Manitou Galleries presents its annual Small Works Show beginning December 1, promising a “treasure trove for collectors, art lovers and gift givers alike.” This exciting display of small-scale artworks comes just in time for the holiday season, offering buyers an opportunity to purchase high-quality Western works at much lower prices.
John Meister, Under the Morada, oil, 16 x 8”
“The Small Works Show is a celebration of artistic diversity and innovation, featuring new work by our beloved gallery favorites,” says gallery associate director Cyndi Hall. “At Manitou Galleries, we firmly believe that small works hold immense value and significance. They possess an inherent charm and intimacy that captivates viewers, inviting them to engage with the artwork on a more personal level.”
The show features a variety of mediums and subject matter, such as the Western landscapes of Michael Baum, who feels that while small paintings are generally quick and spontaneous, “they are an ideal way to explore images and try new ideas or techniques,” he says. “More importantly, they preserve emotional content and energy that can be lost in large works. They challenge the artist to ‘say’ a lot in a small space. They are intimate expressions just between you and the artist. You’ve heard the expression ‘little gems.’ That’s it in a nutshell.”
Michael Baum, After Sundown, oil, 9 x 12”
For his 9-by-12-inch show piece After Sundown, he shares, “Living in Manitou Springs, [Colorado], seeing the sun set behind Pikes Peak is a daily experience—but this sunset was special. The twilight lighting up the edges of the clouds, the beautiful, glowing sky above a shadowed landscape is a feast for the soul as well as the eyes. It is inspiring but also reminds us that all things come to end. And it is universal. You can experience it when the sun sets behind the Jemez Mountains west of Santa Fe and in countless other places throughout the Southwest.”
Artist Paige Pierson notes that she has an affinity for smaller works. “I think it’s important to hone the skill of detail work, plus, I don’t create as big of a mess!” She says. “I like the idea of a new collector having an affordable option to buying original work.”
Paige Pierson, Wares and Thoroughfares, oil on canvas, 4 x 4”
Pierson’s small show piece titled Wares and Thoroughfares, measuring at a mere 4 by 4 inches, depicts Laughlin Peak in New Mexico, among other elements. “I’ve been thinking about the idea of trail systems for some time now, most likely because I travel these ancient roads daily,” Pierson explains. “The Camino Real and the Old Spanish Trail intersect just down the hill from my studio…I’m interested in the stories, the culture, the wares and the individuals who toiled on these routes…I am [also] fascinated with geology and the volcanoes here in New Mexico… Laughlin Peak is a Raton phase volcano in the Raton-Clayton volcanic field which erupted approximately nine million years ago. The Old Santa Fe Trail passes near there.”
Tom Perkinson, Rain Squall West of Santa Fe, pastel, 10 x 10”
For this small but mighty show painting, Pierson wanted to imagine someone leaving something behind, where the “wares” are a first phase Navajo chief’s blanket and a simple pot similar to those from Posi-Ouinge. “I want to imply that these wares could have been purchased, traded or stolen—true trail stories, not idealized or mythologized,” she says.
For the entire month of December, Manitou Galleries will showcase between 200 to 250 small beauties—offering a “little” something for everyone. An opening reception will take place December 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. —
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