The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse Opens October 14 at the Concord Museum
Exhibition on View at 53 Cambridge Turnpike in Concord, Massachusetts
Friday, October 14, 2016– Sunday, January 15, 2017
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The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse is a new exhibition opening October 14 at the Concord Museum that will feature a selection of dollhouses from a superb Concord private collection. Works on display include an extremely rare and early dollhouse from 1695, and an array of 19th- and 20th-century doll’s homes from The Strong National Museum of Play. There is even a celebrity doll in attendance – Melissa Shakespeare, the cherished doll of children’s author and illustrator Tasha Tudor. Melissa Shakespeare’s doll wedding was covered in the September 1955 issue of Life magazine.
The mystery of dollhouses is twofold: how they appeal to realists who keenly observe the world around them while at the same time attracting those who embrace the world of imagination. The exhibition explores both facets of dollhouses’ allure.
Special programs will allow visitors to experience the art and the mystery of dollhouses through a hands-on room box-building workshop, story time with dollhouse-inspired crafts, and gallery talks and programs led by specialists in the world of miniatures. These programs include:
The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse: After School Exhibition Opening for Families
Friday, October 14, 2016, 3PM – 5PM
Join us for an afternoon of treats and hands-on activities during this family-friendly celebration of The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse. Marvel at the miniature magic of historical dollhouses and create your own stories by playing with a Hape Dollhouse. Included free with Museum admission. Members free.
Gallery Talk: The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse
Sunday, October 16, 2016, 2PM – 2:30PM
Join Curator David Wood for a first look at The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse in this twenty-minute gallery talk.
Dollhouse Designers
Thursday, October 20, 2016, 3PM – 5PM
Become a dollhouse interior designer in this drop-in program focusing on furniture and architecture made out of everyday objects. Weave a rug, create a clock, build a mantelpiece, and much more. The only limit is your creativity! Best for ages 8 and up. Included free with Museum admission. Members free.
[Doll]Houses have Stories
Saturday, October 29, 2016, 1PM – 3PM
In this hands-on program led by architects from BSA Space, families will first explore the exhibit The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse to learn how artisans created dollhouses to tell stories – stories of a place and time, of fashion and interior design, and even of fictional inhabitants. After the tour, families will design a dwelling for their own miniature people’s stories using recycled materials. This family program is designed for parents and children aged 5 to 13. Concord Museum Members, BSA Members, and Friends of BSA Space: $15 per person; Non-Members: $20 per person. Register online at concordmuseum.org, or call 978-369-9763 ext. 216.
Tasha Tudor Family Stories
Saturday, November 05, 2016, 2PM – 3:30PM
Tasha Tudor is one of America’s best-known and beloved illustrators. She illustrated nearly one hundred books, wrote her own stories, and lived a simple life that harkened back to 19th-century New England. The Tudor family continues to share Tasha’s life and work, traditional crafts, and the history behind them at Tasha’s homestead and at The Tasha Tudor Museum, both in Vermont. Join her daughter-in-law Marjorie Tudor for stories about Tasha, their family, Tasha’s doll on display in The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse, and Marjorie’s work as a marionette and doll maker. $10; Members free. Museum admission included. Reserve a space at concordmuseum.org or call 978-369-9763, ext. 216.
Scenes Made Small
Sunday, November 06, 2016, 1PM – 4PM
Develop and design your own scene for your outdoorsy and adventuring doll! Craft Concord’s famous Walden Pond, your local park, or a favorite hiking path all from fabric. Drop in from 1-4 p.m. Included free with Museum admission. Members free.
Dollhouse Designers
Thursday, November 17, 2016, 3PM – 5PM
Become a dollhouse interior designer in this drop-in program focusing on furniture and architecture made out of everyday objects. Weave a rug, create a clock, build a mantelpiece, and much more. The only limit is your creativity! Best for ages 8 and up. Included free with museum admission. Members free.
Miniature Makers
Saturday, November 19, 2016, 11AM – 4PM
Artists from the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA) will share their secrets and demonstrate how they make their tiny creations. Watch and learn as miniature furniture, food, needlework, textiles, paintings, and more are created! Included free with Museum admission. Members free.
Gallery Talk: The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse
Saturday, November 19, 2016, 2PM – 2:30PM
Join Curator David Wood for a closer look at The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse in this twenty minute gallery talk.
Author and Illustrator Day
Sunday, December 04, 2016, 1PM – 4PM
Meet some of the accomplished authors and illustrators whose books are featured in Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature, Explore the decorated trees throughout the Museum galleries, and visit with authors and illustrators as they sign your books. The day’s special guest is Winslow Tudor, grandson of beloved author and illustrator Tasha Tudor. Winslow Tudor’s new book, The Tasha Tudor Family Cookbook: Heirloom Recipes and Warm Memories from Corgi Cottage, will be available for purchase, along with the Family Trees featured books, in the Museum Shop. Free with Family Trees admission; Members free. Author availability subject to change.
Scenes Made Small
Sunday, December 11, 2016, 1PM – 4PM
Develop and design your own scene for your outdoorsy and adventuring doll! Craft Concord’s famous Walden Pond, your local park, or a favorite hiking path all from fabric. Program included with museum admission. Members free.
Dollhouse Designers
Thursday, December 15, 2016, 3PM – 5PM
Become a dollhouse interior designer in this drop-in program focusing on furniture and architecture made out of everyday objects. Weave a rug, create a clock, build a mantelpiece, and much more. The only limit is your creativity! Best for ages 8 and up. Included free with museum admission. Members free.
The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse is made possible by loans from The Strong National Museum of Play, the Family of Tasha Tudor, and a private collector. Sponsors for The Art and Mystery of the Dollhouse are Middlesex Savings Bank (presenting sponsor) and Newbury Court (corporate sponsor).
The Concord Museum is where all of Concord’s remarkable past is brought to life through an inspiring collection of historical, literary, and decorative arts treasures. Renowned for the 1775 Revere lantern and Henry Thoreau’s Walden desk, the Concord Museum is home to a nationally significant collection of American decorative arts, including clocks, furniture, and silver. Founded in 1886, the Museum is a gateway to historic Concord for visitors from around the world and a vital cultural resource for the town and the region. Visit concordmuseum.org to learn more. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates!