museum. The Alliance will stage a Winnie-the-Pooh musical beginning June 7 and running through July 1. In recent years, the High and the Alliance have spotlighted the work of Ashley Bryan (Dancing Granny), Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and Mo Willems (Pancakes! Pancakes!).
The art exhibition, organized by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, is reportedly the first of its kind in more than 40 years. It explores the origins, creation and legacy of the stories by A.A. Milne (1882-1956) and illustrations by E.H. Shepard (1879-1976). The show features more than 200 works, including original illustrations, manuscripts and proofs along with early editions, letters, photographs, cartoons, ceramics and fashion featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Piglet, Rabbit and Tigger.
Among its highlights:
- Shepard’s first Winnie-the-Pooh character portraits, drawn to resemble the toys of Milne’s son Christopher, and original forest landscape sketches.
- More than 80 original pencil/pen-and-ink drawings for the four Pooh books, including some of the best-known illustrations.
- Replicas of Christopher Robin Milne’s stuffed animals, which inspired characters in the Pooh stories.
- Memorabilia from 90 years of Pooh history, including 1930s plush toys, a Pooh LEGO set and prints from the Pooh satire book Wookiee the Chew.
- A handwritten 1926 letter from Milne to Shepard and photographs of the Milne family.
- A 1929 recording of Milne reading Winnie-the-Pooh.
