When the Academy museum first approached production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer about curating an exhibition of their work, the duo thought it was a joke.
But two and a half years later, “Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer” is set to open on May 23, providing an immersive and experiential look at their collaborative work. That same evening, the Academy Museum will screen Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” followed by a Q&A with Spencer and Greenwood.
The collection features set pieces, concept art, miniature models, sketches and an area called “Blank Space,” which shows the evolution of their production office and how ideas come to life. Theirs is a collaboration dating back over 25 years. Their work has landed them Oscar nominations for “Pride & Prejudice,” “Atonement,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Anna Karenina,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Darkest Hour” and “Barbie.” And there was no shortage of possibilities for the exhibition. Enter museum curator Michelle Puetz, who narrowed it down to four films: “Anna Karenina,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Darkest Hour” and “Barbie.”
Sitting down with Variety ahead of the exhibition’s public opening, Spencer said, “It’s a huge honor for production design and set decoration to be considered in this way.”
The collaborators hope the exhibit will give people a better understanding of what goes into the craft of production design and set decorating. “Nobody conceives of what we do. They don’t have a clue, so it was really interesting,” said Greenwood.
Among the highlights, Spencer and Greenwood are excited for visitors to see “Blank Space.”
“We really wanted to do the office there,” Spencer explained. “It allows people to see that anything is possible. Everything is set up from a blank space and then it evolves.”
Flipboards with concept art and references from “Barbie” are on display, along with a wall of artwork from the film that visitors can flip through. By sharing a visual insight into their space, Spencer hopes people won’t be frightened by the unknown. With numerous models on display, Greenwood explained how real models provide tangibility for directors and producers and other department heads while on a project. “People stick their pencils in it, or they say, ‘Well, this needs to go,’ and they’ll rip it off.”
Here’s a preview of the exhibit, which runs from May 23 to Oct. 25.
Marble Table – “Beauty and the Beast”
Over 1000 crew members worked with Greenwood and Spencer to build and decorate the sets of “Beauty and the Beast’s” live-action film. Greenwood and Spencer collaborated with Swarovski to build the film’s crystal bell jar. An artisan was hired to etch the enchanted forest ice design on the jar, which is central to the film’s plot.
Rendering of Mrs. Potts and her son Chip – “Beauty and the Beast”
The size of the enchanted objects in Beast’s castle proved to be a challenge for Spencer and Greenwood. How would a small teacup and teapot interact with Beast? More importantly, how would these household items move through the giant house? One solution was that Chip would use his saucer as a skateboard to move around, and Mrs. Potts, as regal and elegant as she was, would ride around on a tea cart.
Weird Barbie’s 3-D Heist Map – “Barbie”
The “Barbie” section of the exhibit allows visitors to see the level of detail Greenwood and Spencer created for the film. A “Barbie Karenina” book — a playful nod to their film “Anna Karenina” — is on display as a tiny Easter egg.
Weird Barbie’s (Kate McKinnon) 3-D heist map is featured in the exhibit. The map was important for the Barbies when plotting to take back Barbieland from the Kens.
Barbie’s Chevrolet Corvette
Among the exhibit’s interactive opportunities is Barbie’s Chevrolet. The custom-built, pink, electric 1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 allows visitors to jump in and pose for photos.
