Prop Culture

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

As someone who used to work in a scenic and fabrication shop, I was intrigued by a new show on Disney+ titled “Prop Culture.” The premise centers around a man who collects movie props and hunts down props that may be missing or tucked away in odd locations. When I realized that one of the episodes was devoted entirely to props from “The Muppet Movie,” I was over the moon!

The episode dedicated to “The Muppet Movie” was so wonderful it brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions. Not only does the host connect with Brian Henson (son of Jim Henson and chairman of The Jim Henson Company), Dave Goelz (Muppeteer of Gonzo the Great) and Drew Struzan (the artist who created the original movie poster for “The Muppet Movie”), but they all share moving and emotional stories of making the film. Props seen in this episode include a few pieces from Gonzo’s outfit, Fozzie’s Studebaker, the El Sleezo Cafe sign and Kermit’s banjo.

For more information on the show “Prop Culture,” please visit…

https://www.disneyplus.com/series/disney-prop-culture/3vXywewCCYr5

For more information on artist Drew Struzan, please visit…

http://www.drewstruzan.com/illustrated/

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.