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“Black-necked Stilt,” 51⁄2"x31⁄2", by wildlife artist Ernest C. Simmons of Dunedin, winner of First Place, Acrylic, in the 2007 Miniature Art Society of Florida annual competition.

Miniature Art Show Returns To Leepa Rattner

For a memorable start to the New Year, look no further than the Miniature Art Society of Florida exhibit at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art from Jan. 14 to Feb. 4. You will be treated to a spectacular display of miniatures — not only paintings but scrimshaw, fired porcelain, and sculpture — including works created by some of the world’s finest miniature artists. With few exceptions, all of the art is for sale.

Approximately 850 works of art will be shown in addition to the society’s permanent collection of more than 100 miniatures. The artwork is well lighted and magnifying lenses are available for the complete enjoyment of the small treasures. Most of the artists create under magnification, using a variety of mediums and methods and the tiniest of brushes for paintings. Entries from 38 states and 12 countries provide a wonderful diversity of subject matter and framing techniques.

Visitors, starting Monday, Jan. 15, through the end of the show, may talk to and observe artists at work. These artists are willing to demonstrate their techniques, whether oil painting or scrimshaw, pencil drawings or fired porcelain. Demonstrators this year will be from England, Belgium, Canada, many U.S. states and local Florida artists.

More than 1,100 works were submitted this year. A jury of award-winning miniaturists selected 860 to be hung. Neil Adamson, award-winning artist and Florida resident, judged the 2007 show. While viewing the works, Adamson said, “The number and quality of the works is overwhelming. I wish I had another box of ribbons for the ones in the alternate positions.” For the first time in the show’s history, one artist has won Best of Show, Overall Excellence and had a work purchased by the society to be in the MASF Permanent Collection.

Top and special awards selected by Adamson are:

Best of Show — Irina Kouznetsova, Quebec, Canada, “Cat, Sacred Animal Of Egypt”; Judge’s Second Choice — Joyce Rowsell, England, “A French Village, Tarn # 1”; Excellence in All Entries — Irina Kouznetsova, Quebec, Canada, “Magical Night”; Best Work By A Young Artist — Helen C. Jones, England, “Willow”; Best Work By A First Time Entrant — Warrin Allin, MD,  “Snow Hill”; Best Traditional Portrait Miniature — Pauline Denyer, England, “Girl By A Window.”

Works selected for the MASF Permanent Collection: Irina Kouznetsova, Quebec, Canada, “Magical Night”; and, Joyce Rowsell, England, “A French Village, Tarn #1.”

America’s “golden age” of the portrait miniature (about 1740-1850) came to an abrupt halt with the advent of photography in the mid 1800s. But the love of creating art ‘in little’ did not die. There was a resurgence of interest in the early 20th century — The Revival Period — and the show carries on that tradition. A testimony to continuing interest was the Fourth Exhibition of World Art in Miniature at the Smithsonian in June 2004, with 14 miniature societies around the world represented, including the Miniature Art Society of Florida.

Other awards being presented to Florida artists are:

First in Acrylic — Ernest C. Simmons, Dunedin, “Black-necked Stilt”;

First in Drawing and Pastel — Melissa Miller Nece, Palm Harbor, “Girls In Pink”;

Second in Drawing and Pastel — Laura Von Stetina, Pinellas Park, “Songbird’s Nest”;

First in Transparent Watercolor — Dean Mitchell, Tampa, “Boarding House Back Door”;

First in Birds and Animals — Tykie Ganz, Palm Beach Gardens, “Cottontail”;

First in Human Figure — Vera Chenkin, Zephyrhills, “How High” ; Second in Human Figure — Edward Gazsi, Bayonet Point, “The Zebra Man”;

Third in Landscape — Mies J. Fry,. Tarpon Springs, “Daybreak,Yosemite Falls!”; First in Marine — Klaus Strubel , St. James, “The Challenge”;

and, Second in Portrait — Marva Simpson, Pinellas Park, “What A Gift.”

For more information about the Miniature Art Society of Florida, visit www.miniature-art.com.

The Leepa Rattner Museum of Art is located at 600 Klosterman Road, Tarpon Springs. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; until 9 p.m. Thurs.; and 1-5 p.m. Sun. Admission is free on Sunday. Telephone 727-712-LRMA (5762).