PARKLANE GALLERY 21st Annual International Juried Miniature Show

Posted by: Ken Stanback

Parklane Gallery will host the 21st Annual International Miniature Show beginning April 30th and running through June 2nd. The Gallery is located at 130 Park Lane in Kirkland and the hours of the show are Tuesday through Sunday 11am – 7 pm, Fridays 12n – 8pm (closed on Mondays). There will be an artists’ reception and awards ceremony on art walk night, Friday, May 10th from 6pm – 8pm.
This show is extremely well received and in a class by itself. Artists from all over the world enter and their work is exceptional. This may be the only “true” miniature show in this area as miniature artists must adhere to the guidelines set years ago to qualify their paintings as miniature art.

The history of the miniature can be traced back as early as the 200’s. It was an art form primarily used to illustrate manuscripts and religious writings. In the 1500’s miniature portraiture began in Europe. Artists used vellum as a very smooth surface which was friendly to tiny details. In the 1700’s ivory replaced vellum as the first choice for painters. Royalty and wealthy families cherished these tiny portraits as we would cherish our family photos today. In the 1800’s the age of photography ended the career of the miniature portrait artist.

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, several miniature societies were formed by artists who loved the art form. Today the exhibitions of miniature art delight the viewer with tiny details that sometimes can only be appreciated by using a magnifying glass.