Minis Magnified Issue No 35 Miss Havisham Dome

Miss Havisham Dome Pat Arnell, 2002 Exploring the World Gallery Issue No. 35 Thursday, March 7, 2013 The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures Tucson, Arizona March is National Reading Month in the United dimension. Such is States, a tribute made by the National Education the case with our Association in honor of Dr. Seuss, whose birthday Miss Havisham Dome, fell on March 2nd (he would’ve have been 109 this created by our year). Here in Tucson, Arizona, we will celebrate museum founder, Pat the love of reading on March 9 – 10, 2013, with Arnell in 2002. our annual Tucson Festival of Books, hosted by the University of Arizona. The Festival will The Charles Dickens promote literacy in Southern Arizona and bring character of Miss authors, illustrators and booksellers to a family- Havisham, whose friendly setting that Dr. Seuss would have vengeful and pitiful endorsed whole-heartedly! With the applause of existence is detailed books ringing loudly in the air, it seems fitting to in the novel Great shine our mini-light on literature. After all, as any Expectations, has good miniature enthusiast will tell you, miniatures been devotedly and storytelling go hand-in-hand. The process of examined by scaling down one’s environment gives way to a scholars for well careful process of elimination – the judicious over a century. Here selection of details to reveal a singular moment in at The Mini Time time. Like an author with a pen, the miniaturist Machine Museum, Miss Havisham Dome. Pat Arnell, 2002. sets a scene: the disheveled bookcase, the dress Pat Arnell has Photo by Emily Wolverton. laid across the bed, soup bubbling on the stove. captured the Each small note is but a reclusive, bitter spinster in 1:12 scale, sheltering her piece of the grand tune, in a glass dome as one might display the dead telling a story of the specimen of a moth or flower. How appropriate particular character then is this dome which houses her, a time capsule dwelling in this smaller, for a character whose very existence was frozen in parallel world. Every time, self-condemned to misery. miniaturist develops personal histories for his The Havisham figure itself was made by James or her small figures and Carrington, an IGMA* Fellow renowned for figures rooms – the secret tales with rich and apparent histories. As Carrington of an omnipotent himself said in an interview for Miniature Collector, “I creator. Conversely, a believe that there is far more beauty in a face that miniaturist can also has earned its history and find the young, perfect choose to recreate the face bland and boring. Even in stillness a figure should Miss Havisham Dome (detail). 1 Figure by James Carrington. stories of others, have life and suggest a story to the viewer.” Photo by Emily Wolverton. bringing the written Carrington’s Miss Havisham is no exception: dressed word into the third in the dingy golden hues of her soiled wedding gown, her vacant stare is forever, playfully pawing at the book on the floor – framed by a nest of wiry but it is Miss Havisham who refuses to turn the white hair; she appears page. crooked on her stool, seated as though she Literature is nothing less than a gateway for had just collapsed, knowledge and imagination. As Dr. Seuss said, “The rumpled and broken. more that you read, the more things you will know. Even her finger nails are The more that you learn, the more places you'll dirty. Carrington’s go.”3 Making miniatures is yet another way to travel experience with theater the world using the very same concept – through costume design gives the appreciation that comes from learning about him the expertise your subject matter. We hope that this March is needed to render such filled with some real page-turners. despair on such a fine scale. Emily Wolverton Next to Miss Havisham, The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures Miss Havisham Dome (detail). Arnell placed an *International Guild of Miniature Artisans Desk by John Davenport. exquisite desk by IGMA Photo by Emily Wolverton. Fellow, John Davenport. 1. Kaliski, Mary. “2003 IGMA Fellow in Figures James Carring- Like Carrington, ton.” Miniature Collector. March 2004. Volume 26, No. 11. Davenport knows the story of his miniature works; Number 174. P. 36. how the wood reveals the era, how the joints reveal the method, how the design reveals the 2. Kaliski, Mary. “Cat Chat with Sue Veeder.” Miniature Collec- artist. Under the spotlight of Miss Havisham’s dark tor. July 2006. Volume 29, No. 3. Number 202. P. 34. universe, Davenport’s desk is as trapped as she – a 3. Dr. Seuss. I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! Harper Collins beauty lost in a world without purpose. Like the Children’s Books, 1978. gold peacock screen behind her, the furnishings in this dome expose the hollow, cold existence of Miss Havisham, an opulence made bare with loneliness. Luster gives way to dust, sparkle becomes glare. The bleak scene is broken only by the small cat at Miss Havisham’s feet, a one-of-a-kind by self-professed cat lady, Sue Veeder. Veeder’s felines tell stories, too. In an interview with Mary Kaliski, Veeder tells how Miss Havisham Dome (detail). she studies both their Cat by Sue Veeder. Photo movement and their by Emily Wolverton. stillness. “I studied how Want to see more miniatures with a literary they walked, how they sat and stood. You think you theme? On your next visit, check out The know cats from living with them, but you have to Frog Prince Rooms, Three Bears’ House, Alice in really learn every movement…You have to study 2 Wonderland Maze, Gone With the Wind/ how they balance.” Although not mentioned in the Chestnut Hill Studios, and The Wind in the book, I for one am glad that Pat Arnell gave Miss Willows White Caravan! Havisham a little cat. In the time capsule it will sit .

Load more