Join us on our 2nd Anniversary for free admission and extended hours!

Thursday, September 1, 2011
Museum open from 9am-8m
Free admission all day!

Mini cupcakes by Cupcakes and punch served from 6pm-8pm

The following miniatures created by local artists will be on display at The Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures from August 2, 2011 – September 3, 2o11

Carnival Food and Fun: Mid-20^th Century Sunday Fun at the Carnival, Tom Bulow , 2009-2011

Tom Bulow carved this miniature from basswood recreating the fair Midway with topsy-turvy rides and picnic tables filled with carnival goers indulging in fried confections and hot dogs. The people are dressed in garments from several decades of the 20^th century but the majority wears the styles of the mid-century. The miniature is reminiscent of Roger and Hammerstein’s musical State Fair released in 1945, and similarly captures the nostalgia of the mid-twentieth century country fair which was much anticipated by the local 4H and farmers, particularly in rural communities. The State Fair not only celebrated the hard work of the farmers through blue ribbon awards but also transformed the quiet countryside creating a big-city atmosphere with blinking lights and music flowing from the Midway carnival rides. Tom has recreated a working Tilt-a-Whirl, Ferris wheel, and carousel.

Tom Bulow has worked in the fields of fire service, healthcare and construction among others. Art has always been a part of his life with his most recent pursuits being hand carved miniature replicas. His art education includes study at Moraine Valley College, Art Institute of Chicago and Longwood Academy.

Barnum #60, Wayne Wesolowski, 2010

In the early 20^th century the arrival of a caravan of cherry red circus wagons carrying exotic animals drew people out of their homes to watch the rise of the Big Top. Many rural Americans didn’t have zoos, so the opportunity to see lions, tigers, and elephants up-close but secure behind bars, was certainly thrilling and spurred ticket sales for the greatest show on earth. Miniature artist Wayne Wesolowski’s Barnum #60 is a meticulous reproduction of such a wagon.  Wayne has produced several of these wagons, each one scratch built. The doors of this cherry red and gold-accented vehicle all function.

Wayne Wesolowski has been making miniatures for over fifty years. A retired Chemistry Professor from Benedictine University, Wayne is currently a Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Arizona. He and his wife, Mary Cay, have written six books on model building including their latest Scratchbuilding Model RR Structures published by Carstens Inc. Newton NJ 

Be sure to join us for:

Polyurethane Casting: A Miniature Addition
Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 1:00pm

A talk by Wayne Wesolowski about polyurethane casting at home- including pattern and mold making. Fun for the expert or the beginner!

Included with museum admission. Free for members.

The Mini-Time Machine is proud to participate in Blue Star Museums by offering free admission to active-duty military and their immediate family from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2011. For museum hours of operation visit www.theminitimemachine.org

You’re the main character in The Mini-Time Machine’s Adventure Tour Gallery Guide.

As the stories of the magical creatures that inhabit the miniatures unfold, you alone must decide what path to take. Leave with a chronicle of your adventure. Come back and play again and create a different adventure each time.

To play: Pick up an Adventure Tour Gallery Guide Map in the lobby of The Mini-Time Machine. Read the directions and the start of the story on the map. Then you must decide where to go next. At the next miniature, take a page and read that story and decide where to go from there. Save your pages as you go- at the end you will receive a cover and brads to bind them into a keepsake book of your adventure. If you play correctly, you will have four pages for your book. Visit us again and make different choices, taking a new route to create a whole new story!

Included with museum admission while supplies last. Suitable for school-age children and adults. Small children will need adult assistance.