Annelle Ferguson Honored at Guild School

The iconic and talented miniaturist and IGMA Fellow Member Annelle Ferguson was honored at the 2023 Guild School Student Art Exhibition in June 9-16, 2023

The annual student art exhibit event was planned and hosted by IGMA President Audrey Tripp.

Ms. Tripp organized a number of Annelle's students to bring work they had done in Annelle's classes to put on display in the show. This information was kept secret from Annelle until she arrived at the show to see all her student's work on display.

This is the largest assortment of Petite Point needlework on display at time that I have ever seen.

Work included embroidered caskets, samplers, upholstered chairs and framed pieces.

It was a terrific way of honoring someone who has contributed so much to the world of fine art miniatures.

And a great way to showcase all of the wonderful work by her as well as the students who have studied from her.

Great job Annelle and congratulations on your honor!

###

Small Art: Miniaturists Install Tiny Doors Along Old Croton Aqueduct

Rivertowns Enterprise

June 16, 2023

by Kris DiLorenzo

Sharp-eyed strollers on the Old Croton Aqueduct trail between Dobbs Ferry and Irvington may spot a tiny red door, a teenie weenie office, a Hobbit-style house, a unique version of a kaleidoscope, and a child-sized replica of the stone ventilators that punctuate the historic path.

Miniaturists Darren Scala of Yonkers, owner of D Thomas Fine Miniatures, and arts educator May Burnett of Dobbs Ferry mounted the structures on fences and trees as well as QR codes on badges to help the curious track down the tiny creations.

It took Scala and Burnett four months to produce the detailed miniatures, which they installed in May. The two frequently walked the OCA and on one excursion discussed miniatures.

“We were talking about our love of tiny doors,” Scala said, on May 13th. “We love tiny doors; I don't know why. We thought we could work on a tiny door project and plant them around the aqueduct for people to find. Our goal is to have people discover miniatures and fall in love with them as much as we love them.”

“Everything we have is made of either found materials or traditional materials, like wood, acrylic, paints, and brass for hinges and door knobs,” Scala added.

Installing the works was a bit tricky. “We had to be stealthy... we had to pretend that we were just stopping and taking a break,” he continued. “We went on many reconnaissance missions to figure out where and how we were going to place them.”

The pair placed most of the structures in one day, but the day after the job was completed torrential rain arrived. Multiple coats of polyurethane protected the miniatures from damage.

Heading north, the office is the first miniature one encounters, at the bottom corner of the concrete stairs that lead down to the OCA at the intersection of Cedar and Main Streets. A screen door opens to the inner door marked “Tiny Doors of Dobb's Ferry”. The roof appears to be wooden shingles, and a facsimile of a bulletin board is fastened to an outside wall. Inside are miniscule maps to assist on the hunt for more treasures.

A red door on the end post of a chain link fence on the east side of the path is next period a potted plant sits on faux stone pavers at the door, which boasts a brass knocker and a globe light in an overhead sconce. The door is marked “6” for a total number of doors in the series (one has vanished), and the color is meant to reflect the Zion Episcopal Church red door, Scala noted. In their choice of miniatures, he and Burnett tried to highlight some historical aspect of the Hudson Valley.

The ventilator sits at the base of its actual counterpart. Scala used egg cartons to replicate the grey brick of the original and added graffiti for a realistic touch.

He thinks the abstract kaleidoscope door is unique. On a stump behind the fully restored Lord & Burnham greenhouse on the Armour-Steiner Octagon House property, the structure is a house shaped trio of gradually taller peaked glass walls spaced apart with no roof a horizontal wooden bar pierces them with an eyepiece on the front end and the kaleidoscope mechanism at the other. The viewer will see revolving reflections of maple seeds, lavender, and dogwood.

###

Tiny Doors Appear Along Park Trail Near New York City

Tiny doors have magically appeared along a wooded walking path near the historic Hudson River in the quaint town of Dobbs Ferry, New York just miles from New York City. The small scale structures can be seen on the Old Croton Aqueduct, which was built in the 1850s to bring water down to New York City and is largely responsible for expanding commerce and growing the city to what it is today.

THE TINY DOOR OFFICE

The first tiny door structure to greet you is a park ranger's office located at the base of the town's bulletin board with it's own mini community notice board and box of take away maps and a QR Code (for the technically abled) to help navigate the search for more tiny doors! This piece can be found right off Cedar Street at the corner of Main and includes an inch sized welcome mat. A QR code is also available for the technically-abled.

THE TINY STONE VENTILATOR

A tiny stone pillar greets the viewer at the next tiny door stop along the path. This piece replicates the full size version it stands against which helped air flow and circulation along the water caves making up the aqueduct. The tiny version has a wood door with brass hinges and pull begging the question "who lives behind it" - there are also a number of graffiti markings which mimic the full stone variant which adds a bit of artistic charm, depending on who you might ask.

REALLY TINY LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

Next up is the smallest little free library ever seen, this one with a stained cedar roof and opening doors revealing a number of banned books in miniature including "Woke Baby", "Diary of Anne Frank", "This Book is Gay" and others.

THE TINY BIRD FEEDER

If you tilt your head up you will find a tiny door hanging on wire between two trees. The two-sided hobbit house includes a interior living room complete with an area rug, paneled walls, gold framed bird portraits and a dining table set on one side and a grass patch with stone path and hanging lantern on the other leading to the door on the other. The door is designed on both sides each dotted with a brass knob. This tiny door acts a bird feeder to attract

THE KALEIDOSCOPE HOUSE

The final piece along the journey can be found nestled on a stump near the iconic Armour Stiner Octagon House and features a super small Kaleidoscope Door. This interactive piece is an ode to the beautiful Victorian greenhouse located on the Octagon House property. Peer through the eyepiece to see revolving reflections of Maple seeds, lavender, and Dogwood.

THE GREAT BIG TINY DOOR CHALLEGE: Find all (6) and post to social media with the hashtag #TinyDoorsOfDobbsFerry and enter a random drawing to be held at the end of June to win a super cute assortment of tiny bird houses!

What a great fun springtime activity!