Dioramas & Figurines
Herm Hoops, an avid river runner, also collects and creates dioramas and figurines. Herm Hoops' father and grandfather instilled this interest in him when he was a child. While playing war games, Herm would make strategic moves using the military figures. This led to an interest in the military and world history.
"One of the great things my dad gave me by sharing his collections, was that they weren't just toys, but a window into world history."
For each figure he creates, he writes their history. He says that some of his works he is most proud of creating rival any fine commercial figures. For a short time, Herm would make figures for sale but said that soon became repetitive and dull. His primary audience? Himself.
For Herm, the most important part is the connection between figures. It also helps him understand war and its human impact. It's given him a "great appreciation for dialogue, compromise and [desire to] avoid that kind of conflict.”
Diorama: A model using 3D objects that shows a situation, such as a historical event or animals in their natural environment, in a way that looks real.