Snowdomes: World in Miniature and Objects of Curiosity
The National Glass Centre
Sunderland, UK
25 November 2006 – 4 March 2007

As seen by Rea Cris

It is lovely to finally see the snow dome or snow globe (depending whether you’re English or American) given the respect of an art object rather than simply a kitschy tourist trap. Albeit this exhibit cannot completely shake off the stereotype, as it also doubles as a cabinet of curiosities exhibiting collections from eight collectors including Nancy McMichael whose collection numbers at 500 snow globes.

Even more exciting (and yes I am being completely serious and not ironic) is the first ever snow globe courtesy of Bergstrom Mahler Museum. Created by a Parisian manufacture and dating from 1889, it’s the Eiffel Tower, the icon of snow globes (pictured above). It looks ancient and frail like something magical growing old. The water has completely evaporated leaving behind the snow, which has yellowed with age. The perfectly spherical globe, which encompasses the Eiffel Tower, looks like exactly like a soap bubble and one would believe it would pop if touched.

As aforementioned the snow globe is considered as a legitimate art medium. Mat Collishaw exhibits three snow globes with images of hunched over homeless people holding up handwritten signs. The work is entitled Snow Storm. Suddenly the act of shaking a snow globe becomes sinister. Acting like God we decided whether these homeless people will be left at peace or buried under the flakes of the snow for our own amusement. Simon Woolham renames the snow dome, Snow Dooms, which with the increasing environmental threat recasts the snow dome as an endangered species or a metaphor for our own giant dome, Planet Earth. Sarah Woodfine’s snow globe (pictured above) of enormous proportions has a tinge of old English magic (if anyone has read Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell, you’ll understand what I mean). Two images of castles appear and as you walk around the globe, the glass plays a trick of illusion in which both images momentarily disappear. The guard was very keen and excited in pointing this out. But better still is the thick layer of glittering snow in front of the image, like a corresponding garden. The temptation to pick up this huge globe, hug it in your arms and shake it is incredible.
This endearing exhibition almost makes you want to start collecting snow globes, but almost. The charm and fascination of a snow globe collection is the sheer number and variation of snow globes and many of us lack the patience, but more importantly the courage or defiance to collect the miniature monuments to kitsch.

http://www.nationalglasscentre.com/