Miniature #4 – Constructed 09/2023
Fun Facts
Gazebo popularity in America began in the min-1800s, when the country’s middle class began to prosper. They are prevalent on Cape Cod today and serve many different purposes such as offering quiet places to read, enjoy nature, or gather with friends and family.
They have solid roofs to keep out the rain and snow but have open sides to allow enjoyment of the surroundings. Larger gazebos are used to host band concerts or serve as wedding venues.
Description
Despite the many miniature art pieces that I’ve built, the construction of this gazebo as my 4th stands as my greatest architectural engineering challenge to date. The gazebo’s octagonal shape and round domed roof presented an opportunity to significantly expand my engineering and construction skills, as well as belief in my capabilities and talent.
The gazebo sits on a 12″x12″ plywood base. The overall piece stands at 11.5″ high and the time invested to design and build was approximately 65 hrs.
Materials Used
The gazebo was built using a combination of square balsa wood dowels and popsicle sticks. The floor was made with wide craft sticks, a foamboard base, and stained a Golden Oak color.
The rear picket fences were made from popsicle sticks and painted with white acrylic paint. Tiny acorns were gathered from a nearby park and scattered around the trees inside the picket fences to add interest and authenticity.
The roof underlay was created using square balsa wood dowels and craft sticks. The roof shingles were made from black cardstock paper, sprayed with textured spray paint, and cut by hand to resemble realistic roof shingles.
A string of fairy lights was added for evening ambiance.
