Bits + Pieces: Contemporary Art on a Small Scale explores the cultural phenomenon of miniature things. 

About

From teacup dogs and ships in a bottle, to tiny dinner tables set with a feast, fascination with pint-sized items has endured the test of time. The featured artists work in micro and small-scale, creating intricate paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and installations in direct opposition to their standard-sized counterparts.

The popularity of miniatures has grown exponentially, with hundreds of groups and societies dedicated solely to creating tiny works of art. While subject matter varies widely, there are a set of rules that generally define what is and isn’t miniature. An accepted guideline among many of today’s miniaturists is that subjects do not exceed one-sixth their natural size. Some exceptions are permitted if the abstractions embrace the delicate essence and spirit of miniaturism.

The 16 participating artists are dedicated to pulling the viewer in, offering an opportunity to be up close and personal with the work, an uncommon experience since viewing art in its entirety is often done from a distance. Each artist has painstakingly rendered special objects and ideas with exquisite detail that requires close inspection to fully understand and appreciate the deft skill applied.

With a focus on minute, precise details, Bits + Pieces celebrates the quirky anomaly that permeates our world. Bits + Pieces will be on view September 30 through December 17, 2023, with special extended hours for the opening reception on September 30.

Artwork Credits

1. Bits + Pieces: Contemporary Art on a Small Scale opening reception. Photo courtesy of Gina DeMarco, Ben Krantz Studio.
2. Deborah Benioff Friedman, Tom's Thumb, 2023, mixed media, 42 x 72 inches. Photo courtesy of Gina DeMarco, Ben Krantz Studio.
3. Virginia Filipova, The Country Mouse/ with newspaper and glasses, Oakley/ with green sweater and bag, Samuel Mouserman/ with book, 2023, wool, 8 x 1.5 inches each. Photo courtesy of Gina DeMarco, Ben Krantz Studio.
4. Andrea Fábrega, 30 Miniature Pots, 1991-2007, porcelain, varies within average under 1 inch. Photo courtesy of Gina DeMarco, Ben Krantz Studio.

Bits + Pieces Workshops

In addition to the exhibition Bits + Pieces: Contemporary Art on a Small Scale, Bedford Gallery will also offer workshops and programming led by exhibition artists that are open to the public:

1. Branch Weaving with Kaci Smith
   1 - 3 pm, Saturday, September 30
   Artist Kaci Smith will host an afternoon of branch weaving, where attendees will learn how to turn an ordinary branch into a loom and weave a vibrant, small-scale tapestry.
   
   
2. Cocktails & Conversation
   5:30 - 7 pm, Friday, October 20
   Join Bits + Pieces artists Tammie Knight and Shannon Taylor on a journey through their meticulous creative processes. Sip on a signature cocktail and enjoy lite bites provided by The Little Pear while appreciating the beauty and craftsmanship found in little treasures.
   
   
3. Build a Popup Gallery with Tammie Knight
   11 am - 2 pm, Sunday, December 3
   Art lovers will build their very own micro art gallery with miniature extraordinaire Tammie Knight.