Good Taste / September 2006
To Show and See
Art in miniature is small in proportion but big on detail. The Renaissance Art Gallery of Huntington, WV will host their Sixth Annual National Miniature exhibition in November. Local artists are invited to join miniaturists from across the country in an exhibition that will feature a variety of scales, subjects and mediums. The exhibition is open to all artists in North America, 18 years and older. All media, including oil panting, water color and sculpture, and all submitted work meeting the requirements for size and content will be accepted and displayed throughout November at the Renaissance Art Gallery.
An awards reception for the general public will be held Sunday, November 5, 2006 from 2-4 pm.
Historically, miniature painting described technique more than size. The work is tedious, delicate and captivating under close scrutiny. The painstaking techniques should be evident viewing the artwork, even under magnification. The contemporary revival in miniature tends to include size in the general description of the work.
An affordable, collectible art form today, art in miniature is a tradition that has been practiced for hundreds of years in Persia, Turkey and other far Eastern countries and across Europe. The earliest examples in the Western world are found in the illuminated capital letters of ancient church manuscripts, often painted with pure gold leaf, as tiny pictures showing scenes of medieval life, Bible scenes or portraits of saints and angels. After the invention of the printing press, illuminators turned their hand to painting exquisite miniature portraits for rich merchants and royalty. The jewel-like works of art were small enough to be held in the palm of the hand and carried like wallet pictures today. By the 1500’s, miniature paintings were the rage and by the 1700’s, had become a highly popular form of portraiture in the colonies. By the 1800’s, American whalers had devised their own special brand of miniature sculpture in what is called scrimshaw, intricate carving of whale bone.
The introduction of photography in the middle of the 19th century was a blow to miniature artists but they survived, often incorporating the new tool into their work. Digital and home printing are the latest challenge to the art form, but miniatures are affordable, portable and unique, making them attractive to contemporary collectors.
Miniature artists tend to follow a 1/6th scale with image areas under 15 square inches. Most of the tiny paintings are shown in delicate frames matching the proportions of the artwork. The framed artwork or sculpture should fit in an open hand.
The Sixth Annual National Miniature exhibition will present an award of excellence for the piece that most represents the art form, merit awards and honorable mentions as well as purchase awards and other prizes.
Any person or business interested in promoting the arts in West Virginia is invited to participate, as a viewer, a buyer, a sponsor or with other support.
With submissions from across the US, the exhibition will be an opportunity to see and acquire original, personal art by the best artists in the field.
For a prospectus, send SASE to: the Renaissance Gallery, 900 8th Street, Huntington, WV 25701 or e-mail gallerywv@yahoo.com or stschantz@charter.net. For more information, call 304- 525-3235 or 304- 453-3187.
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