2023 AUArts, Gallery Crawl, The Bungalow Gallery, Curious, (group exhibition), Calgary.

Wunderkammern Tooth Fairy Mouse

Material: pussy willow, hot glue, acrylic paint, bug wings, pipe cleaner, wood pieces, mod podge, tissue paper, corrugated plastic sheets, clear plastic packaging 

Didactic

The Mus Volantes, more commonly known as the fairy mouse, was first discovered in France in the early 18th century.  The loss of natural habitat instigated by the Industrial Revolution caused the fairy mouse to become more familiar with humans, often being found within the home.  Due to their incredible ability to stay hidden despite their striking appearance, the fairy mouse became a founding factor in many legends and myths, even assisting in the formation of the Tooth Fairy myth. In France, the Tooth Fairy is known as la petite souris , directly translating to the little mouse. This mouse was known as a good luck omen, said to have the power to grant wealth, turning teeth into gold for those who were kind and pure of heart. Due to this powerful reputation, the fairy mouse became high in demand and was heavily hunted, leading to their extinction. When put on display, the fairy mouse would traditionally be preserved through taxidermy and put in a small gold lined glass casing, said to sustain their magic.