Brooke
https://www.bradshawfoundation.com/sculpture/willendorf.php
Hello! I'm Brooke, an intern here at CAL! One of my favorite tasks is writing about the art that speaks to me. The current main gallery show, Tiny Things, is a goldmine for writing topics. Today, I want to talk about trinkets, knick-knacks, and whatnots. I love small, portable objects that you can carry with you. Do you feel drawn to portable art the way I do?
When I think of portable art, I think of the Venus of Willendorf. This Paleolithic trinket is a perfect example of the importance of what we choose to carry with us. The statue is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and is one of the first examples of sculptural art in human history. I imagine the person who carved this token, carefully choosing each detail, then squeezing the cool stone tightly in their hand when it was complete.
In the Tiny Things show, each artist gives us a glimpse into what they choose to carry with them. For example, Mallory Bartels uses soapstone in Baby Named Chachki to convey the delicate intimacy of sculpture. The piece is just slightly smaller than the Venus of Willendorf. Like the Venus, features of Bartels’ figure are exaggerated—the eyes, the ears, and the body, curled up as if trying to make itself smaller. The almost translucent quality of the stone makes this statue feel ethereal, like a charm or a special object. Something to be held on to, something to be touched.
Another piece that highlights the quiet intimacy of small objects is Mom’s Button Tin, a gouache painting by Sarah Hackman. This quirky painting captures the colorful, eclectic nature of any button collection. The heavy ink contrasts with the organic feel of the paint, emphasizing the haphazard nature of collecting trinkets. After all, what is more collectible than buttons?
The last piece I want to examine is an acrylic painting by Vivian Ferral. This grayscale piece is a deeply emotional dissection of closeness and the human form. Two infants are pressed so close together that there is no negative space between them. Their skin overlaps in a way that makes it unclear where one figure starts and the other ends. No other piece in the gallery invokes such a physical reaction from me. It’s both comforting and jarring, intimate and clinical. This raw expression pulls a thread that connects many of the works in the Tiny Things show.
As you visit the gallery, you can’t help but lean in, squint, or put on your glasses to better see the delicate offerings the artists have created. As you walk through Tiny Things, think about what you might carry with you out of the show. Just as the Paleolithic person carried the Venus of Willendorf, you might leave CAL carrying love, grief, passion, anger, or peace. I invite you to explore what the trinkets of the world might offer you. I think you'll find there's a lot to discover
Amanda
Hi! I’m Amanda, one of CAL’s current interns! I recently got to assist with the show change for the Tiny Things exhibition and it was amazing getting to look at each artwork up close and appreciate the work that went into their creation. The use of color and application of paint in Dandelions by Kira Rinehart instantly caught my attention with its impressionistic feel and certain softness. It reminds me of my childhood Summers spent looking for a good patch of grass to plant myself in, drawing me into the artwork even more.
Another piece that I keep coming back to is Flower Basket by Janet Elmore. This ceramic work is beautiful in its use of purples and floral elements, with the form keeping the eye circling repeatedly. The shine and texture of the form are also a great contrast to the natural elements it stores. This is a piece I would love to have in my own home and fill with flowers year-round.
The last piece I constantly visit is Timeless Petals by Shradha Birchmier. The fine-tip pen she used in this ink drawing helps add dimension through detailed linework, truly encapsulating the essence of “Tiny Things”. Her precision and delicacy in this piece remind me of timeless beauty and appreciating the small things in life.
