Holiday Miniatures

By Courtney Carpenter

ARIZONA
The galleries in Scottsdale in conjunction with the Scottsdale Arts District (www.scottsdalegalleries.com) are working together to host Small Works events on the evening of December 3. More than 30 galleries are participating and showcasing traditional, contemporary, and abstract paintings as well as Native American pottery, glasswork, and jewelry. Scottsdale Fine Art gallery owner Beth Lauterbach is excited about the collaborative event. “Hosting our show openings on the same evening brings art lovers together for the unique opportunity to see the largest selection of small works in the state,” she says. Participating galleries include Bonner David Gallery, Duley-Jones Gallery, Legacy Gallery, Overland Gallery, Scottsdale Fine Art, Trailside Galleries, and Willow Gallery.

In Sedona, El Prado by the Creek Gallery (928.282.7390, www.elpradogalleries.com) hosts its annual Small Treasures show December 4-24. The show features miniatures by gallery artists including Rosie Sandifer, Kate Starling, Sue Hollis, and Sally Kimp. Mountain Trails Gallery (928.282.3225, www.mountain trails.com) hosts a small works and jewelry show December 3-17 featuring paintings, sculpture, and Native American jewelry by Susan Kliewer, Ken Rowe, Ed Yazzie, and Thomas Carusetta, among others.

NEW MEXICO
A slew of galleries on Canyon Road in Santa Fe host small works shows to celebrate the holiday season. Waxlander Gallery and Sculpture Garden (505.984.2202, www.waxlander.com) hosts a holiday group show from November 16 through January 4. The show, titled It’s A Wonderful Life, features small works by gallery artists. An artists’ reception is held on Friday, November 27. The Gallery at 822 (505.989.1700, www.gallery822.com) presents a holiday miniature group show beginning Saturday, November 28. Miniature works from Joshua Tobey, Amy Ringholz, K. Henderson, Sandy Keller, and others are on display. Giacobbe-Fritz Fine Art (505.986.1156, www.giacobbefritz.com) showcases 11-by-11-inch paintings created by 11 artists beginning December 11. And in downtown Santa Fe, Manitou Galleries (800.283.0440, www.manitougalleries.com) hosts a holiday miniatures show December 4-17, featuring works by gallery artists.

ROCKY MOUNTAINS
Saks Galleries (303.333.4144, www.saksgalleries.com) in Denver, CO, hosts its inaugural holiday miniature show, Small Gems, December 11-31. The show features 53 artists including Suchitra Bhosle, Robert Daughters, Walt Gonske (at right), William Hook, Laura Robb, and Burton Silverman. All works in the show are 11 by 14 inches or smaller.

Abend Gallery (303.355.0950, www.abendgallery.com) in Denver presents its 19th annual holiday miniatures show December 4-31. The show features over 55 artists. An opening reception is held on Friday, December 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. Also in Denver, Gallery 1261 (303.571.1261, www.gallery1261.com) spotlights small works from December 11 through January 9; an opening reception is held on Friday, December 11, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Home for the Holidays, a miniature show hosted by Trailside Galleries (307.733.3186, www.trailsidegalleries.com) in Jackson Hole, WY, runs December 1-31 and features miniature works by more than 35 artists. Mountain Trails Gallery, also in Jackson Hole (307.734.8150, www.mtntrails.net), hosts a holiday miniatures show December 1-24 with an artists’ reception on Thursday, December 17, from 4 to 7 p.m.

ELSEWHERE
Whistle Pik Galleries
(800.999.0820, www.whistlepik.com) in Fredericksburg, TX, celebrates the holidays with its annual Christmas miniature show from November 23 through December 31. The show features paintings no bigger than 9 by 12 inches in a variety of subject matter by more than 85 artists.

In Kirkland, WA, Howard/Mandville Gallery (425.889.8212, www.howardmandville.com) presents its 19th annual small works show. More than 100 artists are participating including Bruce Cheever (at right), Diane Ainsworth, Deborah Bays, Will Bullas, and Fred Calleri. An opening reception and sale is held on Saturday, November 14, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

The Gilcrease Museum (918.596.2700, www.gilcrease.org) in Tulsa, OK, presents its annual American Art in Miniature exhibition and sale through November 8. The official reception and sale is on Thursday, November 5, with the auction from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibition features works by 180 artists.

Featured in November 2009