World's Greatest Miniature Master Builder Special

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Bob

By Bob Gordon

Nov 20, 2009 in Arts

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By Bob Gordon.

When it is completed next month “Toothpick City II: Temples and Towers” will be a collection of more than 20 famous religious buildings and tall towers from around the world constructed of toothpicks on a 20-foot diameter circular platform.

By day Stan Munro, 39, works at the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse, NY. But when he lets his hair down after work he cuts loose as Stan Munro, Master Builder. “Toothpick City II: Temples and Towers” is his current project.

Made with only toothpicks and Elmer’s Glue, Toothpick City II will be the largest toothpick structure in the world with almost four million toothpicks used when completed. The centerpiece of the exhibit, the Burj Dubai tower, will stand almost 16 feet tall, on a two-foot platform. Other buildings will include the Grand Mosque in Mecca, the Vatican, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and Notre Dame in Paris. There will be almost 50 buildings in total. All of the architectural models are constructed to 1:164 scale.

Munro has been working on Toothpick City II for approximately four years and will continue to construct the collection (which will total 50 structures and will break the world’s record for the largest toothpick structure) all while on exhibit at the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse, NY with a completion date of December 2009.

Munro recently took time out of his busy building schedule to answer a few questions via e-mail. It will quickly become apparent that the only thing Munro possesses in larger quantities than patience is a sense of humor.

DJ: How does one go from the Fashion Institute of Technology to the Museum of Science and Technology to toothpicks?

How does anyone go from one thing to another? Life is an interesting journey. I'm just enjoying the ride. I went to school for Marketing & Communications, traveled the country as a freelance writer for True Detective magazine, worked in hospital public relations in Atlanta, graphics in Seattle, became the wacky morning reporter in Rochester, NY, and now I glue toothpicks together in Syracuse, NY. It makes perfect sense to me...

www.toothpickcity.com

Stan Munro puts the final touches on Angor Wat, one of twenty religious structures modeled in Toothpick City II: Temples and Towers

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DJ: What was your first toothpick project? At what age?

When I was 10 years old, my art teacher told us to build a 6-inch tower out of toothpicks that could hold the weight of an egg... mine could support my desk. I got attention from girls for the first time... the rest is history.

DJ: What is next on the agenda, Toothpick City III or something else?

Why not Toothpick World? Just because something hasn't been done before doesn't mean it "can't" be done. But I still honestly don't know what's next.

www.toothpickcity.com

The 'Tall Ships' arrive in the harbor of Toothpick City II: Temples and Towers.

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DJ: What do your family and friends think of this hobby?

I've been gluing toothpicks together for almost 30 years. No one's surprised. It's not even the craziest thing I've ever done. And, no, I'm not going to tell you the craziest thing.

DJ: What pleasure do you derive from these projects that gives you the commitment to spend thousands of hours on Toothpick Cities?

Well, first-of-all, if you've never created anything, you'll never understand. But to make something out of... essentially nothing... is quite an incredible feeling. When you're done, you get to look at it and just say, "wow, I did that". It's pretty cool. And if other people like to look at what you did, well, that's the icing on the cake (covered with more frosting and little sprinkles).