Newly Commissioned Shadow Box Displays Delivered to TSAC Gallery
What a delight.
Shadow boxes were delivered last week to TSAC Gallery in Fairfield to house the antique marionettes of the late Frank Lloyd Dent.
The ‘Marionette Exhibition’ opens this week and is available for viewing by the public February 17-28, 2025 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Artist Mike Seale was commissioned by Trinity Star Arts Council to create colorful shadowbox displays.
The first was created for “Miguel,” who the artist imagined as a dancing peddler. The market scene includes flowers, and in the background, a mission, which was based on the St. Anne chapel on Westheimer in Houston. “I’ve been drawing a lot of churches lately,” said Seale.
Next is an enchanting, glittery imagining of the golden road to the Emerald City, housing “Dorothy” and a green-faced women in dressed black. The artist researched several pictures from the Wizard of Oz classic to create his rendition.
A charming 3-D scene, draped in theater curtains, provides a display for “Scarlett.” This one includes a white picket fence and tree-lined path with Spanish moss leading to her plantation.
An old, French-style clown is housed in a rich, blue scene of the circus, featuring an elephant rider and trapeze artist. Seale create a tricycle for the marionette to ride.
The signature piece created for the “Gypsy” marionette (at top) includes a traveling wagon parked by a campfire.
“That was the most fun to create,” said Seale, who imagines them dancing under the moonlight.
Finally, the whimsical “Bailey” the dog is displayed in front of a red brick wall with a yellow fire hydrant and streetlamp with signs reading, “Be a good neighbor” and “No dog pooping.”
“I had so much fun,” said the artist about creating the new shadow boxes. “It was a joy.”
Be sure to make time to see the ‘Marionette Exhibition’ this week, or next. Admission is free to the public.
The TSAC Gallery is located at 115 S. Mount Street in Fairfield, Texas. For more information, visit online at www.trinitystarartscouncil.org
(Photos by Karen Leidy)
