Discover What You’re Made of When Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies Opens at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
DENVER—December 14, 2005—Uncover the incredible beauty and complexities beneath your skin when the most popular touring exhibition in the world, Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, comes to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science from March 10–July 23, 2006. Created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, a licensed physician and anatomist, Body Worlds and Body Worlds 2 have drawn nearly 18 million viewers worldwide. Visitors to the exhibition learn about anatomy, physiology and most importantly the influence of lifestyle choices, like diet and exercise, on personal health by viewing real human bodies permanently preserved through an innovative method called Plastination. The exhibition is presented in Denver by Centura Health, Colorado’s largest family of not-for-profit hospitals and health services.
“BODY WORLDS 2 is a compelling, memorable experience that will give all who view it a new perspective on the inner workings of the human body and the importance of healthy lifestyle choices,” said Dr. Bridget Coughlin, curator of human health at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. “The exhibition features more than 200 real human specimens. These specimens give visitors access to a deeper understanding of disease and pathology formerly only available to surgeons. Through examples such as arthritis in the aging process, the effects of tobacco consumption and the complexity of the nervous system, the exhibition has given me an incredible respect for what it means to be human.”
The plastination process was invented by Gunther von Hagens at the University of Heidelberg in 1977. The process replaces the natural fluids in the body with reactive fluid plastics that harden after vacuum-forced impregnation. Plastination provides the flexibility and strength needed to display and preserve specimens in realistic forms, without the use of glass barriers and formaldehyde. Dr. Gunther von Hagens founded the Institute for Plastination in 1993, in order to offer plastinated specimens for educational use and for the BODY WORLDS exhibitions. All anatomical specimens on display in the BODY WORLDS exhibitions are authentic. The bodies were donated for plastination purposes through a declaration of will directly from the individuals involved.
“BODY WORLDS allows people from all backgrounds to better understand the body and how it functions,” said Dr. Gunther von Hagens. “As event anatomy, BODY WORLDS juxtaposes healthy and diseased organs and features whole body specimens in dynamic lifelike poses. Plastinated anatomy is beauty beneath the skin, frozen in time between death and decay. It opens the heart to our inner self and makes us fall in love with our own body.”
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is consulting with community leaders in the fields of public health, medicine, ethics, religion and education to receive advice on the best ways to relate BODY WORLDS 2 to the culturally and socially diverse communities in Colorado. The advisory committee includes representatives from the Archdiocese of Denver, the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Colorado Science Education Network, the Colorado Anatomical Board, Colorado Muslim Society, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, Denver City Council, Denver Public Health, Denver Indian Health and Family Services, Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council and medical professionals.
The Museum is recommending the exhibition for schoolchildren in grades 5 and above. There may be displays in the exhibition that adults will wish to explain to children in their care. An Educator’s Guide and Family Guide with helpful tips and more information for visiting the exhibition with children will be available.
“We are very pleased to help bring this one-of-a-kind exhibition to Colorado,” said Jay Picerno, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Centura Health. “Centura Health is dedicated to helping people make healthy lifestyle choices, and BODY WORLDS 2 will be an important effort to help nurture the health of the people in our community.”
An exhibition surcharge applies. The Museum will offer extended hours during the run of the show to meet popular demand. Advance online ticket sales (for members and the general public) will begin on January 15 at www.dmns.org. Visitors will be able to purchase a BODY WORLDS 2 ticket, including general admission to the Museum during regular hours between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $20 for adults, $14 for children (3-18) and $16.50 for seniors (65+). During extended evening hours, a ticket to see BODY WORLDS 2 on its own will cost $15 for adults, $11 for children and $13.50 for seniors. Members will pay $10 for adults, $6 for children and $8 for seniors during regular and extended hours. Visitors will also have the option of adding an audio tour and the sports-related IMAX® film Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France to the experience. For complete information, visit www.dmns.org and www.bodyworlds.com or call (303) 322-7009.
To support the upcoming exhibition as a volunteer, call (303) 370-6419 or e-mail volunteers@dmns.org.
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DMNS-05-88
Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by generous funding from the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.
Note to Editors: Images are available to download from the BODY WORLDS press picture database at www.bodyworlds.com. A user agreement form must be completed and faxed to (303) 370-8384 in order to receive a user name and password for access to the database. For more information about the exhibition sponsor, Centura Health, media may call:
Dana Berry
Media Relations Specialist
Centura Health
(303) 804-8187
danaberry@centura.org
