From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly, Beyond the Icon
A MAJOR PREMIERE THE MCCORD MUSEUM PRESENTS FROM PHILADELPHIA TO MONACO: GRACE KELLY – BEYOND THE ICON
Montreal, February 20, 2013 – From June 6 to October 6, 2013, the McCord Museum will present a unique exhibition, From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly – Beyond the Icon.
Grace Kelly: muse of director Alfred Hitchcock, winner of a best actress Oscar for her performance in The Country Girl, and Princess of Monaco upon her marriage on April 18, 1956, to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
She was the focus of attention and fascination throughout her life and had an enormous influence on women around the world. With its spotlight on her personality, talent and values, From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly – Beyond the Icon, a first for North America, will present the woman behind the celebrity and trace her extraordinary life journey through some 100 objects and archives, testimonials, love letters, notes of friendship, photos, film clips, and above all clothing and accessories from designers who helped shape fashion in the 20th century.
“When offered the opportunity to collaborate on the design and the production of this exhibition, we immediately and enthusiastically accepted the challenge,” declared Suzanne Sauvage, President and Chief Executive Officer of the McCord Museum. “We knew that we could not only contribute our expertise in costume conservation and presentation, but we were also very interested in illustrating the influence that Grace Kelly had on the history of fashion. Clothing does not just carry an aesthetic quality; it defines an entire generation and bears witness to a specific place in time. Without ever intending to, Grace Kelly had a huge impact on fashion, which is still felt today.”
This initiative is a journey mapped around such themes as passion, elegance, love, commitment and friendship, because these aspects reveal the myriad facets of the character of this great woman, who dedicated her life to her family, her people, and those close to her. This new exhibition is a production of the Grimaldi Forum Monaco in collaboration with the McCord Museum and is based on an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
About the McCord Museum
The McCord Museum is dedicated to the preservation, study and appreciation of Montreal’s history, as recounted by its people, artists and communities living in the city’s past and present.
The McCord Museum is home to one of the largest historical Grace Kelly © John Springer Collection / CORBIS collections in North America, consisting of First Peoples objects, costumes and textiles, photographs, decorative and visual artworks, and textual archives, totalling more than 1.4 million artefacts.
The McCord Museum produces exciting exhibitions that engage visitors from Montreal, Canada, and beyond by offering them a contemporary look at the world.
The McCord Museum also offers educational and cultural activities, as well as innovative projects on the Internet.
McCord Museum: Our People, Our Stories.
The McCord Museum is grateful for the support of the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec and the Conseil des arts de Montréal