Once Upon a Time: An Enchanting Free Exhibit Opens November 5
Fairy Tale blocks illustrated by Richard André, 1834-1907. New York: McLoughlin Brothers, ca. 1889
Our new exhibit, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tales from the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, opens this Saturday, November 5 in the TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library. As always, admission is free and the gallery is open to the public during regular library hours.
From the original tales of Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm to Edward Gorey and Walt Disney, this exhibit explores how classic tales have been re-imagined over the last 300 years.
Fairy tale plate Scotland: B.P. [Britannia Pottery] Co. ca. 1920 – 1935
Fairy tales are stories of spells, journeys, tests, riddles, dangers and (usually) happy endings. They speak to our innermost hopes, dreams and fears. Endlessly re-imagined in literature, film, television, and performance, fairy tales continue to have a profound influence on our culture.
From The Surprising Adventures of Puss in Boots, or, The Master-Cat, London: John Harris, ca. 1830
Once Upon a Time showcases the beloved tales of Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Puss in Boots, Jack and the Beanstalk, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and others, retold through a rare books, elaborate pop-ups, puzzles, toys, games and art from the library's Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books. The exhibit also features original artwork from picture books that recount folk and fairy tales from around the world.
Jack and the Bean-stalk puzzle, London: George Routledge and Sons, ca. 1869
Here are 5 more ways to rediscover some of your favourite fairy tales:
1. See classic tales come alive in film and on (puppet) stage
Fairy tale fans of all ages will love the Puppetmonger Theatre's creative re-telling Cinderella in Muddy York. This classic tale is set in Upper Canada in the early 1830’s where Ella’s family receives an invitation to the Ball at Government House to celebrate the renaming of York to Toronto. The Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada is the King of England’s representative in the province and his bachelor son, Princely Charming, is the closet thing to a prince in this land on fringes of civilization. Against all odds Ella gets herself to the Ball…
See Cinderella in Muddy York live at the Toronto Reference Library (Beeton Hall) on Thursday, January 5. Free tickets will be available here beginning December 5.
On Thursday, November 17, we will be screening Jean Cocteau's 1946 cinematic masterpiece, Beauty and the Beast, in the Toronto Reference Library's Hinton Learning Theatre. The film is also available to watch from home via our Criterion screening service.
Join us on Thursday, December 29, for Mirror, Mirror a family-friendly retelling of the classic Grimm tale Snow White.
2. Admire fairy tale costumes from The National Ballet of Canada
Fairy tales have been the inspiration for many of the great ballets including The Nutcracker, Cinderella and The Sleeping Beauty. A display of costumes from The National Ballet of Canada’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, designed by Nicholas Georgiadis, will be on display in the Toronto Reference Library's browsery (first floor) beginning Friday, November 11.
The National Ballet of Canada presents Cinderella from November 12-20 onstage at The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit www.national.ballet.ca or call 416-345-9595.
3. Discover the 500-year history of fairy tales
Join Martha Scott, Osborne librarian and curator of Once Upon a Time, on Wednesday, December 7, for an illustrated talk on the history of fairy tales.
4. Explore more fairy tales in our Digital Archive
5. Joins us each week for stories and tours in the gallery
Drop in to the TD Gallery Tuesdays at 10 a.m. for songs, stories and rhymes inspired by classic fairy tales and multicultural folk tales for children and their paren'ts and caregivers. There are also guided tours every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Registration not required.
Once Upon a Time runs until January 15, 2017.
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