Big things come in small packages. Put lots of small packages together and you’ve got, well, even bigger things. At least that’s the idea behind the MSU art department’s show “Small Works.”
The benefit show, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross, took place Thursday in the Giles Architecture Gallery.
“After the hurricane I kept hearing all these art students complaining that they couldn’t do anything,” Jamie Murphey, art student, organizer and contributor, said. “Everyone was really depressed about the situation on the Gulf Coast, and I thought this was a good way for people to offset that depression by being able to make a difference.”
Murphey was actually inspired by an annual “Small Works” show that takes place in New York.
“One of the art teachers had given me an application for a similar show in New York,” she said. “It’s an AIDS benefit and big name artists from all over donate their work. I thought it’d be a great way for all the artists around here to contribute.”
The idea is that everyone is open to donate a piece of work that is about 5 inches by 6 inches in size. Each piece is displayed and is available to purchase on a first come, first served basis.
“I thought it’d be a great place for people to get some great art and at a price they could afford,” Murphey said. “The maximum price was $25 for a piece of work. We took most of the beginner student work and priced it at a dollar apiece and then moved up from there.”
However, with so many pieces the small prices began to add up.
“We had several artists contribute several pieces each,” Murphey said. “On an individual basis you have these excellent pieces of art going for really cheap. But the big picture is that it all adds up to be quite a bit of money.”
The show ended up grossing $1,200 for the American Red Cross.
Everyone from new students to faculty chipped in with their own artwork.
“Everyone was really great,” Murphey said. “We have freshmen students as well as long-term tenure faculty contributing. That the faculty, whose works can go for thousands of dollars, were willing to take time out of their schedule to make a piece and sell it for so cheap is just fantastic.”
However, juggling being a full-time student, having a job and going through her thesis semester, Murphey realized that organizing a show can be extremely stressful.
“I’ve organized a group show before, but this was my first show to be the sole organizer,” she said. “I’m busy all the time so it was exhausting, but everyone was very helpful. [Art department head] Kay DeMarsche and Bill Andrews went out of their way to help me out anyway they could.”
“At first the logistics of being the sole organizer for a show were a nightmare,” she said. “But then near the end everything just came together and people started donating and volunteering their time and work. Several faculty members also had all their students make pieces to donate, so that was a big help.”
The show was such a success that it might become an annual event within the art department.
“I’ll be graduating this semester, so I won’t be able to organize it,” Murphey said. “But everyone was walking around saying how great it was and that it definitely should be done again. So, who knows? Someone else might take up the reigns and make it a regular thing.”
“The show was incredible,” Jayson Triplett, artist and contributor, said. “It’s an excellent way to get art from legitimate emerging artists at a friendly price. I myself bought seven pieces of art for under $100. I definitely think it should be held again. It was great for Hurricane Katrina victims and could be an excellent benefit for other causes as well.”