Diana: A Celebration (Minneapolis and Louisville)

I have a confession: I couldn’t care less about the Royals. I didn’t set my alarm for Will and Kate’s wedding, nor do I care when they have their first child. I am the antithesis of a “royal watcher.” However, when my aunt invited me to go with her to see the exhibit Diana: A Celebration, I agreed. Why? I don’t exactly know. I guess I was drawn in by the “Diana mystique.” I also remember, vividly, seeing the memorial erected in Paris near the place of her death when I visited the City of Lights for the first time in 2000. As I gazed up at that memorial, I, like so many others, was inexplicably saddened by the loss of a woman I had never met.

Diana: A Celebration proved to be both an educational and moving experience for me. The exhibit is well curated, with the perfect balance of objects and description— also, it was just long enough. It includes artifacts and photos from Diana’s childhood, her famous wedding gown and accessories, and an entire room devoted to her impeccable fashion sense. Most interesting to me was the section that describes her philanthropic work. She did so much good during her 36 years on earth, that I couldn’t help but be moved. Perhaps needless to say, I highly recommend a visit to this unique exhibit.

Diana: A Celebration was organized by Diana’s family—the Spencers—and Arts and Exhibitions International. The exhibit and returns to the Althorp Estate (the Spencer’s estate) each summer. It is currently on view at the Mall of America in Minneapolis/St. Paul until June 10, 2012. It will be on view in Louisville, Kentucky, from September 15,, 2012 through January 13, 2013. Future tour locations and dates will be listed in the website: http://www.dianaexhibition.com/.

“Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty.” — Charles Spencer (Diana’s brother)
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photo: puroticorico