A captivating museum-style exhibition, “Barbie: A Cultural Icon,” will take center stage at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center’s Paulucci Hall from August 6 to September 22. The exhibit, which offers a comprehensive look at the 65-year legacy of Mattel’s beloved Barbie doll, has previously graced the Phoenix Art Museum and a Las Vegas shopping mall.
This engaging display features over 300 artifacts chronicling Barbie’s evolution from a simple toy to a cultural phenomenon. Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Barbie’s world through interactive experiences, including posing in life-size pink Barbie “Ultravette” cars and stepping into human-sized Barbie doll boxes reminiscent of those used for Barbie and Ken dolls.
“If you have been a Barbie fan at any point in your life, this exhibit is for you,” said Dan Hartman, executive director of the DECC, in a statement. “Plus, I bet you will walk away with a new appreciation for the positive impacts Barbie has had on pop culture.”
According to DECC communications director Lucie Amundsen, Duluth’s DECC is the only non-museum venue outside Las Vegas to host this exclusive Barbie exhibit. “This was a real ‘get,’” Amundsen wrote in an email to the News Tribune, highlighting the significance of the exhibit’s arrival in Duluth.
The exhibit is divided into six distinct sections, each exploring a different facet of Barbie’s impact on culture. The opening section delves into Barbie’s origins and features all 22 original outfits, while subsequent sections explore themes such as the Space Age influence, the introduction of Christie, the first Black Barbie doll, the debut of Ken, and the creation of the Barbie DreamHouse.
Since its debut in 1959, over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide. The enduring appeal of Barbie was further exemplified in 2023 when the film “Barbie” became a box office hit and earned a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Tickets for the exhibit are priced at $22 for adults and $17 for children ages 5-15. A VIP ticket option, available for $62, includes special merchandise and front-of-line access.
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