Dollhouse Exhibit Opens at Black History Museum

The Alexandria Black History Museum hosts a new exhibit featuring more than a dozen miniature buildings and rooms – most inspired by real places in Alexandria.

"Our Alexandria: African American Dollhouses by Sharon J. Frazier and Linwood M. Smith" runs from Feb. 9 through May 1.

Lifetime Alexandrians Frazier and Smith began collaborating on their collection in 1994, combining their talents and drawing on their memories of places and people in Alexandria. Frazier, a retired registered nurse, developed skills in miniaturization while 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, 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, Feb. 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The reception is free and open to all. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 703-746-4356.