Dollhouses against Donald Trump? It’s not as ridiculous as it might seem. An upcoming show, “WEE#RESIST,” sees 12 miniature artists banding together to address cultural and political issues in an adorable, small-scale rebellion.
The exhibition is at D. Thomas Miniatures in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and is guest-curated by Louise Krasniewicz, a professor of anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. While the store is careful not to overtly mention Trump in its press materials, the new president and the widespread opposition to his policies are clearly on the minds of the participants.
Pat O’Brien’s Resist White House, for instance, shows a small crowd gathered in front of the president’s home bearing a “Resist” banner, an unmistakable reference to the post-Inauguration Day Women’s March and other protests that have taken place outside the White House in recent months.
Camilla Hallgren, Ruler of the People (2017). Courtesy of D. Thomas Miniatures.
Camilla Halgreen’s Ruler of the People shows a politician precariously perched on a plank, speaking to an agitated crowd of protesters. Another piece, Flyover Country, by Kathleen Gerber and Lori Nix of Nix + Gerber Studio, alludes to the growing divide between Americans in cities and those living in the suburbs and rural areas.
“Flyover Country provides a glimpse of rural life which is often under-appreciated, misunderstood, and ideologically at odds with itself,” said Nix of the work in a statement. “It is these beautiful and complicated battlegrounds that are desperately needed for society to succeed.”
Nix + Gerber Studio, Flyover Country (2017). Courtesy of D. Thomas Miniatures.
The works play with scale, both creating realistic looking miniature worlds and pairing tiny figures with everyday objects, such as the array of matchsticks that serve as a sea of people listening to a tiny politician speak upon a matchbox stage in Kass’s Politician. Ominous puffs of smoke rise from the smoldering remains of spent matches littered below the speaker, just out of view of the audience.
“The use of the miniature art form to enlighten, enrich, and serve as a reflection of cultural themes has existed for centuries. Miniatures compel us to focus in on a subject, explore intricacies and techniques used for their creation, and challenge us to think, question, and react,” said shop owner Darren Scala in statement, noting that he wanted to give miniaturists a platform to express their opinions, and to inspire a dialogue around political issues to promote positive change.
William Kass, Politician (2017). Courtesy of D. Thomas Miniatures.
D. Thomas Miniatures opened in 2015, and sells 1/12″ scale furniture and accessories and artisan dollhouses, as well as offering classes on making your own tiny designer worlds. The shop is best known for working with miniaturist Michael Yurkovic to create an insanely detailed replica of the main character’s office on The Mindy Project, gifted to star Mindy Kaling by a dedicated intern back in 2015.
“WEE#RESIST” will be on view at D. Thomas Miniatures, 579 Warburton Avenue, Moviehouse Mews Shop #6, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, June 18–September 15, 2017.