Discover 'The Joy & Wonder of Miniatures'
NEW EXHIBIT THIS SUMMER
OPENS JUNE 15
June 1, 2024
Something really big is happening at Hearthside…and it’s small. That’s because the museum’s newest exhibit features miniatures, with displays of familiar objects that are all small scaled versions of the actual sizes. The Joy & Wonder of Miniatures exhibit opens Saturday afternoon, June 15.
While the exhibit includes a wide variety of miniatures and models that will be of interest to all ages, of special interest to guys will be the miniature Civil War camp diorama on display inside the museum and an outdoor exhibit featuring a full-size camp set up, artifacts and Civil War muskets, swords, and period musical instruments. While viewing the outdoor exhibit, a Rhode Island favorite—hot weiners—will be available for purchase from a food truck, making it an ideal outing to treat dad this Father’s Day Weekend, or for anyone to enjoy. The event runs from noon until 3:30 p.m. There will be additional openings throughout the summer, and the exhibit will close on September 8th.
“Miniatures have an allure that appeals to everyone,” states Kathy Hartley of the Friends of Hearthside, “and just looking at them sparks curiosity and delight for each of the tiniest details and the precision it took to make it.”
The exhibit features over a hundred items, including miniature cars, trains, and planes, toy soldiers, doll houses and furnishings, everyday items made into miniatures, antique carriages, stagecoaches, porcelains, souvenirs of popular landmarks, miniature portraits, books, and salesman’s samples, tools crafted from scrap metal, and much more. The smallest items are less than an inch and the largest is a 4-foot working model of the 264-foot Ferris Wheel from the 1904 World’s Fair.
Hartley adds, “Two of Hearthside’s former owners were miniature collectors and some of their antique items are part of the exhibit. The Talbot family, who lived here in 1904-1926, collected many miniature family heirlooms and when they moved out, they donated their miniatures to the RISD Museum. That collection was donated back by RISD to Hearthside a few years ago.
“Additionally, Hearthside’s last owner was Andrew Mowbray, a collector of antiques as well. His collection of toy soldiers was considered among the largest in the country at one time. Mowbray was also known for his Rolls-Royce’s and had a custom miniature model built of the one he drove in the film, The Great Gatsby.”
The fun of this exhibit also features a different outdoor component at each event. These are “mini” pieces from last fall’s cancelled “BeWitched & BeDazzled” festival. BeDazzled events run 11 am-3:30 pm due to the extra activities involved. The outdoor schedule includes a “mini psychic fair” with 8 psychics set up on the grounds to offer readings to visitors on Sunday, June 30th. On July 14th, the outdoor activity features artists and artisan vendors and on July 27th, there will be a puppet show with internationally-acclaimed Dan Butterworth with his marionettes and a puppet making workshop. On August 25th, there will be artisan vendors. The closing date of September 8th will feature a presentation “Love in Metal: The Art of Abraham Megerdichian” by his son Robert, detailing the exquisite miniature tools and objects that his late father machined from scrap metal and are now featured in various museums around the country, including in Hearthside’s exhibit.
Throughout the summer openings, there will be a hands-on opportunity for all ages to make a miniature book as part of the outdoor activity. Kids are also invited to search out the fairy house on the grounds. A summer-long raffle will be held until September 21st at the annual Great Road Day, but a separate drawing for one gift will be done at each of the exhibit openings. September 21st is also a rain date for any vendors who may get affected by inclement weather.