of feathers and fairy tales: enchanted birdhouses at the museum

10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut

Janet and I had a lovely time yesterday at the Florence Griswold Museum, The Home of American Impressionism, in Old Lyme, Connecticut.  We were there to see a delightful temporary outdoor exhibit.  Following Miss Griswold’s favorite cats, Padjkins and Toto, we were led on a meandering tour of 43 whimsical fairy-tale-birdhouse creations.  A couple of hours later and tuckered out, we were wondering why on earth cats like to take the longest possible route from one place to another.

#1. “Thump!” by Julie Solz & Steve Hansen, based on The Wizard of Oz.  Follow the yellow brick road…

10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut

#4. “Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, Zzzzzzzz!” by Donna Carlson & Georgann Ritter, based on Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs.  This scene seems to be part of a magnificent Cut Leaf European Beech tree…

10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut

#21. “Out on a Limb” by Brad Painter & Nora MacDonnell, based on The Swiss Family Robinson.

10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut
10.26.11 ~ Old Lyme, Connecticut

Although there are too many pictures (249!) to share here, I will try to add a few more of my favorites, in no predictable order, for a few more posts in the near future.  Stay tuned!

12 thoughts on “of feathers and fairy tales: enchanted birdhouses at the museum”

  1. Hi,
    What an unusual place, looks great, something totally different. So much work has gone into the bird houses, every little detail, I love it. 🙂

    1. Oh dear, it’s so hard to choose, Rosie! Of this batch I’d probably choose #4, too, because the tree itself made it so special…

    1. It would be fantastic place to do some exploring if we were three inches tall – as long as we were very careful not to fall off the limb! 🙂

    1. It was fun, Kathy! And apparently they do this every October so I’m looking forward to seeing what next year’s crop of artists will imagine and create.

  2. I love these, particularly the little signs and things at the bottom of the tree.

    There was a magical place my dad used to take me to when I was a child, full of trees with gnarled and twisty branches and try, as I might, I cannot find out where it was. But I know I had fantasies about those trees that would have fitted in beautifully with these. 🙂

    1. I was wishing for a better camera with a close up lens, so the words on the little signs could be seen in the photos…

      The place your dad used to take you sounds wonderful – trees, I’m learning, have a magical presence that stimulates the imagination and creativity. I hope you somehow find your gnarly trees one of these days, Val. 🙂

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