The Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock is opening a new exhibit Saturday featuring more than 90 oversized and unconventional objects connected to presidential history. The collection includes diplomatic gifts, artwork and presidential keepsakes, with many of the items being displayed publicly only rarely.
Called “The Big. The Bold. The Bizarre,” the exhibit was previewed Thursday at the center. The objects range from unusually large furnishings and artworks to personal and diplomatic items associated with U.S. presidents and presidential libraries.
“So here we have Vietnamese vase here that stands at 7 feet tall, we have some realistic items, like real hair, a sculpture there... we also have some dental work form the Truman Library,” Stephanie Mason, supervisor museum curator for the Clinton Library, said.
Objects from presidential collections
Mason said the exhibit also includes a sideways rocking chair and other objects selected for their unusual appearance or size. The display brings together items that are not ordinarily part of the center’s regular public presentation.
- A Vietnamese vase measuring 7 feet tall.
- Artwork and diplomatic gifts from presidential collections.
- Presidential keepsakes, including real hair and dental work associated with the Truman Library.
- A sideways rocking chair and other unconventional objects.
The exhibit is part of the Clinton Presidential Center’s museum offerings in Little Rock. Presidential libraries preserve records and artifacts from an administration, while their museums use selected objects to present aspects of presidential history to visitors.
The center’s public opening for “The Big. The Bold. The Bizarre” is set for Saturday. The exhibit’s objects span different types of presidential material, from formal diplomatic gifts and artwork to personal items and unusual artifacts held by presidential libraries.
