Chicago 2010
Minis World
Not one, but THREE miniature shows happened in Chicago, USA, during the same weekend! From April the 16th to the 18th, 2010, miniature lovers, collectors, makers, sellers, publishing companies, IGMA and internet groups converged to:
CHICAGO
Any miniature aficionado's dream!
- Internacional de Chicago, promoted by Tom Bishop and his wife Leni Bishop.
- IMA (Independent Miniature Artisan), organized by Thelma Lewis DeVitt
- 3 Blind Mice, produced by Linda Frye.
Each happened at a different hotel. There was a free bus circulating between them, taking guests and visitors to see all three of them.
Update 2024: currently 2 of these shows no longer take place in Chicago. Check out at Feiras & Eventos all the main shows and events related to miniature around the world. If you click on each, you will find more info, like tickets, hours and a link to their websites.
It's the biggest one: 230 sellers divided into 3 huge rooms and there is quite a large area just for dolls. There were also some vendors in the halls linking the 3 rooms. The sellers came from 36 different American states and 19 countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Turkey and more).
The density of IGMA Artisans and Fellows per square footage was unprecedented.
There were miniatures for all pocket depths. And purposes. There are simple ones, supplies for those who like to make their own. There were fabrics carefully chosen to fit the scale, leather pieces as thin as paper, but soft and pliable, diy accessory kits, buttons in miniature, landscaping items, printed and laser cut plant foliage, molds to make bricks or tiles, diy furniture kits, embroidery kit... whatever you could think of, you could find there!
In all 3 shows I noticed a generous variety of scales, for all tastes and room availability the buyer has at home: 1:12 wasn't even overwhelming majority anymore, there were items in 1:24, 1:48 (the apple of the eye, it seemed), and 1:144, which attracts more and more fans.
What impressed me the most is that all those true masters in the art of miniature making are, in the vast majority, very much approachable. They kindly answer questions, allow pictures when asked for, and even give away tips on how to make miniatures! I can't tell if they'd sign an autograph book only because I didn't have the guts to ask them (but I wanted to!). To see those masters work up close is, by itself, a wonderful lesson!
This was actually the very first miniature show I ever set foot in! The room is huge, and you could find all kinds of miniatures there, for all pocket depths. It suffice to say I was so bewildered by everything I didn't even hear the last call for the shuttle bus of the day, which was repeated several times through the sound system (so I was told later), and then I felt lost because I didn't know how to go back to the hotel I was staying at. Kind and friendly Thelma came to my rescue!
It's Thelma herself who welcomes visitors by the door, when she's not making the rounds in the room to make sure everything is going well both for vendors and customers. If she's not by the door, you'd find her husband or her daughter, warmly welcoming everyone. The family works together to make sure everything goes smoothly, they are friendly and helpful.
I bought myself some perfectly laser cut diy kits, in the smaller scales, like 1:48 and 1:144, jewelry findings popular to make miniatures, some fabric, furniture, plants and so many beautiful miniature items.
Update 2024: unfortunately this show is no longer produced as of 2013
Produced by Linda Frye, who welcomes each visitor herself, is the "smallest" - still huge - of the trio, and it has its devoted fans!
There I found some manufactured carpets, pewter miniatures to be painted, from $0,50, supplies for needlework in miniature and the acclaimed glued for good Simbad Glue. Well, those were my personal favorites, but any one could find their own treasures there. Few of the vendors had their own website back then, but most had at least a contact email that can be found at the Show's website. It's worth mentioning Creative Reproductions 2 Scale, who develop working doorbells, ceiling fans, garage doors and "fireplaces"!
I felt it is absolutely impossible to absorb everything there is to see in those shows. Each person will have their unique experiences, which is only a fraction of the whole thing. Not to mention first timers' enthusiasm for finding so many people interested in the same things you are passioned about, from all over the world and with the same intensity. That's one in a lifetime experience, so worth living!
Update 2024: this show currently only takes place at some cities in Florida.
IGMA was almost omnipresent at Bishop's Show. Not only several Artisans and Fellows were sellers there, but there was also an IGMA table with next classes pieces at display and the institution held a special presentation on Saturday afternoon, after the show. There I learned not only about their aims and work, how to become a member and its benefits, but specially about the GUILD School.
Try to picture yourself spending a whole week totally devoted to learning how to make perfect miniatures. You can choose between one 36-hour class, one 24-hour plus one 12-hour class, or three 12-hour classes. Imagine learning from IGMA Artisans themselves, true MASTERS of miniature making! And they have classes for all levels: beginners, intermediate and advanced. You can choose among all kinds of techniques and materials: wood - furniture, turning, carving, macheting, etc; metalwork and silversmithing, embroidery, needlework, upholstering, costuming, sculpting, paper plant making, clay plant making, clay food making, bookbinding, wickering, oil painting, structure building and finishing.
The classes take place once a year, always in June, in Castine, Maine. The price ($1.325 this year) includes 36 hours of instruction, a shared room and meals. There are other arrangement possibilities too. If you want to go to Guild School, you better check out their website from August on for following year's classes, as most classes for current year are already "sold out" by April of the same year. Its is possible to apply for a scholarship, which will cover for hosting, the classes and food. Only the trip tickets are on the student. Two Brazilians have already earned this wonderful opportunity: Sérgio Macedo and myself.
Yes, IGMA's standards are very high, and they are very strict before granting an Artisan title. But such a title makes it practically sure that you'll not only find perfectly made miniatures, buy that you'll often have the feeling they were real life objects that were magically shrunk to scale. Yes, its far more than just perfectionism, it's pure magic!
