In the Galleries: "Mini Masterpieces" at Gallery 12
"Mini masterpieces" is on view through July 31 in Downtown Wichita.
The only through-line of this annual juried show is size: All artworks are no larger than 144 square inches in total (equivalent to 12 by 12 inches square). This year’s “Mini Masterpieces” comprises 59 pieces by 31 local and regional artists working in mediums including painting, ceramics, photography, glass, and mixed-media. All works are on view through July 31 at Gallery 12, 412 E. Douglas Ave., and they are all for sale.
My visit to Gallery 12 on First Friday in July coincided with the administration of awards. Marie Bukowski, the dean of Wichita State’s College of Fine Arts, served as the juror of this year’s show. While announcing the winners, she talked about each prizewinning work. Following are excerpts from her remarks.
First place
“What distinguishes this piece is its ability to evoke narrative without closure — inviting the viewer to construct meaning from its carefully assembled fragments,” Bukowski said. “It is a work that rewards sustained looking, revealing new relationships and resonances over time. It is a piece of originality, poetic vision, and masterful handling of collage.”
Second place
“What distinguishes this work is its ability to evoke not just a place, but a moment — the gentle unfolding of the season, suspended in time,” Bukowski said. “There is an understated elegance in its simplicity, inviting contemplation and a renewed attention to the subtle beauty of the natural world.”
Third Place
Sam Neef, “Glass of Water Per Image,” mixed media, 11.5 by 7 by 7 inches
“The piece evokes a sense of refuge and quiet narrative,” Bukowski said, “as if capturing a hidden place just beyond the visible world through its imaginative construction, skillful use of mixed-media, and its ability to transform a compact format into an immersive environment.”
Works by Kristine Luber, Christine Curry, and Cheryl Matthews received honorable mentions.
There’s one award left: Visitors to the gallery can vote for the people’s choice award. The winner will be announced during a closing reception from 6-9 p.m. July 31.
You can view “Mini Materpieces,” along with other works on view at Gallery 12, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and noon-6 p.m. Fridays. — Emily Christensen
Support Kansas arts writing
The SHOUT is a Wichita-based independent newsroom focused on artists living and working in Kansas. We're partly supported by the generosity of our readers, and every dollar we receive goes directly into the pocket of a contributing writer, editor, or photographer. Click here to support our work with a tax-deductible donation.
