Artist Randy Regier (I love his work and have posted it quite a few times on Boing Boing) visited a place called Roadside America in Shartlesville PA. As he told me, "To any of us makers or wannabes, it's the shit."
I stopped by Roadside America in January of 2012 on my way back to Wichita from NYC. Didn't know what to expect, but the sign claiming that here is "The World's Greatest Indoor Miniature Village" certainly piqued my interest.
I think I suspected something rather sadly faded, a bit naive and perhaps overinflated. I was mistaken. I entered into the grand hall (my words, not theirs) as a bit of an agnostic but by the time I completed the first lap I was a believer and I must admit even emotional.
The craftsmanship I think is what does it, it is exceptionally well-made and deeply emotive of the makers' (plural) love for the land outside and their decades long attempt to bring it to the scale of the human hand and mind. And the history that's embedded in this work — well, it must be a bit like finding the "fish within a fish fossil" in western Kansas; a veritable moment in time intimately preserved for those of us who arrive at a later date.
A strong sense of nostalgia permeates the space and obviously there are persons and ideals not necessarily represented in this vignette (although at two corners — outside the developed landscape, there are abbreviated references to first peoples).
At "night" when the lights drop for a 1/25th scale "Night Pageant" experience (see brochure), a blazing spotlight casts a circle of white light upon the American flag and a decidedly vintage recording of a woman singing "God Bless America" assures that all the miniature denizens rest under the umbrella of a shared faith. But, that is the author's right, is it not?
Altogether, my takeaway was that the makers here ultimately have expressed a deep and abiding reverence and affection for their place, their history and the land that has sustained them. As an artist, I can only offer my respect and admiration at this body of work, it's really quite phenomenal.
This is truly a beautiful experience and I hope you will endeavor to see it for yourself.
- Underground Toy Emporium and Spaceship Parking: Incredible art by Randy Regier
- American Made in China, by Randy Regier
- Randy Regier's "Fisher Fire Fly" model spaceship kit
- Randy Regier's toy sculpture: "Fast Asleep"
- Randy Regier's Shokor Robot toy
- Randy Regier's new spaceship sculpture: Silverfish
- NuPenny Store in Wichita is never open
