The CU Art Museum at the University of Colorado Boulder has launched "Fairy Tales and the Power of Wonder," an exhibition that explores the dark and complex origins of folklore. Moving away from sanitized modern interpretations, the show features a diverse array of works including Jaro Hess’s "The Land of Make Believe," Don Ed Hardy’s "Sea Dragon," and rare illustrated books like William Wallace Denslow’s "Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The display utilizes early fantasy maps and historical artifacts to ground visitors in the "geography of the impossible."
This exhibition is significant for its interdisciplinary approach, bridging the gap between visual art, literature, and social history. By drawing from the university’s Norlin Library rare collections and the museum's own archives, the show examines how fairy tales have historically functioned as tools for processing societal anxieties and scientific curiosities. It highlights the enduring power of these narratives in shaping human perception, moving beyond mere entertainment to reveal their roles as complex documents of cultural world-building.