Over the weekend, Mana Contemporary presented an exclusive grand opening preview of Marlyn: Character Not Image, curated by actress and talk show host, Whoopi Goldberg. The art exhibit features poems, sketches, and so much more from the Hollywood icon, Marilyn Monroe. Attendees were also able to get the first glimpse of iconic photographs by Milton Greene and Weegee, along with select video footage. Weegee’s images reveal sly complicity between Marilyn and himself: his dark-room distorted imagery pokes fun at the unreal and absurd facets of the Hollywood industry, of which Marilyn was keenly aware. It is truly a captivating gallery. The show will give guests a behind-the-scenes look at the actress’s private life through candid shots by Greene who flawlessly captured her sweetness, humor, and impatience.
“The image of Marilyn Monroe the icon endures and strengthens as time goes by, but her personal life remains a mystery,” says Whoopi Goldberg. “With this exhibition, I wanted to show a glimpse of the woman behind the icon using, before now, never-before-seen images, some of her personal writings, and some pieces of her artwork.”
One of our favorite moments from the show was getting a glimpse of the dress she wore in 1962 while singing “Happy Birthday” for President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, it was perhaps the most significant moment of her career.
Marilyn: Character Not Image will be at Mana Contemporary now through October 22, 2016. Mana Contemporary is located at 888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306.
Mana Contemporary upcoming schedule
Ayn Foundation, in collaboration with DASMAXIMUM, present:
Andy Warhol: The Original Silkscreens
September 25, 2016 – September 25, 2017
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Ronald Jones: 16 Isarstrasse
September 25, 2016 – April 1, 2017
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MECA presents:
Textile-Territory-Text
September 25, 2016 – February 25, 2017
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Ayn Foundation presents:
John Chamberlain: Photographs
September 25, 2016 – March 25, 2016
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Amy Khoshbin: The Myth of Layla
September 25, 2016 – November 12, 2016
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Winning the White House:
From Press Prints to Selfies
September 25, 2016 – January 27, 2017
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Gary Lichtenstein Editions presents:
Cey Adams:
Pulling Through, Reflections of America
September 25, 2016 – December 1, 2016
Marilyn: Character Not Image
September 25, 2016 – October 22, 2016
Check out more photos from the VIP preview event – Photos by David Guzman for XOJOHN: