Seeing is believing with Willard Wigan’s tiny creations – they’re so small they can easily fit on the head of a pin!
ORLANDO, Fla. (October 3, 2016) – Ripley’s Orlando Odditorium has opened a new gallery filled with creations so small they’re barely visible or even impossible to see with the naked eye.
This biker and his motorcycle sit on the head of a pin!
Wait … what?
The new gallery features a collection of very rare micro-sculptures – most are so tiny that they sit on the head of a pin or in the eye of a needle. But don’t worry, visitors really can see them; Ripley’s has magnified these miniscule marvels to reveal their incredible detail.
The micro-sculptures were created by renowned artist Willard Wigan. His work has been described by some as “the eighth wonder of the world.” Wigan uses homemade carving tools, including diamond shards, filed-down acupuncture needles, and his own eyelashes or hairs plucked from a fly to sculpt and paint his creations. To produce these tiny sculptures, he enters a meditative state and times his movements between heartbeats—even dust and static electricity can affect his work!
The gallery also features several interactive exhibits where people can try some of Wigan’s techniques. Visitors can see how many threads they can put through the eye of a needle, try and slow their heart rate down and even take a photo of themselves inside the eye of a needle.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! owns the largest collection of Willard Wigan sculptures in the world; this is the first time that any of the micro-sculptures have been on permanent display in Orlando.
This fully furnished house sits in the eye of a needle.
“In my 38 years of acquiring items for Ripley’s Odditoriums around the world, I have never seen anything more unbelievable than Willard’s sculptures,” said Edward Meyer, Ripley’s VP of Exhibits and Archives. “They will take your breath away!”
To view some of the Wigan sculptures that are on display at Ripley’s Orlando, visit this Dropbox.
To learn more about how – and why – Wigan creates such tiny sculptures, watch his TED talk.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando is conveniently located at 8201 International Drive, and is open daily from 9:00 am to midnight (last entry nightly at 11:00 pm). For more information, please visit www.ripleys.com/orlando or call 407-345-0501.
Media contact
Edward Meyer
VP, Exhibits & Archives
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
407-345-8010 office
407-492-8256 cell
meyer@ripleys.com
Frank Wolff
407-339-0879 office
407-637-6000 cell
Frank@wellonscommunications.com
