WINNE-THE-POOH: Exploring a Classic Exhibit (Boston MFA)

Once upon an early day in November, we found ourselves at a local diner, staring at a delightful waffle placed in front of us. It was cold outside and nature was in that typical limbo between the time when your mind refuses to accept it is not autumn anymore, yet winter seems to far away to make any sense. A golden syrup had been drizzled over the waffle’s crisp surface. It reminded me of fresh motor oil, exactly how it look before it is poured into the engine of the car. We were expecting a phone call from the mechanic at any moment. If there would be good news we would be able to go to Boston after all, if not, we would kiss the tickets to the “Museum of Fine Arts” and the “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic” exhibit goodbye. It was bleak times for us that morning at the local diner. 

The phone was buzzing and I reacted how I always do, by fumbling in every pocket before I find it right in front of me. I clicked the green button and ran out in the cold. All to avoid a possible public humiliation as my voice automatically turns louder every time a phone is placed next to my ear. It was the mechanic on the other end, and he had good news. We could have our car back in around one or two hours. “Bingo,” I thought to myself, heading back inside, almost skipping. “Bingo” again, as I was greeted by a refilled cup of coffee, steaming with a flavor of Colombia, right in my face. My wife called the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and rearranged our tickets to a later slot, it was no problem at all.

The best place to spend an hour or two is a library. We both agreed, took a walk, talking about how the Boston trip would happen after all. A little bit late but still savable. We entered the library, walked through some sort of invisible force field, that is the doorway to imagination, every good library have one. If you can’t feel it you have forgotten how it is to be a child. 

After browsing a wide selection of authors, A.A. Milne included, we went on with thicker coffee table books ala Norman Rockwell. Fed with different fonts and alphabetic letters of all sorts, we headed back towards the mechanic shop. During our walk we experienced a sudden autumn breeze, playing with our scarfs, letting them wave in the most charming way. Crows hovered freely over us, wherever the wind would take them, and our wind was blowing towards Boston. Towards a world that AA Milne once created with his companion and friend, the illustrator E.H. Shepard.

Our bags were already packed, and with a couple of sandwiches our trip could begin, away from NY and towards the bay state, Massachusetts. The engine was buzzing like any car that just have had a brand new starter engine installed. The journey involved very much sitting and talking, about whatever passed our windows. That cloud that looked like a peacock, or that one cute pumpkin stand we just passed, and those colonial houses that always gets us.

It was with excitement a handful of hours later, that we received our tickets for the “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic” exhibit at the will call booth. Gigantic blue balloons showed us where to go. It was more people than just us that showed their appreciation for this children’s classic. We were greeted with walls filled with interesting background stories, together with unique photographs of Milne, and “Billy Moon” aka Christopher Robin Milne. Yes, nearly 200 different pieces of the puzzle that created this beloved classic. We have earlier seen the real original stuffed “Winnie the Pooh”, together with his famous friends, at the “New York Public Library”. Today, to our surprise, we were suddenly facing the original stuffed animals from the movie “Goodbye Christopher Robin“. A most interesting movie that portrays the story how A.A. Milne created his well-known bear. There is something special with stuffed celebrities I must say.

The main focus of this exhibit is the many sketches, paintings, and concept ideas by illustrator E.H. Shepard. To see originals that is older than our oldest relatives, knowing that they as children enjoyed it as much as we do today leave us with a very special feeling. It is not only a sketch from an archive, it’s more than that. Each sketch has their own iconic status because we recognize the situation that is imprinted not only on the old pages but also forever inked on our hearts. We see the very first editions of the books, behind glass of obvious reasons, original watercolor sketches, side by side with its printed version. To know that this was a time long before Photoshop made me appreciate the old craftsmanship even more than I already did.

As we leave the museum, the soft evening-wind embraced us, made us aware that this is the Bay State of America, a fresh ocean hint that Calvin Cline would pay both of his kidneys to be able to bottle. 

A local baseball team, “Red Sox” something, have a few days earlier defeated another team and becoming World Series champions. A parade have glorified their achievement. But as much as their trophy might shine, it cannot beat the shine in all the sparkling eyes that once upon a time read Winnie the Pooh for the first time. This adventure that started with bleak emotions, ended in harmony. As Winnie probably would have said, “An adventure always start with a good handful of hunny.” For us, it was a waffle, served at our local diner while our car had to be repaired.

Until next time, never give up a perfectly possible adventure, even if your car brakes down. 

Bye for now!
-Jonas & Lindsay

P.S. Friends, do you love Winnie The Pooh too? Or the Boston area? Check out our vlog in Salem HERE!