Museum
News
Crafting Bodies
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The crafting of bodies is a ritual as old as time. Representing the human form using non-human materials is a foundational feature of storytelling, learning, devotion and novelty.
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The Museum of Fear and Wonder presents a new collection of crafted bodies in the form of automatons, mannequins, waxworks, votive figures and medical anatomies. By contrasting these wondrous figures, the barrier between genre and function loosens—allowing the distinction between body and object to do the same.
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​
​
​
Crafting Bodies
​
The crafting of bodies is a ritual as old as time. Representing the human form using non-human materials is a foundational feature of storytelling, learning, devotion and novelty.
​
The Museum of Fear and Wonder presents a new collection of crafted bodies in the form of automatons, mannequins, waxworks, votive figures and medical anatomies. By contrasting these wondrous figures, the barrier between genre and function loosens—allowing the distinction between body and object to do the same.
​
​
​
​
Crafting Bodies
​
The crafting of bodies is a ritual as old as time. Representing the human form using non-human materials is a foundational feature of storytelling, learning, devotion and novelty.
​
The Museum of Fear and Wonder presents a new collection of crafted bodies in the form of automatons, mannequins, waxworks, votive figures and medical anatomies. By contrasting these wondrous figures, the barrier between genre and function loosens—allowing the distinction between body and object to do the same.
​
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Fear and Wonder
The Museum of Fear and Wonder is a collaborative project by Brendan Griebel and Jude Griebel. It uses the dying tradition of the rural museum to highlight the psychological and narrative qualities of objects. The collection is comprised of emotionally complicated artifacts that speak directly to themes of human experience, identity and myth-making. It forms a greater story in its entirety, both educating and mystifying its audience.
Situated in a renovated army barracks outside the small community of Bergen, Alberta, the Museum of Fear and Wonder can be visited on an appointment basis by the curious. In coming years, the museum will play host to guest academics and curators, allowing them the space and isolation to write and reflect on human relationships to the world of possessions.
Visiting
The Museum of Fear and Wonder is a private museum located near Bergen, approximately one hour north of Calgary, Alberta. We feel it is important that the museum's collection be used as a tool for public conversation and introspection. We do not charge admission for viewing the collection and provide individually guided tours of the museum to as many visitors as possible.
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We regret that the museum will not be open to the public for the duration of the 2025 season due to the ongoing construction of our new venue. We look forward to resuming our tours of the collections in 2026.
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