MARILYN Monroe is selling more tickets than Grace Kelly.
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The Bendigo Art Gallery is reporting an understandable spike in ticket sales since the installation of the eight-metre high Marilyn Monroe sculpture in the Bendigo CBD.
Bendigo Art Gallery director Karen Quinlan said Marilyn Monroe is currently exceeding previous exhibitions, including Grace Kelly, for advance ticket sales.
“Ticket sales are going well. There was a spike during the arrival and installation of the sculpture,” she said.
“The advance ticket sales and interest in the exhibition bode well for a strong result.”
It took a 40-tonne crane, 24 hours and five American crew members to assemble the super-sized Forever Marilyn sculpture.
It was revealed in Rosalind Park on Tuesday morning.
At the unveiling Ms Quinlan said she hoped the statue would kick off conversations about art in the community.
“You're always going to have people who don't like certain things, but I think good sculpture does that. It creates debate and that's healthy,” she said.
American artist Seward Johnson constructed his mammoth Forever Marilyn statue in 2011.
It is the first time the sculpture will be seen outside the United States.
A community celebration will officially welcome the Marilyn Monroe sculpture to Bendigo.
Forever Marilyn will feature in a free community celebration from 10am in Rosalind Park on Saturday.
There will be plenty of 1950s fashion, dance and music on display with the Bendigo Fashion Festival fashion parade, period vehicles and a performance by the Rockin ‘50s all planned.
The exhibition, Twentieth Century Fox presents Marilyn Monroe, is on at the Bendigo Art Gallery from March 5 to July 10.
It will showcase authentic artefacts, clothing and other objects belonging to, or worn by Marilyn as well as more than 20 original film costumes from some of Marilyn’s greatest films.
Twentieth Century Fox is also allowing unprecedented access to 12 of the films Marilyn completed with the studio, including glamorous studio portraits, wardrobe test photographs, lobby cards and film posters.
Tickets are on sale now and can be bought online. Head to www.bendigoartgallery.com.au for more details.
