New exhibit of Tom Clark Gnomes at the Tehachapi Museum

A new exhibit of fanciful gnomes will open on First Friday, Nov. 1 at the Tehachapi Museum. The collectible figures are shown in many different settings, including several created for Christmas. They were sculpted by Dr. Thomas Fetzer Clark, known as Tom Clark, a native of Elizabethtown, N.C. He trained in sculpture at Roberts School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland, the Museum School of Art in Boston, Mass., and at City and Guilds of London School of Art.

Gnomes are legendary creatures found throughout Europe and the United States. The term gnome generally refers to very small people, often men that live underground, in forests or in gardens. Many European ethnic groups have gnome legends with local variations. Modern traditions portray gnomes as small, old men wearing pointed hats and living in forests and gardens.

Despite varying forms, gnomes have the common attribute of being able to move through the earth as easily as humans move atop it. A sixteenth century Swiss alchemist identified gnomes as a class of nature spirits comprising earth elementals. The class of gnomes has been considered to include satyrs, pans, dryads, elves, brownies and goblins, some helping plants and animals, some helping humans, some reclusive ones staying underground or in dark forests, perhaps hoarding treasure, and others interacting mischievously or even harmfully with humans.

The depiction of gnomes has changed quite often over the years and has remained different in different cultures. Originally many of them were conceived of as ugly, ground dwelling creatures that were less human than the gnomes of today. In contrast, modern sources often depict gnomes as diminutive, stout humans who wear tall, pointed conical caps and dress in solid colors such as blue, red or green. By contrast, Clark's gnomes are lovable, cute depictions of woodland creatures.

In the Textile Gallery at the Museum, Museum Director Judy Reynolds has just installed an exhibit of womens' winter hats from the 1930s to the 1950s. The exhibit also includes a man's top hat from the turn of the century.

The Museum store has just added "The Basques of Kern County," a history of the Basque people and a chronicle of those Spanish and French Basques who came to Tehachapi and Bakersfield from the 1880s and forward. It is available for sale, along with "The Long Road to Tehachapi," "The Handbook of the Kawaiisu" and other books about Tehachapi and the area.

The Tehachapi Museum offers appetizers and wine each First Friday of the month. The museum is located at 310 S. Green St. and The Errea House Museum is at 311. Both are regularly open from noon to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call (661) 822-8152.