Fascinating Feel for Felt

Linda Santiman enjoys humming a happy tune whenever she's working on her art. And on Facebook, the Los Angeles-based fiber artist has something humming in harmony with her—a cute, new music video.

There, a purple '50s Cadillac constructed of felt fiber cruises past a charming village of miniature mid-century modern houses, also made of felt.

"When I made the video, I wanted it to have a song from that era, so I decided to hum 'It's a Good Day' by Peggy Lee," Santiman says. "The right music gives it more of a Palm Springs vibe, too."

Santiman was definitely celebrating "a good day" following the June 24 opening of 'Modville,' an art show collaboration featuring her felt creations and the photography of Deb Smith hosted by The Bag art gallery, part of Barbara Bestor's architecture office in Silver Lake.

"The opening was amazing!" says Santiman. "Over a hundred people came. Everyone was in a great mood, and people loved the combination of putting felt houses and the photography together."

The artistic collaboration offers a bit of education too. "You see Deb's beautiful photos of a house designed by [architect] Donald Wexler, and right beside it is my interpretation," Santiman says.

While not literal architectural models, Santiman's felt houses remain unique artistic interpretations. "When viewed side-by-side, the 2-D and the 3-D [versions] bring even more of an appreciation," she says. "People love the dynamics, and the whimsical houses seem to bring a joyfulness, a multi-media love of architecture."

Recalling the first time that she saw miniature holiday houses made of gingerbread depicted as modern architectural homes—of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater House, for example—she says, "I remember loving those before I ever made felt houses!"