Classic fairy tales and storytelling are the focus of new art exhibit and festival coming to Ford House in July
Once upon a time…
That’s a phrase visitors to Edsel & Eleanor Ford House (Ford House), will hear quite a bit when the exhibit Fairy Tale Art: Illustrations from Children’s Books comes to the historic estate beginning July 16. Fairy tales will leap from the storybook pages on July 23 with a special Fairy Tale Festival designed to delight young and old alike with its activities, including multi-cultural storytelling, live musical and theatrical performances and the opportunity to roam Ford House’s enchanted grounds.
The Fairy Tale Art Exhibit, on display from July 16 through September 18, features 59 illustrations from well-loved classic fairy tales such as The Firebird, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood, as well as modern variations on traditional tales. The illustrations, by award-winning artists from across the globe, will be coupled with the story behind the tales and the history of their effect on past and present cultures.
On Saturday, July 23, Ford House’s idyllic grounds set the stage for a day of imagination and wonder as fairy tales from the exhibit come to life during Ford House’s first Fairy Tale Festival. Building on the Michigan Library Association’s summer reading theme, “One World, Many Stories,” the festival will take a global look at the tradition of storytelling through stories, fables and folklore, encouraging parents and children to read and explore the stories together.
With a variety of family-focused events and hands-on activities, the Fairy Tale Festival offers fun for visitors of all ages. Guests can expect to see multiple stages filled by performances such as Fractured Fairy Tales from the Grosse Pointe Theatre, the Magic Carpet Ride Theatre’s interactive telling of classic fairy tales, Magical Tunes and Marvelous Tales from the Michigan Philharmonic, Greg Lester’s Puppet Adventures and marimba virtuosos Marimbamania! – Music from Around the World. Favorite fairy tale characters will also stroll through the festival to greet visitors.
Around the grounds of the estate, guests will also find multi-cultural storytellers, a petting zoo of live fairy tale animals, story circles, croquet, a life-size chess set and a concession area decorated like a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Children can also try mural painting, craft making or climbing aboard Cinderella’s carriage.
“Ford House was a truly magical place for Edsel and Eleanor Ford and their children,” said Kathleen Mullins, president of Ford House. “We’re delighted to share this wonderful new exhibit, festival and programs with our guests and hope that they, too, will be enchanted by their surroundings and use the opportunity to create special memories together.”
A series of lectures and workshops for adults that explore writing, illustration and a deeper look at the messages behind fairy tales will be offered in August.
Admittance to the Fairy Tale Art exhibit is included with general admission and is free to members. Tickets for the Fairy Tale Festival on July 23 are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To purchase tickets and download a complete list of activities, visit www.fordhouse.org.
Fairy Tale Art and the Fairy Tale Festival are made possible in part through the support of the Michigan Humanities Council. Fairy Tale Festival partners include MetroParent Magazine, The Parade Company, Ford Motor Company Fund, Radio Disney, Grosse Pointe Public Schools and Grosse Pointe Public Library.
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is located at 1100 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores. Since 1978, Ford House has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to share in Eleanor Ford’s vision of preserving the estate for future generations to enjoy through interpretive tours, family activities, lectures, exhibits and gardens and grounds events.
For more information, visit www.fordhouse.org or call 313.884.4222 .
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
1100 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan 48236
One FREEISMYLIFE reader will win a family four pack of tickets to the Fairy Tale Festival on July 23rd at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, MI. Value = $40.
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- Fill out the information in the form below.
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- The contest ends on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 11:59am EST.
- The winners will be selected by random number generation.
- Tickets will be provided to the winner by Edsel & Eleanor Ford House or their PR company
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