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HISTORIC MODELS TO BE DISPLAYED - 101 MINIATURE BUILDINGS WILL MARK THE FIRST TIME ENTIRE COLLECTION HAS BEEN SHOWN TO PUBLIC

Morning Call - Allentown, Pa.

Copyright Morning Call Mar 21, 1996

A one-man exhibit, "101 and Counting: Robert Wendler's Miniature Buildings" will be shown Sunday through Oct. 13 at the Whitefield House, 214 E. Center St., which is Route 191 in Nazareth.

The exhibit, organized by the Moravian Historical Society, marks the first time Wendler's entire collection of historic building models, currently numbering 101, will be on public display.

In honor of Wendler, a public reception will be held 2-5 p.m. April 14 at the Whitefield House. Museum admission will be free for that day.

Wendler began making model buildings in 1977. His first models, made shortly after his retirement from Laros Printery, were to be used with a Christmas putz. As he continued his hobby, his goal became to create 40 buildings, 10 for each grandchild. After that, "I just kept on making them, that's all," he says. "This hobby is (in) my blood."

Nineteen years later, Wendler has made almost 150 buildings. He kept 101 for his collection; the rest he made for other people.

Wendler researches each building before he begins, frequently creating the structure as it looked originally. Some of his replicas were constructed from photographs or old drawings of buildings that no longer stand.

In addition to the April reception, the public can meet Wendler at the Whitefield House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8 and July 13, and at a gallery talk at 2 p.m. Sept. 22.

The Whitefield House is open 1-4 p.m. daily, including Saturday and Sunday. There is an admission fee.

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