In America, biggest is better, pop artist Roy Lichtenstein said. However, in the Ball State University Art Museum's newest exhibit, "A Matter of Size," it is proven that the smallest can have an equally powerful impact as the biggest.
"A Matter of Size" premiered on Saturday with a special preview held on Friday. The exhibit displays artwork in a huge range of sizes, created in many different mediums.
Art is often viewed with attention paid to color, technique and subject matter, but rarely is its size considered. This unique exhibit's main goal is to introduce the public to the importance of scale in art.
To prove its significance, within the first full room of art, a copy or photograph of every piece is hung in identical, simple frames printed in the exact same size. Then, in the remaining rooms are the original pieces in their true sizes. Having the opportunity to compare the same artwork in two dramatically different sizes can reveal the variation in reactions in the audience. By seeing an 8x10 print of Chuck Close's "Keith" in comparison to its original size of about 50x41, it's easy to recognize the larger of the two strikes the viewer's gaze. In contrast, though, Henry Moore's sculpture "Family Group" creates a huge impact because of its six-inch height. Though the sculpture doesn't contain intricate detail, its impact is contained in its size. Larger pieces generally catch viewers' attention and engulf them in the magnitude of the work, while smaller pieces can hold incredible power within their tiny stature.
The largest piece in the exhibit is entitled "Snow" by Jean Lurcat, a French tapestry artist. The massive tapestry is embroidered on wool and covers three-quarters of the wall it hangs on.
The smallest pieces were created by a burial group of West Africa. It is a collection of six copper objects including a spoon, spear, person and animals. These items are nearly the size of monopoly pieces.
Throughout the exhibit every art piece is divided into one of six categories. These categories help the viewers focus on individual aspects of size. One category, for example, is entitled "Contrasting Size" which focuses on the apparent size of an object in relation to its distance from another. In Childe Hassam's "Fifth Avenue, Noon," the actual size of the work isn't enormous, but the great height of the Fifth Avenue buildings is easily in comparison to the tiny people walking along the street.
Among the five other categories is one called "Within Bounds" which focuses on apparent size based on the proximity of the camera to the subject. "Lighthouse Lens" by Sybil Anikeyev is a photograph closely cropped into a lighthouse so only a portion can be seen, opposed to George Barker's photograph "Niagra in Summer, from Below" in which he captures the massive landscape of Niagra Falls into a smaller scale photo.
With many more paintings, sculptures and tapestries, among other mediums, "A Matter of Size" is a fascinating and must-see exhibit. On July 12, the museum will hold another opportunity to observe these works of art. Sizing It UP Family Day will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The event will include many hands-on activities for both children and adults.
Ball State's latest exhibit will be displayed until Sept. 6. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Entrance is free of charge, so set time aside to view the exhibit that finally answers the ongoing question of whether size does matter.
Mia Hanneken writes 'Size Matters' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Mia at mlhanneken@bsu.edu
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