For three days the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives will be transformed into an 18th century battlefield, albeit a miniature version.
Using toy soldiers, J. Chris Dunlop, who’s better known around Jasper by his nickname: Z.O., will transform the museum’s entire basement meeting room, which is about 1,000 square feet, into a battlefield.
Z.O.'s models are incredibly detailed, composed of individually painted model soldiers and hand-built replica tanks, which are arranged in trenches, grasslands and muddy battlefields.
“I’m sure many people have heard about Z.O.’s toy soldiers. This will be a chance for everyone to see what all the talk’s been about. We’re excited to have this unique event at the museum,” said Carla Slover, the museum's exhibits designer and coordinator.
The exhibit opens on Oct. 27 and runs until Oct. 29. Z.O will be at the museum each day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., outside the museum's regular winter hours, to display his work.
For those who can't make it, he will also be setting up another exhibit for Remembrance Day, depicting battle scenes from both the first and second world wars. For that exhibit, the museum will be open from Nov. 10 to Nov. 13 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Last year the museum showcased five dioramas made by Z.O. depicting battles from the First World War.
“Those will be out again as part of the World War One section, but it will be fully embellished with many more soldiers covering the floor,” said Slover, explaining it will likely take Z.O. a day to set everything up.
Admission on Remembrance Day is free, otherwise it's $6 for adults, $5 for kids and seniors and $13 for a family.
The museum's regular Tuesday morning coffee and history hour will also include these two exhibits.
“Z.O. has never set up on this large a scale so I think there's going to be lots of interest and anticipation about how all of this is going to come together and what it will look like,” said Slover.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
