Julia Child: A Recipe for Life to open at The Durham Museum
Traveling Exhibition Explores the Life of an American Culinary Pioneer
The Durham Museum will host the traveling exhibition Julia Child: A Recipe for Life from October 7, 2023 to February 11, 2024. The exhibition explores the key ingredients in Julia Child’s personal journey, which became part of America’s culinary revolution, through a series of immersive experiences. Julia’s insatiable curiosity and tenacious spirit drove her to endlessly try, test and teach how to make delicious food. Learning to cook empowered Julia, and she empowered others, profoundly transforming American cuisine and food culture in the process.
“Julia was not only a pioneer in home cooking and cookbook writing, but also an innovator in television who changed the way Americans saw and consumed food. Her influence is still seen today, inspiring individuals to learn to cook and pursue their dreams,” said Dawn Myron, Director of Communications at The Durham Museum.
The exhibition explores pivotal, inspiring moments in Julia Child’s life and the supportive network of family and friends that contributed to her career, offering a comprehensive view beyond her renowned status as a television personality and author.
Visitors will experience interactive spaces like The French Chef television studio, where they can operate a vintage video camera, mix “ingredients” and feel like part of the show. Photographs by Julia’s husband, Paul Child, are also included, along with her personal correspondence and favorite kitchen tools.
“Our mission was to celebrate Julia Child’s profound impact on American culture and offer an immersive and enlightening visitor experience. Together with Napa Valley Museum, we’ve crafted a journey that pays tribute to Julia’s culinary prowess and honors her tenacity and unwavering spirit,” said Jay Brown, Principal & Managing Director of Flying Fish.
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life is a touring exhibition produced and managed by Flying Fish, developed in collaboration with the Napa Valley Museum, under rights granted by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts and The Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, and generously supported by Oceania Cruises.
“When we first presented a Julia Child exhibition at our Museum we were surprised at her cross-generational appeal. So many visitors feel a personal connection to Julia, often because they watched her shows or cooked with her recipes alongside a beloved mother, grandmother, or partner. Couples were moved by the stories of her life with Paul, women were inspired by her accomplishments as a trailblazer, and kids were delighted by videos of her sillier moments. There truly is something for everyone in this exhibition,” said Laura Rafaty, Executive Director of Napa Valley Museum.
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life is supported locally by Conagra Brands Foundation; Douglas County, Nebraska; D.F. Dillon Foundation; AARP Nebraska; Metropolitan Community College; Dr. C.C. & Mabel L. Criss Foundation and Shirley & Dan Neary. Media support by KETV.
For media inquiries about The Durham Museum, please contact Dawn Myron at dmyron@durhammuseum.org.
For media inquiries about Flying Fish, please contact Anna Clark at anna@flyingfishexhibits.com.
Related Exhibits and Programs
Cream of the Crop: Omaha Pioneers of the Food Scene
Exhibit on display October 7, 2023 – February 11, 2024
After publishing her book From Julia Child’s Kitchen, Julia Child was described “as genuine and earthly as the plains of Nebraska” by reviewer Stephen Schmidt. Nebraska also had its own pioneers of the culinary world who worked to inspire other food fans with simple and enjoyable recipes.
North Omaha cateress Helen Mahammitt provided her services for high-profile events and began a cooking school to empower other Black women with skills and confidence as caterers. Just as Mahammitt worked diligently behind the scenes and in the classroom, Martha Bohlsen did so through live television. Among the many programs first broadcast in Omaha, Bohlsen’s focused on meals anyone could prepare at home. Both women’s passion for food and sharing their knowledge worked to mold Omaha’s future chefs.
“The Joy of Julia” Speaker Series
Joyful Bites: A Culinary Conversation
Thursday, October 12, 5-8PM
Our panel of local chefs, each notable in their own right, will share how Julia Child influenced their lives, along with personal stories on the transformative power of cooking and the connections it forges.
Sweet Inspiration: Chef Gale Gand Reflects on Julia Child’s Lasting Legacy
Thursday, November 2, 5-8PM
Nationally acclaimed pastry chef and James Beard Award winner Gale Gand will guide us through her culinary journey, sharing her stories of baking with Julia Child and the lasting impact of Julia on the culinary world.
Join the museum for this appetizing series celebrating the joy of cooking, inspired by Julia Child. Each event will begin at 5PM with a social hour and self-guided tour of the Julia Child: A Recipe for Life exhibition followed by the presentation. Social hour will include hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Regular museum admission applies, free for members. Advance registration required. Register online at DurhamMuseum.org/julia or call 402-444-5071 ext. 521.
Film Screenings at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater
Julie & Julia (2009): October 10, 2023, 6PM
Julia (2021): January 16, 2024, 6PM
The Durham Museum is partnering with Film Streams to host a screening of the hit 2009 film Julie & Julia, as well as the 2021 documentary, Julia. Both events will include a pre-screening chat with museum staff about some of the important local figures in Omaha’s culinary history. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit FilmStreams.org or call the Film Streams box office at 402-933-0259 x15.
About The Durham Museum
The Durham Museum in Omaha’s beautiful art deco Union Station is home to permanent exhibits that preserve Omaha’s vibrant history, traveling exhibits covering subjects ranging from history and culture, to science and industry, and many entertaining, educational, family-oriented activities. The Durham Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and has strong ties with national and international museums and lending institutions. For information about The Durham Museum please visit the museum’s website at DurhamMuseum.org.
About Flying Fish
A leading creator of dynamic touring exhibitions, Flying Fish collaborates with top museums and science centers to produce extraordinary and influential experiences. Flying Fish exhibitions have impacted millions of visitors, from Melbourne to New York, generating sustainable income for their clients and inspiring fans around the globe.
For Museums. By Museums.
For more information, visit flyingfishexhibits.com and follow Flying Fish on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
About Napa Valley Museum
Napa Valley Museum Yountville offers a three-part cultural experience of art, nature and history through exhibitions, educational programs and creative activities. With hands-on participatory exhibits including world premieres like France is a Feast and Lucy Liu, plus explorations of iconic artists from Walt Disney to Picasso to Frida Kahlo, the Museum engages visitors of all ages, languages and interests. napavalleymuseum.org
About The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts
The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts was created by Julia in 1995 and became operational in 2004. Its mission is to honor and further Julia’s legacy, which centers on the importance of understanding where food comes from, what makes for good food and the value of cooking.
juliachildfoundation.org
About Schlesinger Library
Schlesinger Library is the leading center for scholarship on the history of women in the United States. As a part of Harvard Radcliffe Institute, they are devoted to catalyzing new research and to sharing it broadly with scholars and an engaged public.
radcliffe.harvard.edu/schlesinger-library
About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises is the world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise line. The line’s seven small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,238 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe.
oceaniacruises.com
