All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives @ Bowers Museum

Two Spectacular Exhibitions Announced for Winter 2021 at Bowers Museum

August 30, 2021 (Santa Ana, California) – Bowers Museum proudly announces two spectacular exhibitions planned to launch at the Museum in winter 2021: All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives and Everest.

The Bowers is thrilled to continue its partnership with both the Walt Disney Archives and the Royal Geographic Society (with IBG), London, the latter of which will co-organize Everest. Bowers is also honored to be working with the Guest Curator of Everest, Wade Davis, who is an ethnographer, writer, photographer, filmmaker, and former Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society.

Both special-ticketed exhibitions will be available for pre-sale to Bowers Members in advance of the public and will be crowd-controlled to adhere to the latest in health and safety standards as outlined by local and state government. From adventure seekers to nostalgic Disney lovers, there’s something for everyone at the Bowers this winter.

All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives
Premiering December 12, 2021, the entirely new exhibition All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives will let visitors see the jewelry and accessories from Titanic, The Princess Diaries and some of their favorite Disney and Fox films in a way that they have never been able to before. All That Glitters’ three main sections each explore different facets of how jewelry is used to tell stories: “Jewelry Informs Character” explains what wearable accessories tell viewers about characters; the “Feature Vault” offers a jaw-dropping look at the most prized jewelry and accessories inside the Walt Disney Archives; and “Reflections on Reality” includes displays that tie earrings, cuff links, rings, tie pins, and more back to the Disney films and parks that they originated from.

When costume design is done well, small pieces of jewelry blend inseparably into the style of the characters that wear them, but these objects are what make Disney characters timeless. All That Glitters looks at crowns, tiaras, watches, rings, bracelets, and more that were designed by some of the biggest names in fashion to create our favorite moments in entertainment throughout The Walt Disney Company.

All That Glitters brings together the best of old and new. Visitors will recognize iconic pieces from classics such as a rare merchandise locket from the 1960 film Pollyanna, the stunning “Heart of the Ocean” necklace from James Cameron’s Titanic (1997), and Anne Hathaway’s crowns and tiaras from the Princess Diaries movies (2001 and 2004). Never-before-displayed costumes and jewelry pieces will be exhibited. These special pieces include Mulan’s matchmaking outfit from Disney’s 2020 live-action film and the Genie’s lamp from Aladdin in their exhibit, ensuring that All That Glitters will brighten everyone’s eyes.

Advanced ticket sales for All that Glitters will launch to Bowers Members starting October 1 and to the general public starting November 1. Details at bowers.org. All That Glitters: The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives is curated by the Walt Disney Archives in conjunction with the Bowers Museum.

Everest
The Bowers Museum’s ongoing partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Everest, combines photographs, films, and artifacts from five expeditions leading up to and including the earliest successful attempt to climb the colossal mountain that the Tibetan people call the “Mother Goddess of the World.” Now at the centennial of the first reconnaissance expedition to Mount Everest (1921-2021), this holistic exhibition curated by Wade Davis, the award-winning author of Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest, explores the history, resolute characters, unsung heroes – including Tibetan and Nepalese Sherpas – and changing technologies of the initial attempts to climb the tallest mountain on earth.

For Great Britain the early 20th century was marred by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen beating a British expedition to the South Pole and an unspeakable “Great War.” To escape a country that felt unfamiliar to them after the horrors of France’s trenches, the greatest explorers of England set their sights on reaching the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on earth.

Each expedition built on the lessons and losses of those before it. The first 1921 reconnaissance of the mountain mapped a path to its summit. The introduction of oxygen the following year seemed promising until two fatal expeditions put efforts to climb Everest on ice. The advent of radio in 1933 made communication on the mountain possible for the first time. It was not until 1953 that Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary would crest the mountain’s final summit to see the entire world in panorama.

Everest opens at the Bowers Museum on February 19, 2022. It is curated by internationally acclaimed author and speaker Wade Davis and organized by the Bowers Museum in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London. Stay tuned for further announcements including presale ticket launch for this featured exhibition.