Bonnie Erickson

Bonnie Erickson
Born (1941-09-20) September 20, 1941 (age 83)
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)​
Children1

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 University of Minnesota and the Art Students League of New York. After working in legitimate theater as assistant to costume designer Patricia Quinn Stewart, she was hired by Jim Henson in 1970 to provide costumes for the Muppet characters in 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 in 1976.[3]

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

In 1986, Erickson returned to The Jim Henson Company as Vice President of Creative Projects 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. Among the many products she art directed was the popular children's toy Tickle Me Elmo.[4][5]

Harrison/Erickson, Inc.

In 1977, she and husband Wayde Harrison established Harrison/Erickson, Inc., a design studio and marketing resource for national sports teams, television production and the advertising and toy industries, with Jim Henson Associates becoming one of their first clients.[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]

Harrison and Erickson are trustees of The Strong Museum of Play.[9]

In addition to domestic commercials, Harrison, Erickson, Inc. produced designs and provided production casting and performance for international clients in France, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, and Japan. A series of Budweiser Taste Bud ads were created by Erickson exclusively for Saturday Night Live. She created characters for both Burger King and McDonald’s and created the first talking Happy Meal.

The Jim Henson Legacy

In 1994, Erickson became a trustee of the Jim Henson Legacy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Jim Henson's contributions to the worlds of puppetry, television, motion pictures, special effects and media technology. From 2007 to 2010, she served as president, and then executive director until 2014. During her tenure, she oversaw the Henson Family donation of objects from Henson productions to the Smithsonian Institution, Center for Puppetry Arts, Museum of the Moving Image, The Strong National Museum of Play, and Museum of Pop Culture.[10]

Erickson was also instrumental in the installation of a statue of Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog at the University of Maryland. The caricature Muppet of Jim Henson she created inspired the Jim Henson Legacy commemorative action figure by Palisades Toys.[4]

Live theater

Erickson's work has been featured in The Warrior Ant, a multimedia production for The Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York in 1988, and in the nationwide Bette Midler The Divine Miss Millennium Tour in 1999.[11]

In 2012, Erickson oversaw "Jim Henson's Musical World," a two-night concert at Carnegie Hall featuring the New York Pops and characters from The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock.[12]

Erickson's notable credits

The Muppets

Year Character(s) Production Designer Builder
1972 Caleb Siles, Mean Floyd, Mordecai Sledge, and Lardpork[13] The Muppet Musicians of Bremen Yes Yes
1973 Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Jerry Nelson caricature puppets[14] The Dick Cavett Show Yes Yes
1974 George the Janitor[15] The Muppets Valentine Show Yes Yes
1974 Mildred Huxtetter[15] The Muppets Valentine Show Yes No
1974 Miss Piggy[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Yes Yes
1974 Statler and Waldorf[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Yes Yes
1974 The Muppet Newsman[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Yes Yes
1974 Dr. Julius Strangepork (originally “Dr. Nauga”)[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Yes Yes
1974 Gene Shallit caricature puppet[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Yes Yes
1974 Zoot[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Yes No
1974 Animal[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence Yes (co-designed with Jim Henson) No
1974 Janice[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence No Yes
1974 The Swedish Chef[14] The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence No Yes (co-built with Jim Henson)
1975 Vazh from The Land of Gorch Saturday Night Live No Yes
1976 Fozzie Bear[4][16][15] The Muppet Show No Yes
1983 Espinete[12] Barrio Sésamo No Yes
1983 Kippi Ben Kippod[12] Rechov Sumsum No Yes

Mascots[12]

Mascot Team/company Years active Image
Phillie Phanatic Philadelphia Phillies 1978-present
Youppi! Montreal Expos/Canadiens 2005-present
Sharpo Sharp Electronics 1979-1982
Big Shot Philadelphia 76ers 1979-1996
Hoops Philadelphia 76ers 1979-1983
Dandy New York Yankees 1979-1981
Ribbie and Roobarb Chicago White Sox 1981-1990
Duncan the Dragon New Jersey Nets 1982-1991
Hugo Charlotte Hornets 1988-present
K.C. Wolf Kansas City Chiefs 1989-present
Booster Houston Rockets 1989-1993
Stuff the Magic Dragon Orlando Magic 1989-present
Pirate Pete Delaware River & Bridge Authority 1995-present
Slyly Hiroshima Toyo Carp 1995-present
Jaxson de Ville Jacksonville Jaguars 1996-present
G-Whiz Washington Wizards 1997-present
Phred Philadelphia Phillies 2000-present

Advertising clients

Toy and product manufacturer clients

References

  1. ^ Jones, Brian Jay (September 24, 2013). Jim Henson: The Biography. Ballantine Books. pp. 186–187. 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. ^ Jones, Brian Jay (September 24, 2013). Jim Henson: The Biography. Ballantine Books. p. 238. 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. ^ Jones, Brian Jay (September 24, 2013). Jim Henson: The Biography. Ballantine Books. pp. 208–209. ISBN 978-0-345-52611-3.
  6. ^ Jones, Brian Jay (September 24, 2013). Jim Henson: The Biography. Ballantine Books. p. 276. 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. ^ "The Strong National Museum of Play Board of Trustees". Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Gupta, Anika. "The Woman Behind Miss Piggy". Smithsonian.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  11. ^ "Happily Ever After Hours with Bonnie Erickson". www.waltdisney.org. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Hennes, Joe (January 17, 2012). "Bonnie Erickson - Career timeline". ToughPigs.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  13. ^ Falk, Karen (October 26, 2012). Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal. Chronicle Books. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-4521-0582-6.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Falk, Karen (October 26, 2012). Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal. Chronicle Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-4521-0582-6.
  15. ^ a b c Finch, Christopher (1981). Of Muppets & Men. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-394-52085-8.
  16. ^ Falk, Karen (October 26, 2012). Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal. Chronicle Books. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-4521-0582-6.