The pieces in the “Small Works” exhibit may be tiny in size, but they certainly weren’t small undertakings.
At least, that’s what Trude Spillane, a 65-year-old artist and board member at the Artisans’ Guild Gallery, thinks about her intricate artwork featured in the miniature collection.
Nestled in one of Pleasant Street’s charming historic houses is a colorful, eclectic gallery collectively owned by artists themselves. On display this month are pint-sized pieces of many mediums making up the gallery’s first “Small Works” exhibition.
Making art is not just about creating an end product for others to enjoy, Spillane said — it’s often a personal endeavor. The process challenges an artist to evolve, which she admitted was integral in curating her works for this month’s collection.
One of her pieces is an iconic depiction of Gainesville wildlife. “Baby Fuzz,” a 4-by-4-inch acrylic on panel, shows a mother sandhill crane and her baby on a sunrise walk through Sweetwater Wetlands Park. Through incredible attention to detail, Spillane depicted the morning sunrays beaming through the baby sandhill crane’s fluff, giving it an ambient glow.
Contrary to what viewers may think, Spillane said, making art on such a small canvas can be just as challenging as doing so on a larger canvas — if not more.
“It takes you weeks to do it where you’re satisfied,” Spillane said.
Her lifelong passion for art is multifaceted, she added. Spillane crafted and sold jewelry at markets during her early career, and she co-owned Gainesville jewelry store Gifts of Avalon for 23 years.
Even while focusing on her jewelry and teaching others how to make it, her paintings adorned the walls of Gifts of Avalon.
After retirement, Spillane needed a new place to exhibit her work, and she found the Artisans’ Guild was the perfect forum to do so. Since joining, Spillane said she has become an “integral part of the family” over the past decade.
Spillane admires how Gainesville’s local art community has inspired and encouraged artists across generations and continues to do so today, she said. Younger generations in particular, she said, inspire the Artisans’ Guild with their creativity and new ideas.
“We’re just hoping they keep the lights on,” she said. “Having a place like this to display your work is very fulfilling for an artist, and it’s a great resource for the community.”
Jeanne Bunting, a jewelry maker and decadelong board member, is also part of what Spillane calls the “little art family.” Bunting joined the Artisans’ Guild when it was located in Millhopper. She followed it to Union Street Station and ultimately to its current Pleasant Street location in 2020.
While she reflects fondly on the previous gallery spaces, this has been her favorite so far, she said. The Pleasant Street spot gives patrons the opportunity to see the pieces in an actual home rather than the bare-bones venues the guild previously occupied, she said.
“You see the work in its natural environment,” she said.
Bunting founded the “Small Works” collection but credits the artists featured and the team who made it possible.
After noticing the global prevalence of small-scale artwork online and during her summer travels, Bunting pitched the idea to the board and decided August would give the artists enough time to create their own small works.
The gallery’s distinctive style was evident to newcomer Emilia Rubalcaba, an 18-year-old UF English freshman, when she perused the collection Aug. 17.
“They fit a lot of color and movement into such a small canvas,” Rubalcaba said.
She also appreciated the immediate friendly welcome from the shop owners.
18-year-old UF architecture freshman Olivia Montesano said the exhibit doesn’t just showcase art, but captures the shared identity of Gainesville and UF.
“I liked how a lot of things were incorporated about Gainesville and also about UF,” she said. “You really see the spirit of the town is also the school.”
The Artisans’ Guild Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day at 224 NW 2nd Ave. The “Small Works” collection is on display through Aug. 31.
Contact Kendall O’Connor at koconnor@alligator.org.
