Bonnie Erickson

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Bonnie Erickson
Born (1941-09-20) September 20, 1941 (age 82)
Anoka, Minnesota
EducationUniversity of Minnesota, Art Students League of New York
Occupation(s)designer of puppets, costumes, toys, and graphics
Spouses
Leslie Lewis
​
(m. 1963⁠–⁠1975)​
Wayde Harrison
​
(m. 1977)​

Bonnie Erickson (born September 20, 1941) is an American designer of puppets, costumes, toys, and graphics, best known for her work with Jim Henson and The Muppets, where her most notable creations include Miss Piggy, Statler and Waldorf, and as a partner in Harrison/Erickson, the Major League Baseball mascot the Phillie Phanatic.

Biography

Jim Henson Company and The Muppets

Erickson began her career with a background in theater and art, having studied at the

The Frog Prince. She continued with the company, specializing in puppets made from carved foam like Miss Piggy and Statler and Waldorf.[1][2]

Erickson served as Head of the Muppet Workshop for Jim Henson Associates, and set up the original London workshop for The Muppet Show.[3]

In 1983, Erickson served as Design Consultant and Workshop Director for the Jim Henson series Fraggle Rock.

In 1986, Erickson became Vice President of Creative Projects for The Jim Henson Company in which she worked on productions such as The Tale of the Bunny Picnic and The Christmas Toy.

Erickson served as a Creative Director for the product division of The Jim Henson Company and Children's Television Workshop from 1987 to 2000, in which time she art directed the creation of the popular children's toy Tickle Me Elmo.[4][5]

Harrison/Erickson, Inc.

In 1977, she and Wayde Harrison established Harrison/Erickson, Inc., a design and marketing resource for national sports teams, television production and the advertising and toy industries, with Jim Henson Associates as their first client.[6]

Erickson designed many professional sports mascots, including the Phillie Phanatic and Youppi!, now in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.[7][8]

The Jim Henson Legacy

In 1994, Erickson became a trustee of the Jim Henson Legacy, a

Museum of the Moving Image, The Strong, and Museum of Pop Culture.[9]

Erickson was also instrumental in the installation of a statue of Jim Henson and

University of Maryland. The caricature Muppet of Jim Henson she created inspired the action figure by Palisades Toys.[4]

Erickson's notable credits

The Muppets

Mascots

Phillie Phanatic, originally designed by Bonnie Erickson in 1978

Advertising clients

Notable toy and product manufacturer clients

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-345-52611-3
    .
  2. ^ Traubman, Eleanor (February 24, 2010). "From Muppets to Mascots: The Incredible Journey of Bonnie Erickson". Creative Times. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  3. ISBN 978-0-345-52611-3
    .
  4. ^ a b c Roe, Ryan (January 17, 2012). "An Interview with Bonnie Erickson". ToughPigs.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  5. ISBN 978-0-345-52611-3
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-345-52611-3
    .
  7. ^ Rubin, Mike (December 17, 2015). "Master of Puppets". Victory Journal.
  8. ^ Jarvis, Robert M. (May 23, 2002). "Hi-Jinks at the Ballpark: Costumed Mascots in the Major Leagues". Cardozo Law Review. 23 (5).
  9. ^ Gupta, Anika. "The Woman Behind Miss Piggy". Smithsonian.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  10. ISBN 978-1-4521-0582-6
    .
  11. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4521-0582-6
    .
  12. ^
    ISBN 0-394-52085-8
    .
  13. ISBN 978-1-4521-0582-6
    .
  14. ^ a b c Hennes, Joe (January 17, 2012). "Bonnie Erickson - Career timeline". ToughPigs.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonnie_Erickson&oldid=1221092701"