Small Works is a Gualala Arts members' only, juried show that runs from February 11 through March 5, 2006, with the opening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on February 11. Entries, in any medium, can be no larger than 12" square, with frame and matting included.

Judging the Small Works Exhibit will be Khysie Horn, who is the owner of Quicksilver Mine Co., located in Forestville, CA. Educated in social sciences, both in the northeast and at the Western Institute for Social Research, Berkeley, for graduate studies, Khysie switched her interest in 1983 to art. Now in her fourth location, the stunning Quicksilver has evolved into a dedicated contemporary fine art gallery.

When judging a show, Khysie looks at the works, and based on what she sees, she thinks about the exhibit as a whole, as well as evaluating the individual pieces. Uniqueness, with a variety of subject matter, medium and approach; artists working outside the box, things that challenge the viewer, these are the qualities that catch her eye.

Many artists prefer working with small dimensions, others are challenged by reducing their scope, but the 12" square, or less, requirement of the February "Small Works" members' only, juried show presents the opportunity to refine and distill big ideas. To emphasize the "preciousness of small", the Metropolitan Museum of Art purchased, in 2004, a painting for $50 million dollars. It's size? 11 inches by 8 inches!

Delivery of entries to Gualala Arts will be the morning of February 8, judging will take place that afternoon, and artists will receive a phone call by 4:00 p.m. for notification of any pieces that are not accepted. Merilyn Lafferty is curator of this exhibit.

Directly following the opening of the art exhibits on Saturday, February 11, will be a lecture by Jay Shafer on Tiny Homes.

Shafer is an architect who specializes in creating very small homes - some with only a 200 square foot area. He will be showing views of houses he has designed to demonstrate that it is possible to live more simply, and yet more richly, by cutting down on one's possessions and need for space. His topic is timely, with ecological and economic considerations, and one can purchase the units that are already constructed!

A $5 donation will be appreciated.

Gualala Arts Center is located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, and is open from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays, and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information.