Playmakers Repertory Company (Feb24) / by Jackie Sanders

“What Do We Have Here?: An Investigation of the Creative Process”

February 2024 Exhibition | Chapel Hill, NC at Playmakers Repertory Company


Our traveling location is on the go this month as we have a pop up location at the Playmakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, NC. On display alongside their current show, Murder on the Orient Express, our Microgallery exhibition plays on the history of Nutshell Murder diaramas that were created by by Frances Glessner Lee (1878−1962) as the intersection between craft and forensic science.

Her dollhouse-sized dioramas of exquisitely detailed miniature crime scenes were created in the first half of the 20th century and are still used in forensic training today! At the time forensics was in its infancy and there was very little training for investigators, meaning that they often overlooked or mishandled key evidence, or irrevocably tampered with crime scenes.

Each aspect of the dioramas, including the positioning of tiny bullet holes, the arrangement of latches on windows, the patterns of blood splatters, and the subtle hues of meticulously painted miniature corpses, tests the observation and deduction skills of trainees.


Putting our own spin on these historically curated dioramas, this month’s microgallery exhibition is not an investivation of a crime scene, but rather, an investigation of the creative process!

From paint scraps and color swatches to reference photos, sketches, and quotes, the creative process can be a simple yet complex world. Luckily, our team was able to recruit a top notch investigator and an inquisitive artist to help us with this month’s investigation.

What do you think of this colorful creative world? Our team is up for the case!


Thank You To Our Amazing Team!

Our team worked tirelessly and reached new heights to bring this show together and we are extra thankful for their help! Smiles never left their little faces which is the positive energy that we love to see at the Jackie Sanders Micro Gallery!


Exhibition Images: