Small art, big show at Tome Art Gallery

TOME — After a small interruption due to a microscopic virus, the Miniature Show at the Tomé Art Gallery is back and as tiny as ever.

The first mini show was in late spring 2019, and as COVID-19 washed across the world, the gallery temporarily shuttered. Now, show coordinator Pati Woodard is in her element, reveling in the creation of tiny, fun stuff.

She and 14 other artists will fill the gallery with miniature paintings, pottery, dioramas, jewelry and more for this year’s show. The idea for the initial show three years ago was Woodard’s, who says she’s always “thought tiny. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve collected miniature things. I’ve always loved tiny things and my motto has always been to make ‘fun stuff.’”

Much of Woodard’s “regular” work, such as her jewelry can be defined as “fun stuff,” and much of it has a miniature aspect to it — necklaces adorned with epoxy encased postage stamps, charm bracelets jangling with tiny pencils and books, bottle cap earrings with Frida Kahlo portraits.

“It’s really impressive to see other artists take their work and see how they make it small,” Woodard said.

One such artist, Monica Kemsley, has reduced her mixed media collages to about 3-inches square as opposed to her usual 12-inches by 12-inches or larger. When working at a “regular” size, Kemsley said it’s all about working small details into the space.

“When you’re doing small pieces all the small details are small details,” she said, laughing.

“You have to think little,” Woodard said.

Growing up in Chicago, Woodard remembers visiting Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle — displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry. Dubbed “the original tiny house,” the display features a miniature dream house built by silent era movie star Colleen Moore.

“There’s just something about tiny things,” she said. “I have pieces my grandmother collected and gave to me. It’s has always intrigued me.”

While Kemsley said making tiny pieces was quicker than regular sized pieces, alcohol ink artist Jen Godbout said even on a smaller scale, her paintings take the same amount of time for her.

Dropping the inks on a nonporous and “waiting to see what they do” has been an exercise in patience, Godbout says, but it’s getting easier.

Her finished works are typically fairly abstract, Godbout said, and reducing them in size makes them completely abstract.

“Sometimes it’s hard to tell what they’re supposed to be,” she said.

Long-time gallery artist Joyce Johns is displaying her mini watercolors, some of which are smaller than the change in your pocket. Her works are framed by Susan Dubiel, who was located inside the gallery before relocating to a stand-alone shop in Belen.

“When I had my shop in Montana, someone once asked me if I could paint something as small as a stamp. So I said, ‘Let’s see,’” said Johns of her introduction to the world of miniature art. “Susan framed these, and they even have hangers on the back, which just adds to the cuteness.”

A group of artists meets weekly on Johns’ patio and they all look forward to what Woodard will have to show them.

“Every week, it’s ‘what is Pati going to bring?’,” Johns said with a chuckle.

Godbout said since making pieces for the show, she now has an array of supplies at home just to create miniature artwork.

“This has sparked something, inspired me to make small things,” she said. “It’s nice to think outside the box.”

The show will run through Sunday, July 9, at Tomé Art Gallery, 2930 N.M. 47, which is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.