Curator's Statement

Amber Mohr, former Kruger Collection Curator

 

When a piece of miniature furniture sits in a display with its drawers closed, its accessories hidden within, the viewer only gets half of the story and only a fraction of appreciation for the artistry involved in making the piece. With Kruger Masterpieces: Inside & Out, I wanted to be able to display these pieces as they cannot be displayed in a conventional gallery setting. Stop motion photography and multiple viewpoints allow the viewer to access all the “ins” and “outs” of these exemplary pieces of 1:12 scale furniture and accessories. There is the freedom to virtually manipulate each object, to see it from 360 degrees, and to view detailed images of the exquisite craftsmanship involved in making each piece.

 

This unconventional exhibition also provides the opportunity to incorporate more of Eloise Kruger’s voice throughout. Ms. Kruger selected her miniature furnishings just as they are presented here: one by one. Selections from her correspondence with artists show how involved she was in the creative process for objects she commissioned for her miniature displays. Ms. Kruger would spend years collaborating on individual pieces with her artists, and she would span a decade perfecting her room displays, refining the “story” of each room and finding those perfect pieces to tell that story.

 

Nineteen of the twenty-three objects in Kruger Masterpieces: Inside & Out were made by Eric Pearson. Although over 200 miniature makers are represented in the Kruger Collection, it was Mr. Pearson that Ms. Kruger employed for the majority of her special commissions. Their relationship of collector and artist also extended to a friendship between the two, and their correspondence shows they respected each other’s opinions and creativity. For this reason, Mr. Pearson’s work dominates in this exhibition. Not only does his craftsmanship stand up to the discrimination of macro photography, but his objects also tell the story of Eloise Kruger’s collecting style in a way that cannot be matched.

 

This exhibition is a small sample of the thousands of exquisite masterworks held in the Kruger Collection. There is much more to see in the Kruger Gallery and in private tours of the Kruger Collection Storage area. I hope what is presented here will entice you to explore this extraordinary collection further.

 

Special Thanks: None of this would have been possible without several talented individuals whom I wish to thank. I express my gratitude toward Todd Jensen of the New Media Center for his great enthusiasm and support of this project. I also wish to thank Joel Stuthman for his excellent photography and image editing skills. Without Joel’s talent and technical knowledge, this project would never have been possible. And finally, my great appreciation to Catherine Meier for her work on the design of this website. With her adept design skills and creativity, Catherine was able to tie all our bits and parts together with her inspired web page designs. Thanks to you all, each of your contributions was invaluable to the final exhibition, which could not have been accomplished without your hard work.