"Flippers and Flash: The Art of Pinball" at the Muskegon Museum of Art

Written by Robert Paulson Friday, 06 May 2011 21:55

Muskegon, MI.- The Muskegon Museum of Art presents "Flippers and Flash: The Art of Pinball" until July 31st. The exhibition features 12 pinball machines dating primarily from the 1990s that were selected for their design savvy, sound and light quality, and popular culture appeal. Major Chicago manufacturers including Bally, Williams, Stern, and Capcom are represented. Backglass imagery, posters, and other visuals enhance the presentation. And it’s not all hands-off! Two additional pinball machines will be available for timed play during regular MMA hours. Novices and pinball wizards alike are invited! The exhibition has been organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art and is underwritten by an anonymous donor. The customized pinball machines are courtesy of a West Michigan collector and the machines are maintained by Game Room Guys of Belmont, Michigan.

Playing the silver ball has been practiced in many an arcade and amusement hall since the inception of pinball games in Chicago in the 1930s. Pinball is a highly interactive game fueled by a compelling series of rewards and punishments. It requires skill, strategy, and concentration. A cacophony of flashing lights, sound effects, moving targets, and vivid graphics fill the playfield and keep us coming back for more. Game themes are derived from movies, television, sports, comics, current events, rock star personalities, and other aspects of everyday life. The global appeal of the pinball machine was demonstrated in the Who's classic 1969 rock opera 'Tommy', the song 'Pinball Wizard' becoming a hit on both sides of the Atlantic for both the Who and Elton John who performed it in the film version by Ken Russell (Rod Stewart had asked Elton John if he should accept an offer to sing in a film version of "Tommy." John replied "No way. Don't touch it with a barge-pole." A year later, The Who asked Elton John to sing the same song, and he agreed. "I don't think Rod's quite forgiven me for that," he commented years later).

A trio of Brown Bag Films coincides with the MMA's "Flippers and Flash: The Art of Pinball exhibition". The films will bring a greater understand to the art of collecting pinball machines as well as unveil the passion and skill it takes to be a master of the silver ball. MMA Brown Bag Films are free and are shown on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 12:15 pm.


Muskegon was a prosperous and booming town during the 1870s and 80s.  Charles H. Hackley and other local leaders were determined to save Muskegon after the sawmills closed by making this town “one of the most distinctive cities of its size in the country.”  In the next eleven years, Hackley invested a good part of his fortune towards meeting that goal. Hackley was convinced that emphasis on such public projects as progressive new schools, a library and a hospital would attract new growth.  The idea of building an art museum for Muskegon was always high on Hackley’s list of priorities.  Hackley died in 1905 before realizing his dream of an art gallery. However, Hackley left to the Muskegon Public Schools Board of Education, through a bequest in his will, an expendable trust of $150,000, to be used to purchase “pictures of the best kind”. By 1910, having begun with Hackley Picture Fund the acquisition of some of the most treasured and valuable works of art still in the Museum’s present day collection, the Board of Education wisely determined that a museum-quality facility should be built. They then proceeded to purchase the lots next to Hackley Public Library and began construction of a facility for their growing and important art collection. Upon completion, the Board of Education chose to honor the inspiration for the project, which, of course, was Charles Hackley, and named their newest building the Hackley Art Gallery. In 1979, ground was broken for a $1.6 million addition to the Hackley Art Gallery, also funded by the L.C. & Margaret Walker Foundation.  Construction was completed in 1980 and with that, the Hackley Art Gallery changed its name to the Muskegon Museum of Art with the Hackley Galleries and the Walker Galleries. The museum's permanent collection is the envy of many and their changing exhibition schedule is rich with opportunities for our community to experience art and artists from around the world. Visit the museum's website at ...  http://www.muskegonartmuseum.org

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