Special Days

Since it is Canada Day, it seems appropriate to announce an event that takes place on Independence Day... in England.

This Saturday, July 4, Oxford's Story Museum celebrates Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass with Alice's Day. Events include tea parties, croquet games, exhibits, performances, lectures (including some by Edward Wakeling and Mark Richards), walks, games, and more taking place at such interesting and renowned places as the Museum of Natural History, The Bodleian Library, Museum of the History of Science, Museum of Oxford, Christ Church, and the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. If you can't attend, download the souvenir guide instead!

In Focus: Making a Scene

"In Focus: Making a Scene presents more than thirty tableaux, or staged photographs, from the J. Paul Getty Museum’s world-renowned photography collection, on view at the Getty Center (Los Angeles) from June 30–October 18, 2009. ...Among the nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century selections are tableaux vivants, or living pictures, such as... Lewis Carroll’s Saint George and the Dragon, inspired by the popular Victorian pastime of dressing up and posing to resemble famous works of art or literary scenes."

Alice vs... Batwoman?

DC Comics' Detective Comics #854 (June 24), 855 (July 29), 856 (August 26), and 857 (September 2) cover the storyline "Elegy," in which Batwoman runs up against Alice, "a madwoman who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable extras" and who speaks only in lines from Lewis Carroll.

Rackham Alice

Bloomsbury Auctions (London) is selling a beautiful Rackham Alice, signed by Rackham with a wonderful ink sketch of the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle. It is part of the "Books, Manuscripts, Prints, and Original Artwork" sale on July 9.

Mickey in Wonderland

If you need a bigger Disney Alice in Wonderland fix than a one-page website can provide and can't wait until March 5, 2010, check out the upcoming Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland DVD. "Meet Tweedle Chip, Tweedle Dale and Goofy Hatter, play croquet with Queen Clarabelle and more!" Currently available for pre-order, the DVD releases on September 8.

Cheshire Kitten Wallpaper

Russian digital artist Vlad Gerasimov has added a "Cheshire Kitten" (both solid and half disappeared, of course!) to his collection of Alice-inspired graphics for computer (and now cellphone/iPhone) desktops at Vladstudio.com.

New Old Dodo Picture

In all the hubbub of newly released character and scenery pictures from Tim Burton's Wonderland, only the Telegraph (U.K) has taken note of a previously undiscovered 17th century picture of a dodo. The picture is particularly important as it was drawn before the bird became extinct, although it is uncertain whether it was drawn from life. The picture is to be sold at auction by Christie’s on July 9.