The Museum of Miniature Houses recently received a grant from the Legacy Fund to support its Celebrations of Creativity and Craftsmanship series, which is entering its fourth year. The museum uses the series as a way to showcase different types of artists.
“The initial idea was to see how we could get people into the museum who wouldn’t necessarily be interested in going to a museum of miniature houses,” said Elaine Mancini, executive director of the museum. “I was thinking about what our pieces were really all about, and I realized it was about creativity and craftsmanship. That’s what gets people excited once they come into the museum. The idea was to offer the series for free and have other creative artists come in and perform or present their work.”
On March 28, Siberian-born artist Galina Alkhutova will present her miniature paintings.
“She (also) paints regular-sized works of art, but her miniature paintings are just exquisite,” Mancini said.
Not all presentations showcase miniature works of art. Indiana artisan Jim Dupler will showcase his turned woodwork Feb. 28.
“He does this beautiful turned woodwork,” Mancini said. “He uses a lathe in a particular way to create woodwork. It’s not carved. It’s created on a wheel.”
Guests also will have the opportunity to create their own miniature pieces.
“When we first started doing this, people tended to do more painting than anything else,” Mancini said. “Then it moved to 3-D objects of all kinds. Now, we have people making miniature furniture. It’s become our most popular activity. Some of the items they create are quite elaborate.”
Mancini wants the series to attract new guests to the museum and give artists a new platform to display their work. For more, visit museumofminiatures.org.
SERIES SCHEDULE
- Jan. 24 – Garret Mathews, playwright and oral historian
- Feb. 14 – Pam Newell presents pastels and oil paintings
- Feb. 28 – Jim Dupler, woodworker
- March 14 – MaryAnne Mathews will present songs from Ireland
- March 28 – Galina Alkhutova will present miniature paintings
- April 11 – Kristina Oliver, experimental abstract artist
- April 25 – Artist TBA
- May 9 – Lucy Newton and MaryAnne Mathews present a program of songs
- May 23 – Debra Achgill presents fused glass pieces
- June 13 – Andrew Moore, steel drums
- June 27 – Marie Diebolt, singer-songwriter
- July 11 – Create Your Own Mini Art
- July 25 – Create Your Own Mini Art
- Aug. 8 – Create Your Own Mini Art
- Aug. 22, Sept. 12 and 26 – Artist TBA
- Oct. 10 – Charlene Brown, paintings and drawings
- Oct. 24, Nov. 14, 28, Dec. 12 – Artist TBA
- Dec. 26 – Create Your Own Mini Art
*All events begin at noon