Small Wonder

December 3 – December 17, 2009

Photo Courtesy of David Hale
Photo Courtesy of David Hale
Photo Courtesy of David Hale
Photo Courtesy of David Hale
Photo Courtesy of David Hale

Public Opening and First Friday Reception:

December 4, 2009, 6-10pm

***Extended Holiday Hours***

Come by after work and pick up a small wonder for you or someone on your list. We will be open from 11am-7pm on Thursday, December 10th, Friday, December 11th, Tuesday, December 15th and Wednesday, December 16th.

Small Wonder is an invitational of small works by some of the region’s most prominent and emerging artists (see a complete list of participating artists below). This year the works in the invitational will be available for sale (in previous years the works were sold through a silent auction event).

In addition to the Small Wonder sale, a variety of exclusive creative experiences will also be available via silent auction. See descriptions of the experiences below including the current bid. To place a bid on an experience, please email Gallery Administrator, Jolene Giandomenico at jgiandomenico@1708gallery.org.

As a benefit for 1708 Gallery and the participating artists, a portion of the sale of works and the proceeds of the silent auction items will support 1708 Gallery’s exhibitions and programs.

The exhibition closes on Thursday, December 17. Purchased works can be picked up as early as Friday, December 18.

Whether you are hoping to find an original piece of art or an invigorating creative experience for yourself or someone on your holiday list, there is a small wonder that awaits you at 1708 Gallery. A variety of media will be available, so no matter your taste and preference, there will be something for you at Small Wonder.

Small Wonder Silent Auction Experiences

Bidding Instructions:

Send an email to Gallery Administrator, Jolene Giandomenico at jgiandomenico@1708gallery.org with your bid amount. Be sure to include the experience you are bidding on in your email. Bids must be made in minimum increments of $20. You will receive email notifications if you have been outbid, which will give you the opportunity to increase your bid. Bidding will end at 5pm Thursday, December 17th. Winners will be notified on Friday, December 18th.

#1) ENCAUSTICS 101 WITH LYNDA RAY

Encaustic Artist Lynda Ray

Current bid: $300

To bid, send an email to Gallery Administrator, Jolene Giandomenico at jgiandomenico@1708gallery.org with your bid amount. Be sure to include the experience you are bidding on in your email. Bids must be made in minimum increments of $20. You will receive email notifications if you have been outbid, which will give you the opportunity to increase your bid. Bidding will end at 5pm Thursday, December 17th. Winners will be notified on Friday, December 18th.

Allow artist Lynda Ray to give you and two friends a private three-hour tutorial in the wonders of encaustic painting at her private teaching studio, which will result in the creation of your own encaustic works. Also known as hot wax painting, Ray’s encaustic workshop will allow you and your guests to work with the luscious, beautiful paint in a supportive atmosphere. Her teaching technique will allow you and your guests to follow the demonstrations or work as freely as you desire.

In this personalized workshop, you and your guests will have an introduction to encaustic and will learn the formula ratio of beeswax to damar resin as well as safe studio practices. You will be able to choose from a variety of techniques, which include melting and fusing layers, creating line and edge with stencils and string, incising and scraping, texture and other practices.

All equipment (tools, paint, wax and two 9x12 inch braced panels for final works) is supplied for each person. The winner and Ray will agree upon a date and time for the workshop.

Lynda Ray is a professional artist whose paintings have been shown locally and nationally. Her work is included in The Art of Encaustic Painting by Joanne Mattera. She has a BFA in Painting from Massachusetts College of Art and studied at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.

#2) ALLOW YOURSELF TO TAKE CENTERSTAGE

CenterStage Interior

Current bid: $200

With this experience, you will feel as though you are living CenterStage. This item entitles you and a guest to two tickets and drink vouchers to one of the following shows at the Carpenter Theatre:

· The Virginia Opera’s great Don Giovanni running from March 5 to 7.

· The Modlin Center for the Arts’ modern Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre on April 8.

· The Richmond Symphony’s classic Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto running March 20 and 21.

Seeing any production in the newly renovated Carpenter Theatre is an experience in itself. Fully renovated and restored, the historic Carpenter Theatre boasts state-of-the-art lighting and world-class acoustics to attract audiences and entertainers from around the corner and around the world. You and your guest will be sure to enjoy the wonder of the production under the signature twinkling stars and midnight blue sky of the grand ceiling.

#3) COCKTAILS, TOURS AND TALKS WITH CINDY AND JAY

Studio of Artist Cindy Neuschwander

Starting bid: $500

Be the first to bid on this experience!

Richmond artist Cindy Neuschwander and local curator Jay Barrows invite you and seven friends into their home for a private cocktail party (on a mutually agreed upon date) that will have you and your friends buzzing.

Not only will cocktails and appetizers be served, but Cindy Neuschwander will allow your party to tour her private art studio where you will have a chance to see and discuss works in progress and recently completed works.

Then Jay Barrows, an avid collector and art dealer, will give you a tour of their private collection which includes works by artists such as Elizabeth Murray, Kiki Smith, Benjamin Jones and Johannes Girardoni.

Jay will top off the night with a talk about his shared loved of collecting art with Cindy and how they began their collection. He’ll also give tips for starting your own collection of art.

The setting of their home is simply a must see with an impressive and extensive collection.

#4) RICHMOND BALLET: BEFORE & AFTER

Richmond Ballet

Current bid: $120

See the creative process in action as, together with three friends, you go behind the scenes to watch an actual rehearsal for the Richmond Ballet’s Studio Series, then attend a public performance with tickets for four. You may choose from either the spring or fall 2010 performances.

The Richmond Ballet’s Studio Series is a series of four productions throughout their performance season featuring contemporary works of enduring value, as well as brand new ballets, often choreographed on the company dancers.

The Studio Series strives to preserve those works of lasting importance, as well as foster new works to contribute to the world of dance. The performance usually consists of two ballets [each around 25 minutes long], one older piece and one newer piece.

The Studio Theatre at the Ballet is an extremely intimate space, seating 250 people, so the audience’s experience is one that is very close to the performers.

#5) VMFA MEMBERSHIP AND LITERATURE FOR A GRAND OPENING

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Starting bid: $80

Be the first to bid on this experience!

With a new wing opening soon, this is a fine year to become a member of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. You and your family could experience the new sculpture gardens, more than 165,000 square feet of new Museum space, a new library, museum shop, café and galleries.

VMFA membership is valid for one year and includes the following benefits:

· Free tickets and previews for special exhibitions

· Invitations to members-only events

· Free subscription to myVMFA, the museum’s quarterly magazine

· Free parking in the VMFA parking deck during museum hours & events

· 10% discount in the VMFA Shop and the Café

· Monthly Member Day – with free member programs, tours and lectures

· Discounts for classes and programs

· Discounts on tickets for performances

· Members-only travel opportunities

· Eligibility to join VMFA support groups

On your downtime from visiting the VMFA, you can read from the selection of literature you will receive along with your family membership. Titles include Ancient Art, Champion Animals: Sculptures by Herbert Haseltine and Selections Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. These books are filled with eloquent entries and full-color reproductions that will allow you and your family to discover, re-discover and remember highlights from the Virginia Museum’s collections.

#6) A PUBLIC ART TOUR LIKE NO OTHER

Segway tour

Current bid: $120

Richmond artist Jeff Majer will take you and a friend on a custom designed Downtown Public Arts Tour on Segways. This tour is quite special as you and a guest discover the artistic treasures that most people pass by without a second glance.

You will see fun works of art off the beaten path that are often overlooked. More so than just experiencing the art, you and your guest will discover the fun and ease of going green as you glide around town on your Segways.

The tour is two hours and will be scheduled with Segway of Richmond. Safety training and a Segway operation tutorial are included.

#7) OUT OF THE DARKROOM AND INTO RICHMOND WITH GEORGIANNE AND PAM

Photography

Current bid: $350

Do you think you have a photographer’s eye? Test your theory as local photographers Georgianne Stinnett and Pam Fox invite you and three friends on a half-day photo shoot. Stinnett and Fox will customize the experience to fit your skill level, whether a beginner or an experienced photographer. Do not miss out on the opportunity to shoot with such amazing talents. The winner of this package will have the opportunity to choose the outing location (on a mutually agreed upon date) – ideas include Maymont, Shockoe Bottom or Belle Isle. If you so choose, Stinnett and Fox will offer you a critique or portfolio review at the end of the outing.

You will need to provide your own equipment for the outing, so strap on your camera and enjoy this exclusive photography lesson!

Pam Fox is an Associate Professor of Fine Arts at Hampden-Sydney College and a photography educator at the VMFA. She was recently honored with the Theresa Pollack Prize in Photography. Georgianne Stinnett teaches photography at the Maggie Walker Governor’s school and is a photography educator at the VMFA. She is also a recipient of the Theresa Pollack Prize.

#8) DAY DATE WITH DIEGO SANCHEZ (BETTER THAN LUNCH AND A MOVIE)

Studio of Artist Mary Scurlock

Starting bid: $400

Be the first to bid on this experience!

Diego Sanchez will take you and three friends on a private guided tour of the art studios of fellow Richmond artists Mary Scurlock and Andras Bality (on a mutually agreed upon date). You will also receive an original work on paper by Diego Sanchez.

On the studio tour, you and your guests will be able to see work in progress as well as recently completed work and will have the opportunity to ask Scurlock and Bality questions.

Once the tour of the private studios concludes, Sanchez will take you and your guests together with Scurlock and Bality to lunch at Kuba Kuba. Your party will enjoy a delicious Cuban feast with great conversation.

Sanchez was the first recipient of the Theresa Pollack Arts Award Artists Award and has exhibited in Virginia and internationally. Bality has exhibited his works all along the east coast from Atlanta to New York and internationally in Budapest. Scurlock is a visual arts teacher at Henrico High School where she inspires future artists and has shown extensively in Richmond and New York.

Below is a list of artists participating in Small Wonder. Click on an artist's name to be taken to their website.