Renaissance Gallery presents annual National Miniature Exhibition

HUNTINGTON -- Shrink it, and they will come.

The Renaissance Art Gallery has attracted art no bigger than a postcard from as far away as Iran for its eighth annual National Miniature Exhibition.

A free reception for the show takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Renaissance Art Gallery, located at 900 8th St., Suite 20, on the first floor of the old Huntington High School.

Up through Nov. 30, the exhibit features art no larger than four-inches-by-six-inches in just about every medium from wood carvings to Batik and Persian ink drawings.

Susan Tschantz, who has art in the show, said there's a good representation of local artists such as Bruce and Lillianne Bowersock, Kumkum Majumdar, Laura Moul, Barb Delligatti, Fern Christian and Linda Helgason, as well as artists from Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Georgia and Texas.

There are 27 artists in all who have submitted art that can literally fit in the palm of your hand.

Tschantz said there's a great blend of artists from first-time exhibitors to nationally known artists who specialize in miniatures, which refers first to technique, then size.

The term "miniature" in fact comes from the French minimum that refers not to the size, but to the red-lead ink used in illuminations of hand-copied manuscripts.

The first miniatures were intimate and personal portraits painted on velum or paper and adhered to playing cards.

Tschantz said miniatures have an exciting history since they brought art from out of the political and religious circles and made it personal and intimate.

"Anyone who has a brooch with a picture inside it has a miniature," Tschantz said. "They really were the first political buttons and there's a very long tradition to it."

Tschantz said she believes that size does matter in getting such a great response to artists wanting to be in the show.

"Miniatures is something that people can still afford to send out," Tschantz said. "Shipping has been horrible, especially for large watercolors with glass. Cost can be prohibitive. We find this is a show people can still afford to do, and the artwork is much more affordable. Miniatures are a great way to start collecting art. You can have a whole collection in the space you would put one piece."

Tschantz said most of the works are for sale, some as low as $25.

Regular hours for the gallery are: noon to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1-30.

For more information, call 304-525-3235 or visit www.orgsites.com/wv/renaissance.

The Herald-Dispatch

This miniature by Fern Christian of Huntington is one of several works of art that will be displayed in the 8th annual National Miniature Show Exhibition at the Renaissance Art Gallery in Huntington.