By Sheila Grant

Guests can meet the artist behind Tonic of the Woods Handcrafts this Saturday, and will have all month to take in “Miniature Literary Scenes” at Rockland Public Library.

“As a child who grew up in the ’70s with divorced parents, I was like most Gen Xers, left to entertain myself,” said Kay Stephens. “I found a lot of comfort in the imaginary worlds of books and dollhouses. I really never outgrew that, and combined my love for both in making literary room boxes and sculptures.”

Stephens finds inspiration in odd boxes discovered at thrift stores, “and I imagine the scene that will go in it,” she said. “For example, in ‘Hemingway’s Lost Suitcase,’ a friend was cleaning out his closet and came across a tattered old accordion baffle of a vintage camera he planned to throw out. Looking through it, I imagined a long room, looking out a window. It made me think of the famous Hemingway story about losing his manuscript at a train station in Paris, so I created a tiny scene that envisioned the story around it.”
The artist also creates miniature handmade fairy dresses from natural materials gleaned while hiking. Her creations have mostly been a hobby over the last nine years, though Stephens has sold her work, as well.
“Miniature Literary Scenes” is Stephens’ first exhibit.
“It took me about seven years to create all the room boxes and sculptures,” she said. The exhibit features 10 miniature shadowboxes and sculptures, as well as a story to go with each and “lure the viewer deeper into the scene.”
With television, video games, smartphones and streaming competing with time spent reading, Stephens, who is also an author, said, “I hope this exhibit will encourage people to get lost in the miniature worlds I used to get lost in, and inspire them to read the books that go with the art pieces. Feel free to come by and chat about the exhibit!”
For more information about the Artists Reception, or library hours when “Miniature Literary Scenes” can be viewed this month, call 594-0310 or email [email protected].