Whimsy

Garden gnomes are lawn ornament figurines of small humanoid creatures based on the mythological creature and diminutive spirit which occur in Renaissance magic and alchemy, known as gnomes. They also draw on the German folklore of the dwarf. Traditionally, the garden figurines depict male dwarfs wearing red pointy hats. Typically, gnomes stand between one and two feet (30 and 60 cm). Originating as a decoration for the wealthy in Europe, garden gnomes are now prevalent in gardens and lawns throughout the Western world, among all social classes, and are often regarded as whimsical. — Wikipedia

FunFacts (YouTube Channel)

History of Gnomes (Sarah White, Love to Know)
The Magical History Of & Fun Facts About Garden Gnomes (Serenity Health)
The Story Behind Garden Gnomes Is More Compelling Than You Might Think (Elisa Parhad, Garden Collage)
Celebrating Garden Gnomes (Google Doodle)
Gnome Whimsy@Pinterest

Museum

FOX 13 Tampa Bay (YouTube Channel)
FOX 13 Tampa Bay (Official Website)

Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy (Official Website)

Library

Subject: Whimsy (Library Thing)

Subject: Whimsy (Open Library)

Subject: Whimsy (UPenn Online Books)

Subject: Whimsy (Library of Congress)

Subject: Whimsy (WorldCat)

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Participation

Education

In Defense of Whimsy (Jane Ehrenfeld, Education Week)
The Power of Whimsy in the Classroom (David Geurin)

MERLOT: Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching
OER Commons: Open Educational Resources

Community

Government

Document

Whimsy (USA.gov)

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Expression

Arts

Visual Arts

The Arkansas Arts Center’s collection of Toys Designed by Artists sparked this exhibition for, what better to surround these sculptural toys than fanciful paintings? One curator’s idea of whimsy is another’s scorn but, we need something fanciful at the moment. Eric Freeman’s imaginative animals, Katherine Strause’s exuberant figures, and Sherry Williamson’s flying objects—from pink pigs to dandelion puffs— join the Arkansas Art Center’s dragons, racing rats, and a cuckoo in a burst of frivolity. — Arkansas Arts Center

Whimsy and Flights of Fancy Exhibit – 360° Tour (Arkansas Arts Center)