Small Works, Miniatures, and Maquettes Exhibition in Davis

Davis, CA (PRWEB) June 18, 2009

Artists young and old will come together at the John Natsoulas Gallery for the first annual Small Works exhibition. This juried collection represents some of the preeminent small works of today. It is an opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their work among international greats like Richard Notkin. This collection represents the diversity of miniatures as a whole, featuring internationally acclaimed artists such as Camille Claudel shown currently at the Louvre and Robert Arneson.

Maquettes, formerly a way to visualize or model large-scale productions, are now peaking in popularity. Akin to a painter's oil sketch, these small works are being collected with the same voracity as their more cumbersome counterparts. Some museums specialize in collections of maquettes, such as Italy's Museo dei Bozzetti, the American Museum of the Miniature Arts, and even the Smithsonian.
Miniature paintings have been made for over 1,000 years, as their lineage can be traced to the early illuminated manuscripts meticulously drawn by Eastern and European scribes. It is a specialized art that's on a small scale and based on the techniques handed down from the book paintings and illuminations from as far back as the 8th century. Some techniques such as stippling, hatching, and pointillism are usually only discovered under magnification. Miniature art sometimes amazes the spectator's belief as to what is possible in such a small space.

There is huge appeal to an artistic format that forces a sense of intimacy upon its audience. One must lean in, draw closer, study and interact with work of this size. A relationship is developed between the viewer and the art, as it enters both their physical and conceptual terrain. Larger art demands your attention by size alone. Miniature art asks quietly for you to draw near.

This affordable art showcase will be on display July 8 through August 23. An opening reception on July 11 will provide guests an opportunity to meet the artists.

One of the major roles of the John Natsoulas Gallery is to provide a place for cultural meetings, conferences, and public activities, which create a wonderful community dialogue through a variety of visual, literary and musical events.

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