Wee Faerie Village at the Florence Griswold

The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT presents Wee Faerie Village in a Steampunk’d Wonderland on the grounds of museum’s campus from October 3 through November 2. Twenty-five hand-crafted faerie houses and scenes recount Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” in a steampunk setting. “Imagine a miniature Victorian world viewed through a steam-powered futuristic lens,” explains David Rau, the Museum’s Director of Education and Outreach. “With guide in hand visitors will travel the Museum’s 11 acres to discover Alice’s adventures, including, keeping up with the tardy White Rabbit, surviving the Mad Tea Party, and playing croquet with the hot-tempered Queen of Hearts.”

This year’s Wee Faerie Village is the sixth of the Museum’s annual outdoor creative installations. Last year a record-breaking 17,212 people attended the 2013 Wee Faerie Village during its four-week run. The annual event has come to signify an enriching, not to be missed outing for visitors of all ages.

Alice Among the Fairies was one of Lewis Carroll’s original titles for his story before it was published as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 1865—the middle of the Victorian Era. An immediate hit, the book has never gone out of print.

In keeping with the time period of Alice, this year’s Wee Faerie Village combines natural materials with vintage found elements to create installations inspired by the popular Steampunk movement. The term “steampunk” was coined in the early 1980s, and refers to a fanciful art and design subculture that combines history, fantasy, and the Victorian era. The term describes an imaginary world where iconic images from our steam-powered past (think cogs, gears, and flywheels) are married to the technologies of today.

The Museum’s namesake, Florence Griswold was a contemporary of Alice Liddell, the child that inspired the stories. Although an ocean apart, both Florence and the real Alice would have experience growing up in a rapidly changing Victorian world.

Nearly 50 artists and designers have been working since early spring to create their mini masterpieces, which collectively transform the Museum’s eleven acres into Wonderland. Children delight in the fun and whimsical creations while adults marvel at the creatively conceived and handcrafted works of art. Graphic and sculpture artist Bill Vollers of Chester, Connecticut chose the White Knight's encounter with Alice for the basis of his faerie house installation. Vollers used an empty box for his faerie house, which sits on a steampunk inspired assemblage constructed primarily from late 19th century Victorian-era wooden and cast iron gears and wheels. "These types of items and other found objects are of special interest to me," explains Vollers. "I appreciate their past and authenticity and have used them to create sculptures and assemblage pieces for years." A keepsake brochure, the Wander Guide, leads visitors through the Museum’s campus to each installation while telling the story of Alice’s adventures. Visitors to Wee Faerie Village are encouraged to dress up as their favorite faerie or Alice in Wonderland character.

The Museum commissioned six original faerie illustrations of iconic “Alice” characters by artist Aaron B. Miller based in Chicago. Miller’s original art cleverly re-imagines Carroll’s beloved characters for the faerie world.

“Beyond Wonderland,” a collaboration with the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce, encourages visitors of the Museum’s Wee Faerie Village to take advantage of special offers by local merchants and restaurants. See www.VisitOldLyme.com for details.

As part of its Wee Faerie Village exhibition, adults and families with children can enjoy a month of fun faerie and Wonderland-themed activities. Events include a visit from Alice, baking and faerie house-making contests, croquet lessons, a magic show, parties, book discussions, and craft activities. Many events are included in Museum admission. Visit www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org for a complete list.

The Museum will open on Columbus Day, Monday, October 13 from 10am to 5pm. At noon, an artist from the TEN31 living statues troupe will lead visitors in the “Mad-as-a-Hatter’s Steampunk’d Parade.” Wings, over-the-top top hats, and Steampunk’d attire encouraged. Hands-on crafts 11am-4pm.

The Museum is located at 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, exit 70 off I-95. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm with extended hours on Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Admission during the exhibition is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, $13 for students, $5 for members. Children 12 and under are free thanks to the support of an anonymous donor. Admission includes the outdoor walking tour of the faerie village as well as the Florence Griswold House, Chadwick Studio, Rafal Landscape Center and Krieble Gallery featuring Life Stories in Art, a series of concurrent exhibitions highlighting the contributions of three important women artists in Connecticut in three different media over the course of three centuries.