Tiny Art Heist

Pick up Style Weekly to read the article Posted On: 7/7/2009

Tiny Art Heist

Artist searches for missing pieces after tiny art heist at VCU.
by Veronica Garabelli

The tiny art exhibit at VCU, sits in locker 50-B in the Fine Arts Building.

In what may be the smallest art heist in history, three tiny reinforcing-bar pieces were stolen from a Real Small Art League exhibit at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Inside a 14-by-19-inch locker on the third floor of the Fine Arts Building, Richard Garrett Jr.'s art is featured in an exhibit with a tiny wooden floor, tiny paintings on the tiny walls and tiny exhibit lights. Garrett, a member of the Real Small Art League, says he noticed something was amiss around June 19.

He noticed three pieces were missing: medallions imprinted with smiley faces that formed a pattern on the wooden floor. Garrett notified the art gallery's director, Erin Neff, and then posted a message on the art league's Web site asking the thief to come forward ~ anonymously if necessary.

Typically, the Real Small Art League doesn't mind thievery. Small-art artists often leave their pieces around the city with a sign that reads "Take Me." There's one exception: People who find the art and keep it must go to the Real Small Art League's Web site, and write what the art means to them and what they think about it.

The size of the league's work allows it to give away pieces because they're inexpensive and less time consuming to create than bigger pieces, Garrett says. For the stolen pieces, Garrett heated the metal and hammered it into shape, adding the tiny smiley faces.

Garrett's drawn to small art mainly because of its affordability, he says. "So often you see a painting for thousands of dollars," he says. "A lot of people feel that only rich people can have art, which doesn?t have to be the case."

As for the theft, Garret isn't too heartbroken. "I thought it was a compliment," he says. "Someone was that industrious to worm their way in there to take three of my pieces."

The "Posted: Real. Small. Art.," will be on display until July 14 on the third floor of VCU's Fine Arts Building, 1000 W. Broad St.

Clarification: In earlier print and online versions, Style failed to identify other contributors to the Locker 50b Gallery. Other artists featured in the exhibit include Tiffany Glass Ferreira, Shelia Gray and Sarah Stegal.

Real Small Art League welcomes Lara O'Connor

Lara has a B.A. in Art History from George Mason University. A lifelong love of art, people, museums and art history has fueled her passion for painting. All of her paintings are emotion or relationship based. Her paintings are very personal, but are meant to be shared with anyone interested. The most passionate thing about art, is the story behind it. Putting yourself out there to be heard is nothing to be afraid of. Lara loves to shake the box. Acrylic therapy anyone??

Lara lives in Virginia with her amazingly tolerant husband, 3 creative kids and one crazy dog.

Visit her website: http://www.doublewideartstudio.com/

Found Art in Hatteras.

Real Small Art by Jennifer Hamrock ~ posted and found in the same day. Response below:

Where did you find Real Small Art? dancing turtle coffee shop, hatteras nc

Who is the Artist? Jennifer Hamrock

What are you going to do with your Real Small Art? hang it in my house so i can tell people about it

How did finding Real Small Art effect your day, if at all? i was amazed, first by the art then by the take me tag and then the whole concept. It made my day complete...i haven't stopped smiling yet. Makes me want to go home and create things to leave random places. I love the randomness of life

What do you think about this project? I think it's a wonderful idea. I'm so happy that someone thought to start it.

BEFORE and AFTER Art theft @ VCU

Real Small Art League show at VCU's Locker 50b "Before and After" artwork was stolen.

VCU's Locker 50b: www.vcu.edu/arts/locker50b/

More photos from the exhibit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/iknowtiffany/sets/72157604627929948/

Real Small Art FOUND

Where did you find Real Small Art?
Ukrops at John Rolfe and Ridgefield Parkways

Who is the Artist? (If signed) K Venderland?

What are you going to do with your Real Small Art? I LOVE my real small art. I plan to frame it in a shadowbox and hang it in my home...with the note that was enclosed on the back. And I will be sharing the story with everyone.

How did finding Real Small Art effect your day, if at all? It totally brightened my evening. I had just left my mom at a nursing home and found the real small art stopping at the grocery store on the way home. I was so interested in the whole project. I carried it in my purse for a coiple of weeks, showing it to everyone I saw.

You are now free to speak your mind. What do you think about this project? I think this is a great project. For me, it was very exciting to find such a wonderful treasure in the grocery store parking lot. And I was thrilled to share my treasure wit hall of my friends.

Lisa Pintavalle