Calendar

Dioramarama

A delightful exhibit of artists' miniature scenes and structures

A A A Comments By Hiya Swanhuyser Wednesday, Jun 22 2005

If you read books, acknowledge live music, or dislike sports, Lisa Simpson probably speaks for you. And your adorable, yellow, animated alter ego embraces your love of many odd, artsy cultural elements such as jazz musicians, social justice, or listening to what other people have to say. (Interestingly, this keeps you and your ilk watching mainstream television, but let's not wallow there right now.) One of these bizarre proclivities is your (and Lisa's) love of dioramas. The pathos of a world enclosed in a shoe box is fascinating, and the artistic challenges inherent to the form are myriad, yet not beyond the reach of a third-grader. You and Lisa and I love this.

Luke Dorman's Die-O-Rama at Mission 17.

Details

Mission 17, 2111 Mission (at 17th Street), S.F. Admission is free; call 336-2349 or visit www.mi ssion17.com.

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

We're not alone: Curator Libby Werbel is a super diorama champion. The proof is Werbel's "The Diorama Show," to which a coalition of 50 or so artists has contributed miniature scenarios. Sneak peeks display a hilarious range of interpretations. Emily Donat's is a traditional carton, edged with gold ribbon and a nice lace frill; inside is a cozy bedtime trio under a flowered quilt -- surprise! It's Michael Jackson and two children. Rebecca Noon's exhibit is dark and complicated and looks like it's inside an old-fashioned breadbox, while Luke Dorman seems to reference a menaced peasantry among the flaming cottages of Die-O-Rama.

"Very few of the artists make dioramas as part of their usual work," Werbel says. "We wanted to see how particular mediums like drawing would influence the form." Her inspiration came from a visit to an exhibition of "real" dioramas made by children. The kids' works were "so beautiful," the curator enthuses, that she wanted to get the local arts community in on the action. Surprisingly, she didn't think the concept would be very popular. "I thought I was alone in this dark world of diorama appreciation," she confesses, laughing about how wrong she's been. You, me, and Lisa Simpson could have told her it would be huge. -- Hiya Swanhuyser

Check out this week's featured ad for Arts

SPARC

View Ad View Website

More Ads >>

Get the Events Newsletter

What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.