The Cone Issue #6 Summer 2015 - Travel | Page 94

Miniatures: A fascinating, new journey Personally I have always liked small things; I am small in stature and have always been pressed for space living in variety of postage stamp-sized Manhattan apartments where space is a privilege. Over the years I have assembled a treasure trove of items from my travels, siftings through flea market bins, New England gift shops and mementos of important events for anything that could be displayed with pride from a hook or ribbon on my Christmas tree or as a knickknack on a shelf. Yet it is only recently that I have embarked on a historical, artistic and philosophical look at man’s fascination with the miniature art form. The catalyst for this investigation is the result of the lifelong passion and Act II career of my dear friend, Darren T. Scala, creator of D. Thomas Fine Miniatures located in Ha stings -on-Hudson, Ne w York, a picturesque town in the historic lower Hudson River Valley. The first time Darren came to my home for a dinner party he immediately spotted a miniature ceramic milk jug displayed on a small shelf in my entrance hall. He quickly asked me if I was a miniature fan; I confessed that I always wanted a dollhouse as a kid and thus the multi-year dialogue commenced. Over the next five years Darren shared his personal journey as a miniature aficionado, collector and artisan-in-training specializing in the creation of miniature furniture, all culminating with his career change from international cosmetics executive to entrepreneur/small business owner and miniatures Darren T. Scala spokesperson. Rethink Dollhouse™ The realization of achieving so many of his career objectives and life goals as a brand marketer in several international beauty product categories posed the ultimate wake-up call for Darren’s next adventure. After much soul searching, research and a tremendous amount of chutzpah (typical for a Brooklyn-born man), Darren wrote the ultimate business plan for his career’s Act II – creation of a new business to showcase the role of fine scale miniatures as a decorative art, D. Thomas Fine Miniatures 94 THE CONE - ISSUE #5 - SUMMER 2015