[Archived] Miniatures Exhibition Opens February 9 at Alexandria Black History Museum

Creators of Dollhouses Inspired by Alexandria’s African American History

The Alexandria Black History Museum welcomes a new exhibition, Our Alexandria: African American Dollhouses by Sharon J. Frazier and Linwood M. Smith, featuring more than a dozen buildings and rooms – most inspired by real places in Alexandria – in miniature. This exhibition runs from February 9 through May 1.

Sharon Jones Frazier and Linwood M. Smith, both lifetime residents of Alexandria, began working together on their collection in 1994, combining their talents and drawing on their memories of places and people in Alexandria. Mrs. Frazier, a retired registered nurse, developed skills in miniaturization while Mr. Smith, a retired automotive mechanic, used his skills as a craftsman to construct dollhouses to scale. They first exhibited at the Alexandria Black History Museum in 2008.

This exhibition is composed of new works including the Carver Nursery School (right), Robert Robinson Library, and the Hayden Photography Studio. Several of the buildings from the earlier and very popular exhibition also return, including a barbershop and hair dressing salon, a medical building, an attorney’s office, and a florist, all patterned after actual businesses in the Parker-Gray community, a historically African-American neighborhood in Alexandria.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and guests will have the opportunity to meet Mrs. Frazier and Mr. Smith. The reception is free and open to all. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 703.746.4356.

The Alexandria Black History Museum is located at 902 Wythe Street in the heart of the Parker-Gray Historic District and is open from Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.746.4356.