Each November, just in time for the gift-giving season, Rowe Fine Art Gallery proves the old adage that good things do, indeed, come in small packages. The gallery’s annual small works show, Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty!, features paintings that measure no more than twelve by twelve inches, tabletop-size sculptures and jewelry. Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts, your space is limited or you’re just beginning to collect art, there’s something for everyone at this show, which opens Friday, November 1, at 4 p.m.
“Rampart” 4”H x 8”W Original Oil Painting with Palette Knife by Artist Dane Chinnock
Almost all of the gallery’s artists will have works exhibited in Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty!. Dane Chinnock’s Rampart (4”H x 8”W) was inspired by his very first trip through Monument Valley. “There wasn’t a cloud in the sky,” Dane remembers. “Without any reference for a ceiling, the place seemed endless – I couldn't judge how big anything was.”
“Rim Beauty” 8”H x 6”W Original Oil on Panel by Artist Lynn Heil
“Gila Woodpecker” 4”H x 4”W Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas by Artist Kim Diment
Landscape painter Lynn Heil also chose to capture a grand vista on a small canvas with Rim Beauty (8”H x 6”W). “It features one of my favorite formations, Munds Mountain,” says Lynn. “I painted it en plein air in the late afternoon near the Schnebly Hill trailhead.”
On the opposite end of the grandness scale, Michigan native Kim Diment’s Gila Woodpecker (4”H x 4”W) captures one of Arizona’s smaller residents. “Here in Michigan, we have the northern flicker, and the Gila woodpecker is very similar to it,” says Kim. “They sing a similar song and whereas our species lives in holes they carve from trees, the Gila variety lives in holes they peck into the saguaro cactus. I find it amazing that a bird from my area has such a similar relative in Arizona.”
Sedona resident Jen Farnsworth’s Little Miss Mischief (5”H x 5”W) takes its inspiration from a new backyard visitor. “I am so lucky to be living here in Sedona where my own yard is paradise for wildlife,” says Jen. “Bobcats are one of the most mischievous and beautiful animals that frequent my yard. My painting for the November show features a brand new visitor who loves keeping a sharp eye on all the birds at my feeder.”
“Small Treasures #13” 12”H x 12”W Original Mixed Media Painting with Oil, Acrylic and Copper Leaf on Gallery Wrapped Canvas by Artist Gary Jenkins
Mixed-media artist Gary Jenkins specializes in large canvases (check out his work hanging in the gallery’s “tree room”), but for this exhibit, he showcases Small Treasures #13 (12”H x 12”W), which features prickly pear buds and a delicate hummingbird. Gary says the red blossoms complement the green cactus and make the painting pop. “The hummingbird you see approaching the flower is looking for lunch!” he explains.
Sculptor Kim Kori’s tabletop bronze, Luna (7.25”H x 5.75”W x 3”D), also has wings. “If there was ever an insect that was considered majestic, it’s the luna moth, also called the moon moth,” says Kim. “These huge green insects have a wingspan of up to seven inches, and they live only in North America. They are rarely seen by humans since their lifespan is only one week, and they are nocturnal. My sculpture is life-size with a bit of artistic license when it comes to the moth’s iridescent patina.”
“Luna” 7.25"H x 5.75"W x 3"D Highly Collectible Open Edition Bronze by Artist Kim Kori
Sculptures by Shirley Eichten Albrecht and Joshua Tobey take their names from a distinctly Sedona phenomenon. Shirley’s Sedona Vortex (8”H x 5”W x 5”D) represents the artist’s belief that creating should be joyful. “The terra cotta color with the wonderfully shaped gourd just made me think ‘vortex,’” says Shirley. “You have to have fun when doing your art.”
“Sedona Vortex” 8”H x 5”W x 5”D Original one-of-a-kind gourd sculpture by Artist Shirley Eichten Albrecht
And Joshua Tobey’s own Vortex (7.5”H x 9”W x 3”D) depicts a speedy hummingbird, spiraling up from earth. “My wife feeds hummingbirds in a big way all summer,” says Joshua. “As a sculptor and patina artist, I am always trying to find a unique way to sculpt a new subject and depict color. With thousands of birds around the house, the sound of them and the constant buzzing inspired me to sculpt them in flight and with the impression of a jet trail.”
“Little Bison” 1.5”H x 2.125”W x .625”D Highly Collectible Open Edition Bronze by Artist Ken Rowe
Gallery owner Ken Rowe takes one of the American West’s most majestic creatures and shrinks it down to fit in the palm of your hand. Little Bison (1.5”H x 2.5”W x .625”D) is the smallest piece Ken, who is known for his life-size bronzes, has ever sculpted. He describes it as a miniature sculpture with a big heart. It’s also the perfect entry point for art lovers just beginning their collections. “I love the challenge of creating monumental sculptures, but finessing something as small as Little Bison presents its own intricacies,” says Ken. “Technicalities aside, I wanted to craft something that was accessible to a wide range of people, whether they are shopping for a gift, downsizing their home, visiting Sedona without much room in their luggage to bring something home or dipping their toes into collecting art.”
Erik Petersen’s Spot (4”H x 3.5”W x 3.25”D) sculpture pays tribute to the spotted owl by giving the small creature a sleek, contemporary representation. The smooth contours of the bronze echo the soft curves of the owl’s body, capturing the essence of its gentle yet powerful spirit.
Erik’s father, Joel Petersen, takes on the humble chicken in his sculpture, Coop (5.5”H x 4.5”W x 2.5”D). “For many years, I raised chickens,” says Joel, “and my grandkids won tons of blue ribbons at the Yavapai County Fair. Coop was inspired by a rooster who won the Grand Champion award.”
If you have jewelry on your mind, don’t miss Liam Herbert’s sterling-silver Friendship Pendant. Like Ken, it’s the smallest piece Liam has ever created. “Some of my past sculptures have stood as tall as 22 feet,” says Liam. “When I decided to create wearable sculptures, I thought it would be fun to create my smallest sculpture, which is just one-inch tall. The miniature figures represent two friends embracing.”
And the gallery’s newest artist, Lesley Aine McKeown, will exhibit her wearable art featuring exotic gemstones. Lesley says her work is inspired by many things from architecture to nature to social structures. “ I am very interested in forms, so the perception of dimension and how to create it in jewelry are constant inspirations.”
Kyanite, Sterling and 22kt Gold Pendant Dimensions: 1.25" x 1.80" x .25" by Artist Lesley Aine McKeown
Come by the gallery during the opening of Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty! on November 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. and meet some of the artists behind these miniature masterpieces. The show continues the entire month, giving you plenty of time to get a jump start on holiday shopping.
Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877, and find us on Facebook and Instagram.