Painting for the Gilcrease Museum

(Hummingbird & Teacup 8×10, by Lori McNee; 2009 American Art in Miniature entry)

They say that ‘good things come in small packages’ and with art, there is no exception. In fact, sometimes a miniature painting can exude a gem-like quality that larger paintings often lack. The same can be said about miniature sculptures. For buyers and collectors, the attraction to these works by nationally recognized artists not only lies in the beauty of detail and refinement, but in the uniqueness and practicality of something small.
Recently, I was invited to participate in the annual American Art in Miniature juried exhibition and sale at the prestigious Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This year marks my third consecutive exhibition with the Museum.
Each year, the exhibition is open to entries in the categories of works on paper, painting and sculpture. True to the exhibition’s name, there are size restrictions for works submitted. Two dimensional works cannot exceed 9×12 inches and sculptures cannot exceed 12 inches in any directions.
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to actually attend the Reception and Art Sale in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Museum gave us the V.I.P. treatment which included private tours of the Museum and its extensive archives which house over 250,000 specimens of Native American cultural traditions. While in the private archives, I was amazed at the rows and rows of ancient pottery, war bonnets, beaded buckskins, famous Native American memorabilia and more.
The fine art collection of the Gilcrease Museum includes over 10,000 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures by 400 artists from colonial times to the present. The Museum features works by Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington (including 18 sculptures), Thomas Moran, Charles M. Russell, James McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sergeant, Winslow Homer and John James Audubon are a just a sampling of the awe inspiring artists.
Later that evening, I was honored to have my painting hanging alongside the likes of contemporary artists, Cyrus Afsary, Edward Aldrich, John Banovich, Guy Coheleach, C.W. Mundy, Sherry Salari Sanders, Sandy Scott, Matt Smith, Mort Solberg and Jim Wilcox to name a few!
This November, I am planning to attend the American Art in Miniature Reception and Sale. I look forward to meeting the other artists who journey from the distant corners our great country to support the important efforts of the Gilcrease Museum.
I hope you get a chance to visit them – Lori 🙂