Thu 10/3 @ 5-8PM
I never visited the coal mine or World War II submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry (claustrophobia!) but I spent hours absorbed by Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle dollhouse. And while I did enjoy the fine Impressionist collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, no visit was complete without another trip through the Thorne Miniature Rooms. I could hardly wait to get home and create similar tiny pieces for my own dollhouse. What can I say? I was a girlie girl.
Now there’s a new show opening at the Western Reserve Historical Society that should fascinate kids (well, at least little girls) like I was and their moms as well. All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures features dolls, doll houses, miniatures and other toys, and it opens this week. It features everything from 19th-century porcelain dolls to Barbie and American Girl dolls that today’s kids will immediately recognize, displayed with fashion and historical images from WRHS’s collection. The show even includes a play area where people can have a hands-on doll experience.
“Themes of play and childhood will spark memories for visitors, young and old,” they tell us.
The show will have a grand opening on Thursday October 3 from 5-8pm, included with regular admission. There’ll also be a screening of Black Barbie, directed by Lagueria Davis, looking at the trio of women who created the first Black Barbie in 1980. Register in advance at cletix.com.
The show will be on display for a year.
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106