New Mini New Yorks

You first heard of Randy Hage's incredible New York City miniatures on this blog back in 2010 when I introduced him with an interview on his work. Since then, Randy has kept up the pace, shrinking Yonah Schimmel, Mars Bar, and many other vanished, vanishing, and hopefully never vanishing icons of the New York City streetscape.

Now he's giving us an exclusive first look at his latest creations.



In meticulous three-dimensional miniature, the shuttered Pearl Paint appears in sunlight on Canal Street. Closed in 2014, it still sits empty, covered in graffiti, another example of the city's ever-growing high-rent blight.



Randy opted to re-create the Lenox Lounge after it had been forced to close in 2012, but before it was stripped of all its gorgeous neon and exterior design elements. Here it stands, still intact, only a lot smaller -- 1/12th the size of the original.



From the grave rises CBGB's, before it was evicted and replaced by the John Varvatos boutique. Look closely--those windows are full of Lilliputian merchandise and nearly microscopic concert flyers.



Here's the Stage Restaurant, sadly shuttered as it remains today, in the East Village. We're hopeful that this local favorite will one day reopen. As far as we know, they're still fighting the eviction from their new landlord, Icon Realty.



Randy has also recreated two long-time survivors, McSorley's and Katz's. The level of close detail, as usual, is stunning.





All of these artworks will be in Randy's upcoming show, "Facade," at the Flower Pepper Gallery in Pasadena, California. The show runs from October 10 through November 18.

To see more of Randy's storefront sculptures, visit his website and his Flickr page.