440 Gallery Thinks Big With 11th Annual Small Works Show
Presidential candidate Donald Trump has been called a lot of things. Betcha no one has called him a carved mushroom yet.
Foraging for 2016, Donald Trump is Lauren Garfinkel’s metal photo print of a carved mushroom — one of 80 selections that are featured at 440 Gallery (440 6th Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets) as part of their 11th Annual Small Works Show which opened last night. The exhibition will be on until Sunday, January 10.
The show is juried by artist Amy Williams, a photographer who was part of the 440 collective of artists until October of this year, when her fascinating final exhibition Sanctuary completed its run.
“The community has been amazing. It has enabled me to take as many risks as I want here without a fear of failure,” said Williams when we interviewed her last month. “But I’m ready for the next steps on bringing my work elsewhere.”
Williams has come full circle — now an emeritus member who is the outside juror. She got to know 440 when she submitted to the Small Works Show in 2007. “I was working as a window dresser at Saks Fifth Avenue at the time,” says Williams. “Todd Erickson, who is a former 440 artist, told me about it.”
Over a two-month span, roughly 800 pieces were submitted for the show — which speaks to 440’s reputation. Submissions include painting, sculpture, photography, collage, assemblage, and mixed media — all under 12 inches.
440 co-founder Nancy Lunsford started the Small Works Show soon after the gallery formed its collective in 2005. “Back then, people brought their pieces in. But things have changed a lot,” says Lunsford. “The submission process is online now, and we like to have an outside juror come in for our shows.”
And with that comes a certain aesthetic that each juror brings that makes a particular show unique. “I have a bent towards abstraction, emotional work,” says Williams, when asked how she made selections from so many submissions. “I also like process. I’m interested in new ways of making art, and different mediums.”
Ultimately, artists will be selected for awards. Williams will be responsible for selecting three pieces for the “Juror’s Choice” award. The “440 Choice” will be decided by the gallery artists together.
And then there’s the “People’s Choice” – an award that anyone can vote for. Voting entails viewing the exhibition and then visiting 440’s Facebook page and assigning a Facebook like to your favorite artists. The most likes will receive the award. Artists will receive modest cash prizes and also be presented awards on Sunday, January 10 — the final day of the show.
The show provides a variety of opportunities for the viewer. In addition to being able to see such a diverse amount of work, the experience also comes from viewing these creations in relationship to one another.
“It’s a challenging project, hanging a show like this. There’s such a jambalaya of pieces,” says Lunsford.
With the holidays upon us, we should note that all works are for sale — and art makes a particularly wonderful gift. Prices range from $80-$2,500.
440 Gallery’s attention to and focus on so many artists speaks to the inclusiveness of the collective. In addition to the exciting exhibitions that happen there consistently, it’s a generous group that champions artists from around the country.
The Exhibition Rundown: 11th Annual Small Works Show
Where: 440 Gallery (440 6th Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets)
When: Now through Sunday, January 10.
Phone: 718-499-3844
Hours: Thursdays and Fridays 4-7pm; Saturdays and Sundays 11am-7pm
Admission: Free, and all works are available for purchase. Prices range from $80-$2,500.
Vote for the “People’s Choice”: an award that anyone can vote for. Voting entails viewing the exhibition and then visiting 440’s Facebook page and assigning a Facebook like to your favorite artists.