{"id":3964,"date":"2017-08-20T10:04:42","date_gmt":"2017-08-20T17:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curatingla.com\/?p=3964"},"modified":"2017-08-20T10:04:42","modified_gmt":"2017-08-20T17:04:42","slug":"railway-modeler-bergamot-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/curatingla.com\/cla\/2017\/08\/20\/railway-modeler-bergamot-station\/","title":{"rendered":"Railway Modeler Pulls into Bergamot Station"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wizelman<\/p>\n

When something captures a child\u2019s attention, he or she locks onto the subject and doesn\u2019t let go. Visiting the Lois Lambert Gallery<\/a> at Bergamot Station<\/a> several weeks ago to see an exhibition titled \u201cSonny Wizelman – A Moment in Time,\u201d I watched a young girl circle the room, mobile phone in hand, taking video of finely detailed railway models from every conceivable angle. She couldn\u2019t seem to get enough of the intricate scenes and creative use of mechanization, color, sound and light.<\/p>\n

Two years ago I published an interview<\/a> with Sonny, a friend and Los Angeles based live steam train enthusiast, that explored his love of garden railroading<\/a>, our shared hobby. When I asked what drew him to trains, he responded \u201cI think the real attraction all these years has been building.\u201d That passion for the creative process continues to this day and is evidenced by the creations comprising the art exhibition, each of which is a manifestation of Sonny\u2019s dedication, vision and skill.<\/p>\n

\"Sonny

Sonny Wizelman in his home workshop<\/p><\/div>\n

As I walked into the gallery to check out the show, I was curious how I would feel seeing elements of my hobby presented on pedestals in a formal, white walled, space. For one thing, the pieces are removed from the context in which I\u2019m used to seeing them (i.e. a garden or an elevated live steam track). In the gallery, it\u2019s all about the individual creations and a body of work, rather than the way in which the miniature structure, scene, locomotive or train car fits into a larger railway environment. The context is just different.<\/p>\n

\"Inspection

Inspection Locomotive – Electric lights and steam engine<\/p><\/div>\n

Then there\u2019s the matter of nomenclature. Whereas my fellow hobbyists call Sonny\u2019s creations \u201cmodels,\u201d the curators who run the gallery cast his work in a theoretical light by calling them \u201cnarrative sculptures.\u201d If you\u2019re wondering what\u2019s the difference between the two terms, the answer is simple – $4,000! But seriously, the latter term is more descriptive and attempts to imbue the creations with a deeper meaning. While I don\u2019t have any problem with the art world\u2019s terminology, you won\u2019t find me using it day-to-day when talking about my own creations or those of my fellow hobbyists. It\u2019s too academic and just doesn\u2019t feel right.<\/p>\n

The collection of works on display is truly captivating. Each piece is a story unto itself and offers up little surprises the longer you look at (and sometimes listen to) them. The delight in the eyes of the other visitors, including the girl with the video camera, would have made Sonny proud if he had been in the gallery with me.<\/p>\n

Speaking of pride, that is exactly what I felt as I examined each piece. This was my hobby on display in a well-known art gallery. And it was a friend whose work I admire getting well deserved recognition. That\u2019s not to say garden railroading as a hobby needs formal validation from any outside entity, but it was gratifying nonetheless to see something so important in my life treated in a similar fashion as other, more traditional, creative endeavors.<\/p>\n