Exhibit | Away in a Manger: The Creation of Nativity Scenes

Exhibition open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm with free parking and admission EXCEPT Friday, April 18 (Good Friday); Saturday, April 19 (Holy Saturday); Sunday, April 20 (Easter); Saturday, June 7; Friday, July 4 (Independence Day); Thurday, November 27 (Thanksgiving); Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve); and Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day).

Many crèches, the three-dimensional representation of the Nativity scene, feature a diversity of settings and stable designs — the most common of which is an open-front wood structure. However, many artisans model their crèches after buildings and landscapes that are native to their homelands.

This exhibit includes a variety of crèches that showcase different examples of stables and mangers. In addition, it also highlights a handful of works whose settings have been customized for the figures they contain. One of these is the Neapolitan, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, by Cantone and Costabile of Naples, Italy. In addition, a brand-new crèche will be featured in this exhibit: The Nativity at New Haven's St. Mary’s Church, designed by US-based Navidad Nativities, Inc., with figures made in Italy by Original Heide.