Kermit the Frog. Oscar the Grouch. Cookie Monster. Big Bird. Jim Henson, a Leland native, spent the 1950s to the 1970s creating iconic TV characters and others that are well-known to all ages around the globe. Visitors to The MAX, Mississippi’s entertainment and arts venue, will be able to visit The Jim Henson Exhibition Imagination Unlimited. This traveling exhibition explores the life and impact of his imaginative creations on popular culture. Opening day of the exhibit will feature “Celebrating Jim Henson & The Art of Puppetry”, a lecture by Cheryl Henson’s child. Beginning at 10 a.m., she will share clips and personal stories. From 2 p.m. until 4 p.m., there will be a panel discussion featuring Miss Piggy creator Bonnie Erickson and Cheryl Henson. Karen Falk, Director of Archives at The Jim Henson Company, will also participate. The panel discussion “The Legacy Of Jim Henson: A Panel Discussion By Henson Experts” will be held at the Mississippi State University Riley Center for the Performing Arts. It is open to the public and is free. Imagination Unlimited had been shown in New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles before it was announced that Mississippi would be the destination. The exhibit will be traveling to the southeastern part of the country for the first time. In a press release, Mark Tullos (executive director of The MAX) stated that Jim Henson was an entertainer and creator with a unique vision. He had a profound influence on our culture through the creation of these wonderful characters and worlds. The exhibit is interactive and comprehensive. It includes storyboards and storyboards as well as photographs and behind-the scenes footage. Children and adults alike will be able to see behind-the scenes footage of Henson’s creations. This includes the story of how he and his team of builders, voice actors, and creators created the famous puppets and characters that brought life into the worlds of Sesame Street and The Muppets. Visitors may find inspiration to take advantage of interactive opportunities in the exhibit. They can see how it feels to be a puppeteer and create a new character. Tullos stated that this is a top-notch exhibition. Tullos stated that this is a world-class exhibition.