It’s Alive!
Frankenstein at 200
Commemorating the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this exhibition brings together for the first time art and artifacts (including comic books, film posters, publicity stills, and movie memorabilia) that explain how Frankenstein caught the popular imagination over the course of two hundred years. Co-curators Elizabeth Denlinger and John Bidwell will lead us through the exhibit which traces the origins and impact of her novel, which has been constantly reinterpreted in spinoffs, sequels, mashups, tributes and parodies. Portions of the original manuscript will be on display along with historic scientific instruments and iconic artwork such as Henry Fuseli’s Nightmare, a six-sheet poster advertising the Boris Karloff movie in 1931, and the definitive portrait of the author. The modern myth of Frankenstein is based on a long cultural tradition, also recounted in the exhibition with a vivid display of books, manuscripts, posters, prints, and paintings.
