Small Works at The Collaborative in Warren Continues Through January 18

Who says bigger is better? Certainly not the artists participating in this year’s Small Works! A Community Group Exhibit at The Collaborative in Warren. On display through January 18, the show boasts 160 works by 56 different local artists. What’s unique about them? For starters, all pieces are under eight inches.

“It’s sometimes intimidating for artists to create and display one or two large pieces,” explains Sandy MacDonald, a Providence-based artist, decorative painter, and muralist who serves as the gallery coordinator, and has been with the nonprofit since its founding in 2016. “This show gives the opportunity to show off up to four smaller works.”

The non-juried show accepts two-dimensional artworks of all mediums and non-functional three-dimensional artwork in sculpture, ceramics, and metal. All work must be original, submission fees start at $10, and 100 percent of the sales goes to the artist, plus, in Rhode Island, there is no sales tax on original art.

The exhibit often serves as a stepping stone for artists, many having their work on gallery walls for the first time ever. “It’s exciting but a bit intimidating for some who have finally reached a point where they’re ready to have their art featured,” MacDonald explains of first-time exhibitors. She shares that many of the show’s contributors work full-time in other fields but have a strong desire to create; they love the process itself and don’t necessarily expect to become household names. Additionally, the exhibit provides a venue for artists with growing fanbases returning for the show’s third year.

“The Collaborative gives artists a chance to be in a community where we can encourage each other without being competitive,” says participating artist Adèle Saint-Pierre. A Franco-American artist who works in watercolors and colored pencils, Saint-Pierre loves to watch people respond to her work, which often has a humorous tone. “People always tell me that my pieces made them laugh, which is so important as so many of us are looking for something to lift our spirits.”

Analogous to Small Works, MacDonald is especially excited about the Youth Artist of the Month, which gives one young person the chance to display their work in a real gallery setting. “It’s so wonderful to give someone discovering their own talents the opportunity to present their pieces and be seen by others.” The Collaborative also hosts workshops and single-day make-and-take classes, offered at sliding scale fees, and they welcome new instructors. There is also The Collaborative Lab for Creative Experimentation (AKA The Lab) nearby at 508 Main Street.

Sizing up the five walls filled with colorful small squares of art, MacDonald says, “Not everyone has room on their walls to hang a large piece of art, so these smaller works are the perfect solution.” Learn more at TheCollaborative02885.org.