Exhibition – all photos Marilyn Kirschner
Sixty-five years after Barbie debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York, the beloved plastic blond returned to the Big Apple in “Barbie®: A Cultural Icon,” mounted by the Museum of Arts and Design.
The exhibition, which opened last month and runs through March 16, is an exclusive opportunity to trace Barbie’s evolution from a child’s toy to a global icon. It was perfectly timed with Barbie’s milestone anniversary.
“My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented that a woman had choices.” – Ruth Handler, Creator of Barbie.
John Jarboe, Cheryl Riley, Fe Fendi
Following the release of the Barbie movie in 2023, which I missed, Barbie became a significant influence in the fashion industry, and the color pink seemed everywhere.
This year’s MAD Ball, held on October 16, featured an exclusive exhibition preview with a suggested “Pretty in Pink” dress code. The night started with cocktails that could only be described as dangerously feminine—pink-hued SOREL Signature Cocktails.
Is there such a thing as too much Barbie or pink? Not!
Barbie broke out of her plastic prison and has been everything from an astronaut to a president
I was invited with others to a private tour and lunch of “Barbie: A Cultural Icon” with the Museum of Arts and Design Chair Emeritus Barbara Tober, Director Tim Rodgers, and Senior Curator Barbara Paris Gifford on Monday. I’m glad I went. It was entertaining, informative, and fresh air when we most needed it.
Nancy Chilton, Marilyn Kirschner, & Amy Fine Collins
Among the gleeful guests in attendance at Monday’s delightfully Instagrammable event, which included photo ops while riding in Barbie’s dream pink Corvette and standing in one of Barbie’s pink packaging boxes, were seasoned fashion figures Fern Mallis, Amy Fine Collins, Nancy Chilton, designers Kay Unger, Nicole Miller, B. Michael and Mark Anthony, Fe Fendi, Tinu Naija, Sydney Biddle Barrows, Bettina Zilkha, Kelly Bensimon, Laura Lobdell, and Machine Dazzle, the subject of his incredible exhibition in 2023.
Fania Rose: How much pink is too much?
Unsurprisingly, many attendees were inspired to wear pink in every shade, often blindingly piled on. I must admit that pink does look good, especially when worn in small doses. Nothing looks better with black and white.
MAD Museum Director Tim Rodgers with Docent John Kern
The invited guests had the opportunity to explore the extensive exhibition, which was spread out on two museum floors. With the guidance of MAD Docent John Kern and Senior Curator Barbara Paris Gifford, each offering insights, the walkthrough was an enlightening journey that dispels the notion of Barbie from a child’s toy to a global icon, dispelling the idea that Barbie is just a pretty face or a vapid blonde.
Christie, First Black Doll 1968
Inspired by Karan Feder’s 2023 book ‘Barbie Takes the Catwalk,’ the exhibit charts Barbie’s 65-year history and the doll’s significant global impact on fashion and popular culture.
Mattel collaborated with a number of designers including Oscar de la Renta
This is demonstrated through an expansive display of more than 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, advertisements, and other ephemera, along with exclusive video interviews with the doll’s designers.
Today, Barbie is the most diverse and inclusive doll line
At one point, Amy Fine Collins admitted she still has her collection of Barbie dolls, while Nancy Chilton recalled that she removed their heads, which, of course, drew the ire of her mom. For my part, I cannot recall owning Barbies. My doll of choice was the less commercial Madam Alexander.
Approximately 60 people were seated for lunch in a beautiful room with a view of Central Park. The menu included a salad and roasted salmon, washed down with red or white wine and pink lemonade. I was seated next to Sydney Biddle Barrows, aka The Mayflower Madam, who now has a fascinating career. She piqued the interest of many at the table, including Moi! Stay tuned.
Tim Rodgers and Barbara Tober at lunch
Barbara and Tim both made remarks. Barbara called the exhibition super exciting, very historical, and very anthropological. Tim, credited with following up on the trendy Taylor Swift exhibition with Barbie, thanked everyone for coming and for dressing up so beautifully for Barbie. “You look very nice in this space, I must say.”
Most importantly, Tim explains that this exhibition speaks volumes about the museum’s ongoing mission to explore the intersection of popular culture and design. This show is a perfect example of what they are trying to do.
Tim noted, “When you spend time analyzing and looking at the history of this small doll, you realize how much it reflects about our lives and culture, both good and bad. It’s a way to analyze where we’ve been, who we are, and where we are going in the future.”
They plan to continue mining this vein. An exhibition on Ruth Carter and Dorian Fletcher, the customer and jewelry designer for the Black Panther Movement, is already planned for next year.
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