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Area Students Show Where Wee Folk Are Strong, Bold! And Where They Can Count on Each Other

The annual Wee Faerie Village at the Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, is a tradition that attracts thousands from throughout New England every fall. And while the premise remains the same—dozens of mystical and eclectic mini-homes and community buildings are on display throughout the bucolic and picturesque museum grounds through Sunday, Oct. 28—the theme of the faerie village changes each year.

This season's motif revolves around letters and numbers, and the town is comprised of fantastically adorable abodes—both dwellings and village staples—where imaginary faeries are invited to reside for the duration of the show.

Fittingly, the tour begins with a abodes inspired by the letter A. But a particularly exciting contribution was made by some students from Haddam Killingworth High School and their art teacher, Betsy Himmelman of Killingworth. And students from Deep River Elementary, led by art teacher Diana deWolf-Carfi, built a neighborhood where the faeries know they can count on each other.

The Himmelman family has been a long time participant in the show, having been involved from the first year when Jeff Himmelman, Betsy's son, did the first map and illustrations, and her husband did one of the houses.

As an art teacher, she saw the annual show as the perfect fun opportunity for her students to show their work. The first year, with the theme of fairies around the world, the students focused on fairies from India. The next year was Smalltown, USA and the students created an entire neighborhood.

Glitter Sparkles, Garland

This year, with the theme being the alphabet, Himmelman was little nervous.

"But when David [Rau, the director of education and outreach at the Florence Griswold Museum] suggested the exclamation point we were all very excited," she says. "We brainstormed ideas - bright colors, exclamation point doors and windows, glitter and sparkle. Any student who planned on being in advanced ceramics this year started their houses as part of their final project last year."

Then Himmelman scheduled a field trip to the museum the Thursday before the opening, and the students were able to set up the display, visit with the other artists, and tour the grounds and original Flo Gris Home.

They also had a little bit of fun while making their contribution to the exhibit.

"They...spent quite a bit of time decorating themselves with the extra glitter sparkles and garland," Himmelman says.

The program that goes along with the exhibit notes that the "! is for Exclamation Point!" stop (number 14 on the tour, right after "K is for Knick-Knackatory" and right after "L is for Ladybug Lodge"), is "where the wee folk are strong! Where the wee folk are bold! We're to the point! Welcome! Clap your hands! Make some noise! Join the fun!"

The exclamation point fairy houses add quite a bit of excitement to the other letters.

A Prime Location

"Arielle's Artist Atelier" consists of three A-frames made entirely of wood and logs, nestled under a pine tree behind the museum. Look inside and spy artists' workshops or an attic hideaway. Acorns and walnut shells, as well as moss and handmade stick ladders, dot the structure, and a bird's nest sits warmly nestled in one of the lofts.

The second stop, in keeping with the progressive alphabetical concept—is "Beachy Bungalow" with blue tiles, buttons and beads. Just steps away from that, Crystal Cove City, complete with a carousel and Cindy's Candy Cupboard, comprises a charming faerie community on the banks of the Lieutenant River.

Students from Deep River Elementary School make a practical contribution to the exhibit at stop 5, "# is for Numbertown."

"Numbertown is a wee faerie neighborhood where numbers reign supreme," the program says. "Loving all numbers, from one to one zillion, the numerous fae folk who live here surely dig their digits. They decorate their houses with numbers, number their streets, and really understand a prime location. They count on each other and count with each other."

The exhibit allows the curious, both young and old, to escape into and marvel at the mystical worlds of faeries. Many of the faerie homes are inspired by quintessential faerie themes (think secret groves and enchanted underbrush). Other structures take on futuristic interpretations, with an occasional glimpse into a glittering disco extravaganza.

Pem McNerney contributed to this story.