The story of Alice in Wonderland stretches imaginations with its illogical verse and illustrations. The blog explores different aspects and adaptations of Alice in Wonderland, and how the fantastical story still is prevalent in society, in the forms of pop culture, music, movies, art and literature.
When I walked inside Wonderland it seemed as if I stepped
into one of Kat Von D’s dreams. Only a few items in the store are loosely
influenced by Alice in Wonderland, but it is definitely Kat Von D’s Wonderland.
Kat Von D is a tattoo artist, model and television personality. The boutique
was opened in 2010 and is located next to LA Ink in Hollywood, CA.
Wonderland is filled with unique trinkets, clothes, jewelry,
candles and books. There is also has an art gallery inside that goes with the
gothic aesthetic of the store. There are always sales and special events going
on for locals. In addition to the eclectic products, you will also find a lot
of Kat Von D’s merchandise like makeup and signed books. Wonderland is open
from 12 pm- 7 pm weekdays and until 8 pm on weekends.
I have been
fascinated by the story of Alice in Wonderland from childhood and it still
largely influences my work. I enjoy the dream-like and fantastical imagery, as
well as the fact that it has become culturally relative and iconic. For my
senior project in college I photographed a narrative series of my own vision of
Alice in Wonderland. The ten photos show the use of symbols to communicate a
scene from the story. I wanted the pictures to evoke the imagination, but to
still be grounded in reality while relaying a contemporary version of the
narrative.
Lewis Carroll’s Alice novels have inspired artists for many
decades and Alice has become a pop culture icon. “The story of Alice in
Wonderland and its impact on our culture is a part of my personal life, and art
should be a reflection of the person.” Gregory Dirr said.
Gregory Dirr is a Florida born interdisciplinary artist, who
graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2008 with a BFA in fine
arts and a concentration in painting. His work has been shown in galleries
across the United States, in places such as 18 Rabbit Gallery in Fort
Lauderdale and Scope Miami. He runs an artist collective called Thought Coalition and also a printing company called PrintDürr. He is currently the art
director for the non-profit organization, Sickle Cell Natural Wellness Group,
which helps raise awareness about the benefits of eating and living a healthy
and organic lifestyle, as well as raises awareness of sickle cell disease.
Gregory Dirr has made several pieces of works influenced by
Alice in Wonderland, “The whole reason I started doing art is because of my
interest in stories as a child. When I was a kid, stories like Alice in
Wonderland, Dr. Seuss, Grimm’s tales, Aesop’s Fables, those for me were art
because as a child it was more relevant to me than the gallery art I was
exposed to. Those books instantly put me in that other world, so that’s why I
looked at it as high art.”
Salvador Dali (1904-1989) was a surrealist artist from
Spain. He practiced many different types of art forms, but is best known for
his drafts and paintings. His strange and dream-like images were evoked from
his subconscious. Dali’s art explores deep into the mind of human psychology
and breaks away the realms of reality, by changing and manipulating objects so
that people would have to think about them in a different way.
Random House published an “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
book, in 1969, featuring 12 heliogravures of paintings that Dali made for each
chapter of the book. The paintings were inspired by the 1865 novel, which was written by Lewis
Carroll. The series is titled ‘The Dali Alice Suite’, it is one of the most
rare sets of prints that are available of Dali’s work. The book was limited edition
and only 2,500 copies were originally sold.
To see more of Salvador Dali’s work, visit The Dali Museum
in St. Petersburg, Fla., which holds the largest collection of Dali’s works
in the United States.
"Advice from a Caterpillar"
“I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, because I'm not myself, you see” Lewis Carroll
"The Queen's Croquet Ground"
"There is
only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I
know I am mad." Salvador Dali
"The Pool of Tears"
"Ever drifting down the stream, lingering in the golden gleam, life, what is it but a dream?” Lewis Carroll
"Mad Tea Party"
“Those who
do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.” Salvador Dali
Third Rail Productions interactive play titled “Then She
Fell”, is based off Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ novels. Third Rail Productions artistic goal is to re-frame performance art and show a variety of
different types of media to the public. "Then She Fell” is the company’s latest
project, following the success of their Steampunk Haunted House.
The performance runs from Oct. 8 to Nov. 16 at the former Greenpoint
Hospital in Brooklyn, built in 1914. Small audiences of 15 are taken through a
courtyard garden, to a wing of the abandoned ward. Crazy characters engage with
the audience, as they wonder into each room. The rooms are specially designed,
some are dreamlike and others are creepy. On the walls you can even read copies
of Lewis Carroll’s person letters to Alice Little, the real Alice.
Due to several weeks of sold out shows, “Then She Fell” will
be re-opening doors on Dec. 31, at the Kingsland Ward in lower Manhattan.
Performances run Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m and 10:30 p.m. The show
lasts two hours, without an intermission, and tickets are between $65 dollars
and $85 dollars per person. The show is not for children and audience members
must be 21 year or over, with a valid I.D.
The show was directed, designed and choreographed by Zach
Morris, Tom Pearson and Jennine Willett. The characters are played by
Elizabeth Carena (Hatter), Alberto Denis (Lewis Carroll), Stacie Fields
(Nurse), Rebekah Morin (Red Queen), Marissa Nielsen-Pincus (Alice), Tara O’Con
(Alice), Tom Pearson (White Rabbit), Zoe Scieber (Doctor), Debra Stunich
(Nurse) and Jennine Willett (White Queen).
Friday, Nov. 16, will be the
start of an Alice in Wonderland filled weekend in Miami. The opening event for
the Mad Hatter Arts festival is going to be a Mad Hatter Tea Party, which is
being hosted by the Barnacle Society. The Mad Hatter Tea Party opening
reception, on Friday, will be at The Barnacle in Coconut Grove, Fla.
The event is from 6 to 9 p.m and
guests can participate in a tea party, under the stars, in one of Florida’s
historical landscapes. Guests are encouraged to wear their Alice in Wonderland
attire and costumes. There will also be a cocktail reception and a cash bar.
Tickets to the Mad Hatter Tea
Party are $25 to $35 dollars when you RSVP before Nov. 9 and $40 dollars for
general admission. All admissions will go toward The Barnacle, which was built
in 1891 on Biscayne Bay and is now a state park. The Barnacle was originally
the home of Ralph Munroe, one of Coconut Grove’s most influential pioneers.
Reservations are required and you can contact The Barnacle at 305-442-6866.
On Saturday and Sunday the
Alice in Wonderland fun continues, with the Mad Hatter Arts Festival. This is
the 8th season that the event is taking place, which is located
along the Main Highway of The Barnacle. The event is free when you pay the $2
admissions to the park.
The festival will have many
different types of hand-made art and different art mediums and events to see,
such as the “Through the Looking Glass” themed chalk street painting display
and a juried artist event. There will also be a new Watch Art Happen feature,
which is where guests will be able to paint and interact with the art pieces.
The Mad Hatter Arts Festival runs
from 10 a.m until 5 p.m both Saturday and Sunday. The event will also have
music, food, hat contests, and a drum circle. There will be something unique
for guests of all ages to see or participate in.
On Saturday night, after the
arts festival, there will also be a showing Disney’s 1951 classic of Alice in
Wonderland at The Barnacle. Tickets are $5 dollars a person for adults and
children over 6, $3 dollars for children 2-5, and free admission for little
ones under 2-years-old. The gates open at 6 p.m and the movie starts at 7 p.m.
