18 June 2020 V2

www.miniaturetimetraveller.com Miniature Time Traveller Magazine Issue #18 28 ‘Type in “miniature” on Etsy, the online marketplace for handcrafted items, and 400,000 items appear, from wee cereal boxes to dime-size waffles. A large part of the allure comes from a defining influence of the D.I.Y. movement, an embrace of tactile crafts as an antidote to digital living. Many miniac artists create their work by hand. Others sometimes rely on modern tools like laser cutters and 3D printers. “Miniatures of all kinds are huge among young adults, who are rethinking dollhouse,” said Darren Scala, the owner of D. Thomas Fine Miniatures, in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., and a trustee of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans. “It’s about a return to the physical, being able to touch and handle and actually play with something tactile.” Kate Ünver’s aesthetic is far darker than Mr. Nuveen’s. But it’s just as tiny. Ms. Ünver, 29, is a collector of tiny objects that may decorate a dollhouse, or at least the spooky place next door. She is the proud custodian of a 2-inch bull skull, an itty-bitty motorcycle and a freckle- size pair of antique scissors that actually work. “I’ve seen mini pistols that fire,” said Ms. Ünver, the founder of Dailymini, a website devoted to all things diminutive. Tiny switchblades that actually pop out. Nearly microscopic marbles. An electric chair that fits in the palm of your hand. Like so many “miniacs,” as some of the collectors and artisans call themselves, she came to the modern mini movement by way of a childhood love of dollhouses. Apparently, it really is a small world, and it’s getting progressively smaller, thanks to young artists working in 1:12 scale, which is the traditional ratio for miniatures, dollhouses and dioramas. Instead of dreamy young schoolgirls adorning pint-size Victorian mansions, today’s miniaturists are creating perfect parallel universes in the vein of the Thorne Miniature Rooms o n permanent exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago.’ Excerpts from The New York Times article by Abby Ellin, May 6, 2016 What an enlightened paper! Ed. There is a younger group of miniaturists heading into the future. MINIACS Phillip Nuveen working on a chair. The designer works almost exclusively in miniature, each item made by hand or with the help of a 3D printer. Credit...Ike Edeani for The New York Times Covid-19 Lockdown probably didn’t inconvenience Miniaturists very much. An insular lot, we work quietly away, mainly on our own, even though in a normal world we know we are free to hop in the car and lunch with a friend, do the shopping and attend Miniature Club meetings and go to the Fairs. And these are the things we have missed. It has made the hobby a bit more guiltfree. When the family perhaps chided their resident miniaturist for ‘wasting time’ on the small stuff, some have come on board or have developed their own hobby thus giving each other space. Not a bad thing really! By the time you read this we will be getting to the end of Level 2. There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon for travel between New Zealand and Australia to resume, with some restrictions. That would be great. Meanwhile, a lot can be achieved through the internet. There have been good trends. Some clubs have upped the ante regarding their newsletters. Communication has increased between members. Children and even non-miniaturists are seeing the value of making small things out of nothing, according to the feedback received from the recent publication in a local paper, of craft projects for children. Our miniature world may be expanding! J Fraser Spinning wheel from Kaylene Thompson’s collection. Greytown, NZ.