Small Works Show

2026

Jul 19

About

Artwork does not have to be large to be "mighty"! Emotions, insight, and beauty can come through no matter the size, as the pieces in this show prove.

Juror’s Show Statement

As a young painter in graduate school, I vividly recall how the size of one’s canvas seemed to determine the perceived weight and significance of the work. The larger the canvas, the more important the message—or so it appeared. I, too, embraced large-scale painting, relishing both the physicality of working expansively and the commanding presence such works demanded of a viewer.

With time and experience, however, I have come to understand that impact is not measured in square feet. Small works can possess an equally powerful presence, drawing viewers in rather than overwhelming them, inviting intimacy rather than spectacle.

In selecting work for this exhibition, I sought pieces that embody this quiet authority—works that reward close looking and reveal their depth through detail, nuance, and restraint. These small-scale creations challenge the assumption that size equates to importance. Instead, they celebrate subtlety, precision, and the profound connections that can emerge within modest dimensions.

I hope that this exhibition illuminates the power of scale and demonstrates that even the smallest works can carry immense meaning and leave a lasting impression.

– Melissa Eddings-Mancuso

Award Winners

Best of Show

“BAMBOO FOREST, KYOTO JAPAN”

LAURA BARNHARDT CORLE

“What distinguishes this work is its ability to transform intimacy into presence. This small watercolor commands attention through restraint, control, and quiet intensity. Through layered washes and a confident vertical rhythm, the artist creates a forest that feels immersive and atmospheric. Subtle shifts in value and tone invite close looking and reward it with depth, nuance, and technical precision. For its mastery of medium and its powerful sense of space within a modest scale, this work is awarded Best of Show.”

First Place

“LOVERS’ EYES”

RAY WALLEN

“The scale of this piece demands closeness. Each eye is rendered with sensitivity and precision, capturing subtle shifts in color, light, and emotion. Encased and worn near the heart, the pendants become tokens of connection—simultaneously protective, declarative, and quietly vulnerable. For its originality, technical skill, and thoughtful fusion of historical reference with contemporary expression, this work is awarded First Place.”

Second Place

“8/24/24”

ELANA MARALDO

“This encaustic landscape earns its place through quiet restraint. A glowing dusk sky with the luminous translucency only wax can achieve. The ordinary subject becomes unexpectedly poetic. In a small format, the artist creates genuine expansiveness, and the layered encaustic surface holds light in a way that lingers.”

Third Place

“4 QUARTZ TO THE GALLON” BROOCH

TOM MUIR

“This piece delights in its own cleverness without sacrificing craft. The artist has rendered a mundane object, transforming it into something both playful and precise. The incorporation of quartz crystals adds a winking material pun that rewards the attentive viewer. Technically accomplished and genuinely witty, this piece demonstrates that jewelry and small-scale sculpture can carry big ideas.”