Chicago Exhibit Explores Life of Marilyn Monroe
The starlet's career is celebrated in "Life as a Legend"
Jul 29, 2008
The latest exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center showcases the life of the iconic Marilyn Monroe through photographs, paintings and video installations. The work of over 80 artists,including Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, and Bert Stern, is featured.
An Emerging Star
"Life as a Legend" features Monroe’s original model portfolio, shot by Bruce Bernard shortly after she moved to Hollywood in 1946. Her natural abilities as a model are evident in her effortless poses. The camera loved her and she loved the camera right back. Though she looked youthfully innocent in her headshots, there was still a certain quality about Norma Jean that signified the star power that was soon to come.
Two months later, she signed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox, dyed her hair platinum and officially changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. Nine years later, Bernard also took a photo of Monroe while she was filming Seven Year Itch – a shot of her standing over a subway grate pushing her skirt down. It was an image that would cement Monroe’s status as a sex symbol.
A Flirtatious Sex Symbol
It wasn’t only movie roles that catapulted her status as a sex symbol, Hugh Hefner helped out a bit as well. Also on display, was Monroe’s ground breaking "Red Velvet Pose" series that was shot by Tom Kelley and appeared in the first issue of Playboy. The photos prove that there is no denying the starlet’s sexuality and they won Monroe the honor of being nominated Playboy’s Best New Actress in 1953.
Photographer Douglas Kirkland’s series "One Night with Marilyn", featuring Monroe wrapped in white bed sheets, also alludes to her sexuality in a more subtle way. The soft-focused portraits showcase Monroe in a more delicate light.
A Life Off Screen
Throughout her career, Monroe walked a fine line between her public persona and her private life and the exhibit exemplifies this. Photographer Sam Shaw shot the series ‘The Joy of Marilyn” which showcased candid shots of Monroe on the set of “Seven Year Itch”, on vacation with then-husband Arthur Miller, and on the streets of New York. The photos allowed one to see that there was more to her than her fame, she was personable and approachable. Deep down she was just like us.
The Price of Fame
Eventually, Monroe’s persona started to overshadow her identity as Norma Jeane. Photos taken on the set of ‘The Misfits” feature a much different side of Monroe. In many of the images, she looks completely despondent when compared with photos taken from her previous films. ‘The Misfits’ was the last film she completed. Bert Stern photographed Monroe in what would be her last photo shoot, “The Last Sitting” which was shot in June 1962. In the photos, it was still the Marilyn that everyone recognized, but her spark was gone. She was still playing up for the camera by toying with her necklace and drinking Champaign, but it becomes clear that fame has taken its toll on her. Monroe died two months later.
An Immortalized Icon
Although Monroe was a revered celebrity in life, it was her untimely death that truly made her a legend. Monroe’s iconic status was immortalized in 1967 with Andy Warhol’s multi-colored serigraghs simply titled “Marilyn”. In this piece, Monroe was transformed into a pop-culture commodity. She would always be remembered as America’s sweetheart. The exhibit proves that even though Monroe isn't the original blonde bombshell, she’s still the most beloved.
The exhibit runs through September 21st at the Chicago Cultural Center, located at 78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL.
 |
