JIM HENSON ZEN PENCILS

JIM HENSON ZEN PENCILS

JIM HENSON ZEN PENCILS

The ultimate gift for Muppet lovers everywhere, this extraordinary tribute celebrates 40 years of Henson"s creative genius--from his best-known inventions to his lesser known but equally fascinating notions for everything from designs for futuristic nightclubs and homes to experimental films. 500 color illus.

At the time of his death in 1990, Jim Henson had created some of the world"s most beloved characters, invigorated the d{‚}emod{‚}e art of puppeteering, and achieved in TV and films critical and commercial success unheard of since the heyday of Walt Disney. This oversize, colorful volume, sure to delight Henson"s many fans, traces his career from local TV in the mid-1950s through the triumphs of Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, his leap into movies (The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal, etc.), and late projects like Fraggle Rock. The book also covers Henson"s little-known forays into experimental film and the contributions of his Creature Shop puppetmakers to non-Henson movies. The authorized nature of this project gave Finch access to fascinating archival materials, such as behind-the-scenes photos. Unfortunately, it also results in an annoying lack of critical detachment and a one-dimensional portrait of Henson. Even so, Finch convincingly portrays Henson"s visionary dedication to the craft of puppetry. The continuing popularity of Kermit, Big Bird, and Henson"s other creations ensures that this showcase of them will be in demand for many years to come. Gordon Flagg

About the Author
Christopher Finch was born and raised on the island of Guernsey in the British Channel Islands. He lived in London and Paris before moving to New York City in the late 1960s, the setting of Good Girl, Bad Girl. After working as a freelance writer and artist in New York for more than two decades, he moved to Los Angeles, where he continues to write and make art. Christopher has mounted one-man shows in both New York and Los Angeles, and his work has been included in museum exhibitions. He has occasionally written for television; his Judy Garland biography, Rainbow, was made into a movie for television. He is married to Linda Rosenkrantz, who is an author and the cofounder of the website nameberry. They have a daughter named Chloe.