America’s Monsters, Superheroes, and Villains is the most diverse and comprehensive exhibition of vintage and original toys, comic books, games, posters, packaging and media developed by SuperMonster市City!
The exhibition features items from David Barnhill’s personal collection – estimated to contain over 200,000 items. The exhibition explores how American monsters, superheroes, and villains impacted American culture from the 1960s to the 1990s and became iconic characters reflecting America’s changing values and social tensions. Comprehensive didactics provide historical context on the role these iconic characters have played in American culture over the past 8 decades.
Additional didactics feature informative profiles of characters, creators, artists and commentary. The exhibition intentionally includes characters, creators and artists representing diverse lived experiences in an effort to engage all audiences.
Since 2014, this unique display of toys, posters, media, and text panels, this exhibition has been enjoyed by thousands of people in cultural institutions across the United States.
America’s Monsters, Superheroes, and Villains is organized around five main themes:
- Unintended Consequences: The Atomic Age and America’s Search for Identity
- Truth Justice and The American Way: Unifying a Country’s Identity
- Innocent Monsters: Our Empathy for Outsiders
- With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: The Hero as Martyr
- Myths and Legends: How Star Wars Saved America
- Additional cases address the following topics:
- Do-It-Yourself Toys
- The Evolution of Articulation in Toys
- Comic Book Censorship
In different guises, monsters, superheroes, and villains have always been part of America’s cultural fabric. They scare us, thrill us, and most importantly, help guide us through the most terrifying and exhilarating moments of our lives.
This exhibit features Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein’s monster, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and other misshapen creatures of the night. Superheroes such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Captain America, and Luke Skywalker, all of whom are archetypal American cultural characters. Finally, supervillains are featured, including Darth Vader, the Joker, Lex Luthor, and the Green Goblin, all of whom exploit America’s fears to their diabolical advantage.
Visitors enter an immersive environment depicting America’s Golden Era of monsters, superheroes, and villains. On display are a wide variety of toys, games, packaging, and advertising, accompanied by explanatory didactics. Included are Aurora model kits depicting Universal Monsters and others; monster, superhero, and villain toy figures from Marx, MPC, and Palmer manufacturers; packaging, posters, and other advertising materials, including television commercials and movie trailers featuring items from Kenner, Mattel, and others from the 1960s through the 1990s. Accompanying didactics set the historical context for the items, and highlight artists and designers that illustrate the advancements in materials and manufacturing leading to innovative designs.
This Exhibition is offered with two options to accommodate most venues and budgets.
Premium “Superhero” Exhibit: This ‘turn-key’ exhibition includes over 400 vintage original toys, posters, and packaging; video media (including television commercials and movie trailers); all exhibit materials including locking display cases with tempered glass and vitrine covered pedestals; press release; registrar’s packet; pre-printed text panels and object labels. The fee also includes the collector and curator onsite to lead the installation team. The collector and curator will also be available for media interviews and appearances, and the Opening event. Exhibit shipping is via common carrier. (Round trip air and/or ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and meal allowance are not included in the fee.) Exhibition accommodates 2,500 – 5,000+ square feet.
Standard “Secret Identity” Exhibit: This exhibition package includes 250 vintage original toys, posters, and original packaging; video media, including television commercials and movie trailers; press kit; registrar’s packet; gallery guide; pre-printed text panels; digital files for narrative labels. The collector and curator will be available for media interviews and appearances as needed. The fee includes the collector and curator onsite to lead the installation team and attend the Opening events. The venue will provide locking exhibit cases, vitrines, and furniture. Exhibition accommodates 1,000 – 2,500 square feet. Exhibit shipping and round trip travel expenses, hotel accommodations, and meal allowance for the collector and curator not included in the fee.
“Level Up” Your Exhibit: For each of the packages above, the SuperMonster市City! the curator will work with the host venue to augment the exhibition with artifacts and/or artwork from the venue’s permanent collection, and/or work by local artists. Suggested items can include fine art, apparel, posters, advertising, or other works from the 1960s through the ’90s. The addition of items from the host venue collection, regional toy companies, artists, and designers will customize the exhibit to the venue and its region.
MERCHANDISE: T-shirts, posters, jigsaw puzzles & board games featuring monsters, superheroes, and villains. Merchandise is provided upon request, with the proceeds split with the venue. Unsold items are returned to SuperMonster市City! at no cost to the booking venue.
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