By Louise Irvine April Fool’s Day is a fun time to review all the fools and jesters in the Carnival & Cabaret exhibition at WMODA. Opinion is divided on whether April 1 pranks are cruel hoaxes or whether they encourage laughter which reduces stress. Either way, poking fun and exposing

By Louise Irvine Our latest Ardmore acquisition inspired some more research into hippo history. For instance, did you know that the oldest captive hippopotamus in America lives at Florida’s Homossasa Springs Wildlife Park and he is an honorary citizen of the State? Lu, which is short for Lucifer, was born

By Louise Irvine Wearable glass art has become a feature of WMODA events since Chelsea Rousso’s Believe the Impossible fashion show in January launched the International Year of Glass. Chelsea’s “glasskinis” and corsets have now been filmed for Deco Drive on Channel 7 together with her glittering tiaras. However, the

Hop along to WMODA and discover how rabbits came to be associated with Easter time. It all stems from the confusion between rabbits and hares, which were sacred to Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring. Ritual hare hunts were held to placate Eastre which were challenging events as hares can

by Louise Irvine In International Women’s Month, our story of fashion and the fired arts continues at WMODA with a closer look at corsets. Since the Renaissance era, the corset has been one of most notorious and controversial garments in a woman’s wardrobe. Was it an unhealthy instrument of torture

by Louise Irvine On World Wildlife Day, we are reflecting on the appalling statistics that over a million species of wild fauna and flora are threatened with extinction having been classified as threatened or critically endangered. Continued loss of species, habitats and ecosystems threatens all life on Earth, including us.

by Louise Irvine According to the grinning Cheshire Cat in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. “You must be or you wouldn’t have come here.” The March Hare and the Hatter are especially mad according to

by Louise Irvine The Babes in the Wood have been found alive and well together with the Goose Girl at the new Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement in St. Petersburg, Florida which opened last September. Two Royal Doulton tile panels have been “hiding” in plain view in

by Louise Irvine At Mardi Gras, we are reminiscing about the Zulu rickshaw drivers in South Africa who dress up even more extravagantly than the Zulu Krewe in New Orleans with feathers, beads, and horns. This vibrant Ardmore rickshaw is one of the most popular works of art in the