The Library of Lost Dollhouses: Enchanting Fiction with a Historical Twist

Immerse yourself in a world where dollhouses solve mysteries, where art saves the day. A world where dollhouses contain clues about their previous owners’ life. What would happen if a collection of mysterious dollhouses was found hidden inside a library? “And what would happen if these dollhouses, which had been owned by notable women of the early 1900s, revealed unknown aspects of their lives and rewrote history?” From those questions, populated by characters inspired by real-life women, Elise Hooper’s The Library of Lost Dollhouses takes shape. “Each dollhouse contained an extraordinary universe of tiny things…There’s actually a psychological rationale to explain our affinity for small things: dollhouses offer us a sense of control and imagination. They can provide a feeling of agency. Miniatures allow us to create the world as we’d like to see it.” “Dollhouses remind us how easy it is to disappear, but this exhibit is about claiming one’s place in the world, not disappearing…They revealed stories of ordinary women who’d kept extraordinary secrets about themselves in their dollhouses. Hidden careers and relationships, family secrets—the dollhouses told many important truths.” Artist Cora Hale sets about helping her clients hide important truths about themselves. “For most women, the home is their stage. What if I produced a portrait of a woman, not by creating a likeness of her, but by showing the stage that defined her role in life? I’d always hoped to produce portraits that hinted at the interiority of my subjects—what would happen if I took a very literal approach to such a piece?” A secret room, a series of dollhouses, a mother’s past, and the questions of identity dredged up through a trail of miniatures. Elise Hooper’s The Library of Lost Dollhouses “will encourage everyone to approach others with bigger hearts, more understanding and compassion.” Pairs well with a Coratini!