Mike Wolanin | The Republic A view of artwork by Ryan Murray for the 50/50: A Community Art Project exhibit at 411 Gallery in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2023.
A huge house encapsulated in a tiny format in a medium of acrylic and gold leaf.
Therein lies a small description of Jes Miller’s undersized wonder of artwork that is part of the Columbus Area Arts Council’s sixth annual 50/50: A Community Art Project on display at 411 Gallery at 411 Sixth St. in downtown Columbus.
Kathryn Armstrong, the arts council’s former executive director who is an artist herself, launched the idea partly as a way of encouraging more people to make art rather than merely observing it.
The exhibition, now so popular that its artist slots fill within hours, is so named because it features 50 artists each making art on a four-inch-square wood block to be sold for $50. In fact, Miller has discovered in the past how popular the activity is because she has missed registering in time before. And this year, she excitedly became artist No. 48 of the total.
“I was inspired by folk art,” Miller said of her piece titled “The Porcelain Doll House.”
Actually, more specifically, a small porcelain house on a book shelf at the Miller House locally inspired her to interpret her version of such, in a sense.
“I have a passion for especially historic-looking buildings,” said Miller, in her final year of studies at the local J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program.
In this case, she also needed a passion for substantially shrinking the image she had in her mind.
“I used the very smallest brush that I had,” Miller said.
Brooke Hawkins, the arts council’s current executive director, mentioned the exhibit’s overall appeal.
“I think the excitement and energy just continues to grow around this exhibition,” she said. “All the spots filled up in record time.
“The thing that we love about it is that it’s everyone from crafters to hobbyists to professional artists and everyone is welcome to participate.”
The arts council’s online summary of the exhibition running through Jan. 20 includes this equal opportunity line: “Through 50/50, the Columbus Area Arts Council seeks to lower barriers to accessing art.”
Local artist Kimberly Free landed on the idea of depicting a slightly elevated, sun-splashed-yet-shadowy view of the Columbus Farmers Market from a photograph she took in mid-September. She used chalk and charcoal, two mediums she has excelled at especially this year in her works. She used the same in last year’s piece she did for the exhibit, too.
“That has seemed to be a hit,” Free said. “I’ve been enjoying them.”
A graphite pencil allowed her to keep her lines small enough for the piece’s limited space. She loves the idea that the exhibition makes space for anyone, from veteran artists to those birthing their first public piece.
“I feel like this includes everyone just playing together on an equal plane,” Free said.
She also loved the idea that her work could be displayed in the same exhibition as her middle school art teacher Jaye Lahee, a respected and well-known local potter.
“It’s like we’ve all shown up kind of to honor one another,” Free said. “It’s almost like thinking, ‘Hey — why don’t we always do it this way?”
About the exhibit
What: 50/50: A Community Art Project.
When: Through Jan. 20.
Where: 411 Gallery at 411 Sixth St., also known as the Sixth Street Arts Alley.
Information: artsincolumbus.org
