Exquisite Tazewell Exhibit at Griffin MSI not to be missed

Whether you are a theatre person, a cosplayer, a movie buff or a fashionista, the new Griffin Museum of Science and Industry exhibit Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell is a must see offering. Gloriously it is included in the general admission to the museum.(for free days for Illinois residents go here: https://www.griffinmsi.org/pricing#freeday) The exhibition dovetails nicely with the happening-right-now Chicago International Puppet Festival since it features early puppets by Tazewell including this seen above meticulously crafted Miss Havisham from Great Expectations. 

I spoke with Dr. Voula Saridakis, Head Curator at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and found out that the exhibit was their idea– it fits with the Museum’s mission to showcase creativity and technology and the Industry part of its name, and Tazewell’s career and process is one that exemplifies STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. The exhibits team was captivated by the world building and design innovation of the costumes in the film Wicked and approached Tazewell about a show and now a year later the show opens alongside the Black Creativity Exhibit at the Museum.  The exhibition is the first of its kind and a very personal exhibit that is an immersive experience into Tazewell’s inspiration and process, narrated by the designer himself.  You enter the Griffin Studio on the first level to encounter the Janelle Monet Time Traveler outfit from the 2025 Met Gala where a short film introduces you to the philosophies that Tazewell lives by. This is an in depth look at an artist, his ideas and his work from the artist's point of view.  It is a rare chance to look inside the mind of one of America’s most innovative costume and fashion designers. 

The first room begins in Tazewell’s childhood and includes puppets he created at 4.  His mother, Barbara Tazewell fostered his early explorations of character and taught him to sew. She remains an artistic collaborator. Moving on visitors witness costumes and projections which highlight the costumes moving and detail the meticulous process of engineering that needs to go into creating the character defining outfits.  Next the exhibit notes all of the collaborators involved in actually bringing Tazewell’s ideas to wearable reality.  Finally there is a room where costumes build an entire world.  Of course numerous costumes from Wicked are on view on loan from NBC Universal.  The exhibit finishes off exhorting visitors to find the thing that moves them which will unlock their creativity. Being able to examine these finely crafted wearable art pieces is exciting. These are clothing masterpieces.

You really need to see this inspiring and enlightening exhibit and think about all it holds. It is essential viewing for any theatre artist. Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell  is on view at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry at 5700 S Dusable Lake Shore Drive  until September 7, 2026 and currently this is the ONLY place to see it, as of press time there are no tours planned.  For tickets and information go to https://www.griffinmsi.org/exhibits/paul-tazewell

 No part of this article was created using AI

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