How Winnie-the-Pooh is a story about self-isolation

In our new series Scenes from an Exhibition, Canada's top curators showcase some of their favourite works from exhibitions that were closed off to the public due to COVID-19.

Winnie-the-Pooh is a childhood favourite for many, especially for those that vividly remember this iconic Heritage Minute. Back in March, The Royal Ontario Museum unveiled Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic, an immersive exhibit bringing you inside The Hundred Acre Wood through original sketches, photographs and memorabilia. But when the pandemic hit, the museum was forced to close less than one week after the exhibit opened to the public.

The ROM is the last stop for this Winnie-the-Pooh exhibit, so when it was shut down due to COVID-19, "it was very disappointing for everybody at the museum," says Justin Jennings, the ROM's Senior Curator in Arts and Culture. Once it finishes its run at the ROM, he says the exhibit "may not be seen 40 or 50 years after this."

Luckily, we're getting a sneak peek in the latest instalment of our video series Scenes from an Exhibition. Jennings takes us inside the world of Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic, highlighting some of his favourite pieces from the show — including a photo of writer A.A. Milne, his son Christopher Robin and the original Pooh bear.

Jennings reminds us that these stories came to us in the 1920s, after World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic, making them more relevant than ever today. Jennings says because Christopher Robin is an only child, "You can imagine how dearly loved he was and how often scared his parents were about what might happen next in the world."

Jennings — who is in isolation and working from home himself — began looking at these images differently during the pandemic, like this one of Pooh, Piglet and Christopher Robin playing Pooh Sticks alone in the woods. "It's a beautiful image of a boy and his bear in his imagination...it's this perfect way of looking at things, how you can find magic in those quiet moments that are forced on you in these times."

Once the pandemic is under control and Ontario begins to reopen the province, Jennings says the ROM will eventually open its doors and the public will be able to see the Winnie-the-Pooh exhibit in person. And he says he can't wait to get back to the ROM and "show you that magic."

CBC Arts understands that this is an incredibly difficult time for artists and arts organizations across this country. We will do our best to provide valuable information, share inspiring stories of communities rising up and make us all feel as (virtually) connected as possible as we get through this together. If there's something you think we should be talking about, let us know by emailing us at [email protected]. See more of our COVID-related coverage here.