I’m honoured to be featured in the Toronto Star (October 19, 2025, page 15) in a very readable full-page article titled “Big Ideas, Tiny Worlds.” The piece captures the spirit of my lightbox project, a small glowing space outside my home where miniature dioramas explore large and interrelated themes, encouraging us to consider how we are handling our earth and our lives within it, and what changes we might make to improve both.
Each diorama presents itself as a playful and fun experiment, becoming something deeper as the viewer pauses to reflect. I love that these tiny worlds invite my neighbours to pause, smile, and sometimes talk with me and among themselves about the bigger picture we all share.
If you subscribe to The Toronto Star, please open page 15 of the October 19, 2025, issue. Otherwise, download the article using the arrow or button below and read it in full.
Article Summary: Toronto artist Martha Davis transforms her front yard in the Annex into a public art space through handmade dioramas displayed in a glowing lightbox. Using miniature figurines and playful colour, she explores serious themes such as climate change, housing, and food security with humour and empathy. What began during the pandemic as a whimsical display of toy pandas evolved into a community project and short film, Pandaland. Davis now creates, photographs, and dismantles each diorama to reuse materials, inviting reflection on social issues while reducing waste. Her work has led to art exhibits, children’s presentations, and pay-what-you-can workshops that encourage others to express big ideas through small scenes. Beyond the art, Davis’ lightbox fosters connection — neighbours stop to chat, celebrate milestones, and share in her vision that “courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”
GREEN SCREEN QUEEN 