THERE has been much anticipation leading up to Bendigo Art Gallery’s next major exhibition.
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Such has been the attraction and lure of those previously secured by the gallery, there is always speculation, hope and anticipation leading up to the next big announcement.
And yesterday’s did not disappoint.
The gallery has worked with film studio Twentieth Century Fox to bring to Bendigo some of Marilyn Monroe’s personal items including the pleated gold lame gown seen in Gentleman Prefer Blondes, costumes from films including How to Marry a Millionaire, a make-up box, accessories and Monroe’s personal address book.
To secure Marilyn Monroe is yet another example of the ability of Karen Quinlan and her team to show Bendigo is deserving of the very best the international arts world has to offer.
When more than 152,000 people visited the gallery for Grace Kelly: Style Icon in 2012, $16 million was injected into the Bendigo economy.
Grace Kelly followed the popular Golden Age of Couture in 2009 and The White Wedding Dress in 2011.
When Ms Quinlan arrived in the 1990s, the gallery attracted about 17,000 visitors annually.
Ms Quinlan, a deserving finalist in the 2105 Telstra Victoria Business Women's Awards and the gallery’s director since 2002, says it was worth exploring the icon who was Monroe.
“She’s someone who pops up all over the place in art and popular culture and that’s something that’s worth exploring,” she said. “She had quite an interesting, short life and we certainly want to do her story justice and give it the best overview we can.”
We are certain Bendigo Art Gallery will do justice to the story that is Marilyn Monroe – one of inspiration, fascination, glamour, sadness and tragedy.
And we are certain the story of Monroe will help write the next chapter of the gallery’s story. There is little doubt Marilyn Monroe will have similar ongoing benefits to our city as that of Grace Kelly.
We congratulate Bendigo Art Gallery on not only securing another wonderful exhibition, but for the flow-on effects this will bring to our city.
Nicole Ferrie, editor