For five decades, Gumby®, the beloved clay character created by animation pioneer Art Clokey, and his pals Pokey™, Prickle™, Goo™, and the nefarious Blockheads™ have entertained millions of children (and adults) around the world. Gumby has appeared in over 200 episodes of the TV show, starred in his own feature film, and even inspired Eddie Murphy's legendary Saturday Night Live skits. The Museum celebrates 50 years of Gumby with a new exhibition.

Gumby and the Art of Stop-Motion Animation explores the history and how-to of one of the most popular television characters ever created, with daily demonstrations of stop-motion animation techniques using an actual Gumby set. Visitors can also make their own short stop-motion films at the Museum's animation stands.

The exhibition showcases original props, consumer products and prototypes, as well as look at the behind-the-scenes world of Gumby (and creator Art Clokey) through still photographs, scripts, and storyboards. Screenings of classic Gumby episodes from the last five decades, as well as the original short film in which Clokey created the very first version of Gumby, will be shown as part of the exhibtion.

Gallery Programs

Gumby Stop-Motion Animation Demonstration
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12:00 noon*, 1:30, and 3:00 p.m.
Fridays, 12:00 noon*, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, and 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00 noon*, 1:30, 3:00, and 4:30 p.m.

Learn about the techniques used to make Gumby move. This twenty-minute demonstration is designed in collaboration with the real animators and directors of Gumby and takes place on an actual Gumby set.

*At the 12 p.m. demonstration only, which lasts thirty minutes, watch a Museum Educator create the clay Gumby figure that is used in the demonstrations.

Animation Stand Demonstration
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12:45 and 3:30 p.m.
Fridays, 12:45, 3:30, 5:00, and 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays, 12:45, 3:30, and 5:00 p.m.

Work with a Museum educator to create your own animations using two-dimensional materials, including letters, shapes, and cutouts.

The Museum offers guided tours for adult and youth groups, and education programs for school groups. For inquiries and reservations, please call 718-784-4520 or email grouptours@movingimage.us.