Tiny But Mighty Exhibition

2024 Tiny But Mighty Exhibition

Tiny But Mighty Exhibition will be on display in July of 2024 at Envision Arts Gallery in Wichita, KS in conjunction with the Handweavers Guild of America’s Convergence conference. Envision Arts Gallery is the nation’s first permanent art gallery made by and for artists who are blind or visually impaired or disabled. The American Tapestry Association is very excited to partner with this venue to host Tiny But Mighty artists.

Submitted tapestries explore experimental techniques, materials, and conceptual approaches with the criteria that no tapestry is larger than 10 inches in any direction. Artists incorporated found objects, and other fiber techniques such as embroidery, knotting, etc., or explored weave structures such as twill, and basket weave. Another interesting detail about this particular exhibition is that all submitted work will be touched by viewers as the gallery specializes in serving sightless or vision-impaired visitors. To view submitted work, visit our Instagram account and search for #tinybutmighty.

Important Dates

March 1 – May 1, 2024 – Call for entry is open for completed tapestries, images, and fees.

June 15, 2024 – Tapestries must arrive at Envisions Arts Gallery by this date. Go here for shipping instructions.

July 5 – 26, 2024 – The exhibition is open to the public. Reception will be Sunday, July 14, from 5-7 pm

August 1, 2024 – Return of tapestries begins.

History

Formerly known as the Unjuried Small Format Tapestry Exhibition, Tiny But Mighty encourages experimentation within a small-scale tapestry. This show is held every two years in conjunction with Convergence, the international fiber art conference of the Handweavers Guild of America. This extremely popular exhibit attracts entries from tapestry artists around the world. All tapestries that are submitted are accepted. A show catalog and return shipping are included in the entry fee.

For new weavers, it is a wonderful opportunity to have work included in an exhibition. Experienced weavers enjoy the opportunity to experiment with new ideas and techniques. Weavers who submit as a group will have their tapestries grouped in the catalog under the group name. Your tapestry can fit within the traditional definitions of tapestry or push the boundaries. Multimedia work is welcome.

Interested in learning more about previous exhibitions? Go here to check out our catalogs featuring the work of previous exhibitions and check out our online exhibition for 2020’s exhibition that was canceled due to COVID-19.

A list of participating groups is below the gallery.

As Catarinas The theme for this group entry was the butterfly. The subject is ideal for tapestry weavers as it encourages exploration of color, line, and composition.	Spanish Peaks Tapestry Group The Seaside Weavers group chose to weave biographies. These interpretive tapestries act as windows into the spirits of the weaver.
Central Coast Weavers Tapestry Group The tapestry weavers of this group were inspired by the landscape of the central Californian coastline.	Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound The Tapestry Artists of Puget Sound explored the general theme of rendition, and created beautiful tapestries that pay homage to the painter, Frida Kahlo.
Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild Tapestry Study Group Color Me….was the jumping point of inspiration for this weaving group!	Tapestry Weavers of Vancouver Island Members of our tapestry group represent a diverse range of skill levels and artistic training. We bring weavers together to work, to share ideas, to help one another and celebrate our love and enthusiasm for tapestry. Each piece refers to a subject that had meaning to us, reflecting on the interpretation of “Renditions”. Our common goal for this challenge was to develop our individual styles and to explore the boundaries of tapestry.
Damascus Fiber Arts School Childhood Tales and Songs is the theme chosen for the 9^th Rendition of the Damascus Fiber Arts School Group Challenge. We appreciate the meaning of rendition and decided to render our own versions of stories and songs enjoyed in childhood. This broad theme appealed to so many in our group, from tales they enjoyed in their own childhood to stories they told their children. Weavers also enjoyed telling these stories to each other, as some were not well-known to the group. Each time we do this we get better and enjoy it more.	Santa Cruz Textile Arts Guild The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is a federally protected marine area along 276 miles of California’s spectacular central coast. It is one of the largest national marine sanctuaries in the US and includes 36 species of marine mammals, more than 180 species of sea and shore birds and over 500 species of fish along with innumerable invertebrates and algae. The Eccentrics is a newly formed tapestry study group of the Santa Cruz area guild. We are beginning and intermediate tapestry weavers who meet at the beach on Monterey Bay as often as weather permits and at coffee shops when it doesn’t. Weaving in public is a great way to share what we do and people love to stop and chat. Some of us live in the mountain towns around the Bay and others closer to the shore, but we all love this area of California and chose to each weave our own “rendition” of our beautiful Monterey Bay.
Rebecca Mezoff’s Tapestry School Rebecca Mezoff’s online tapestry school brings together tapestry weavers from all over the world to share our love of this medium. Rebecca challenged her students both online and from her workshops to submit a tapestry that reflects their story in some way, wherever they are from. There are weavers here from the USA, Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Let’s help weave a global community through tapestry!	Tucson Tapestry Group Tucson seems to defy the idea of a desert. It is surrounded by “Sky Island” mountain ranges and located in a lush Sonoran Desert environment which is comprised of many low-water native plants, lizards, javelina and other unique animals, adobe architecture, exciting summer monsoons, and a historic blend of Spanish and Native American cultures. THSG’s Tapestry Study Group’s challenge was for each weaver to depict an example of “Tucson/Desert Life” in order to showcase some of the elements that comprise this unique environment.
San Diego Creative Weavers Guild Color seems to be fun theme for many groups to explore. The San Diego Creative Weavers Guild asked the question, “What hue are you?”	Tapestry Weavers in New England TWiNE was formed in 1991 to support contemporary tapestry artists and to preserve and promote the ancient art of hand woven tapestry. TWiNE members have studied around the country and the world, from New England to New Mexico, Israel to Mexico, so our styles and inspirations are diverse. We meet three times a year, wherever tapestry appears in New England, and sponsor lectures, exhibits, and workshops when inspiration strikes. We are inclusive, with membership open to all.
San Francisco Loominaries In our beautiful city of San Francisco, we are surrounded by water – on the West by the amazing Pacific Ocean, and on the East by the San Francisco Bay. Anytime we travel east or west, we run into bodies of water. With such a beautiful backdrop, it is no surprise that we chose water as a theme for our tapestries. Water is the glue that connects all aspects of our lives. Without it, we would not survive. We pay homage and respect to this life-giving force with our weavings.	Weaver’s Guild of Rochester NY Water, Water Everywhere is our group theme. Our group continues to be inspired by the beauty of the Western New York region, and how surrounded we are by water in many places and forms. From rivers to lakes (large and small) to bogs and wetlands…right through to the kitchen sink, we have an abundance of water to sustain us and inspire us. Each year we’ve chosen a specific color to be included in the piece; this year it’s a soft sea-green.
Seaside Weavers The Seaside Weavers group chose to weave biographies. These interpretive tapestries act as windows into the spirits of the weavers.	Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore Tapestry Study Group The Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore Tapestry Study Group’s submission is in memory (and in honor) of Dorothy Szymanski who passed away shortly after her tapestry, “And the Beat Goes On”, was completed. How fitting that she is the last weaver featured in this exhibition as well as the title she chose for this work. The weavers of the GBTSG will miss her grace, enthusiasm and humor.