Think Small 2026!

An All-Media Juried Exhibit at Lawrence Street Gallery

Lawrence Street Gallery's Annual Think Small Show is back again. This all-media and size-limited show is a staple of our gallery and a longstanding December tradition. How can an artist express themselves in the biggest way possible in the smallest space available? Every year, we find out! Pieces for this call must measure a MAXIMUM of 12 inches in any dimension. The juror this year will be Vianna Szabo.

Vianna Szabo is a popular and passionate instructor and teaches workshops nationally and abroad. She has a BS in Education from Eastern Michigan University but credits her art education to books, long hours at the easel, and the generosity of talented friends. Vianna is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and has achieved Distinguished Pastellist status in the Pastel Society of the West Coast. She was inducted into the International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle in 2011 and achieved Eminent Pastelist status in 2015 and earned signature member status in the Michigan Watercolor Society in 2020.

 

Vianna exhibits regularly in national juried shows including the Pastel Society of America, The Portrait Society of America, and Oil Painters of America, and the American Impressionist Society, The Michigan Watercolor Society and The Adirondacks Watercolor Society She has acted as a juror in shows including the Pastel Society of the West Coast, The International Association of Pastel Societies, and the Figurative/Portrait Juror for the Pastel Journal's Pastel 100 competition.

Using expressive color, Vianna interprets the world around her to tell a visual story. Whether she is working in pastel, oil or watercolor she’s inspired to capture a moment by painting light and atmosphere to express emotion. Vianna believes painting is a journey of creative study and encourages her students to learn the fundamentals so they express their own artistic voice.

Key Dates:

• Friday, October 30th, 2026, 11:30PM : Entries Close 
• Sunday November 8th (approx.): Notification of invited or declined (via email and posting on the website)
• Drop off of accepted work at Lawrence Street Gallery during gallery hours : Nov 18,19,21 and Nov 25, 27, 28, (extended due to Thanksgiving holiday- Gallery is closed on Nov. 26th)
• December 2-24, 2026: Exhibition dates
• Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, 2:00 - 4:30 : Opening Reception. Awards at 3pm. Free Parking in Ferndale on Sundays. 
• Sunday, December 20, 2-4:00; Mid-month Reception. Awarding of People's Choice at 3pm.  Free Parking in Ferndale on Sundays.  
• December 26-27th : Pick up unsold work 12-5pm. 

The monetary awards will be determined in person by the juror after the show has been hung and announced at the Opening Reception 

• Best in Show $150
• 2nd Place $100
• Honorable Mentions $50

The Gallery will also award a People's Choice Award ($75), based on the highest number of visitor votes received between the Opening Reception and the Mid-Month Reception- and will announce this winner at the Mid-Month Reception.

Rules for this competition:

• One entry per artist. Each entry may include up to two pieces of art for $35.  Each piece cannot measure more than 12", including the frame, in any direction (height, width, depth).  This includes 3-D art!
• No Ai art at this time. 
• PLEASE CONSIDER CAREFULLY what you enter in the form below.  Changes (Title, Medium, Size, and Price) will not be accepted after submitting the entry.  The Juror, website manager, Public Relations people, and Label Maker will be using the information as submitted.
• Awards will include BEST OF SHOW ($150), 2nd Place ($100), Peoples Choice ($75), and Honorable Mentions ($50 each).
• All entries must be for sale and have yet to be exhibited at Lawrence Street Gallery.  
• We are unable to accept shipments of artwork, and therefore require in-person delivery and return of accepted artwork.  Please contact Jamie Thomson (jamie@brilliantbluedesigns.com) with the Subject line: Think Small 2026 for questions on this issue.
• Due to the theme of the exhibit, art must be 12" or under in all dimensions - INCLUDING THE FRAME- and must weigh under 50 lbs.
• Lawrence Street Gallery will retain 30% of the sale price on all pieces sold at the gallery or in our online shop, please price accordingly.
• *Typically, artwork is not removed prior to the end of the exhibit (by artists or buyers), however due to the holiday gift-giving season, we may allow artworks to be picked up on the 23rd or on closing day, the 24th. 
• Artwork must be ready for exhibit (framed & wired properly - no sawtooth brackets).
• We prefer plexiglass to regular glass for glazing. 
• Labels for the back or bottom of the artwork will be provided via email after your entry has been accepted (notification via email around November 8th).  Please print the label and attach to the back of your artwork after acceptance information is emailed to you.
• Lawrence Street Gallery will exercise professional care in the handling of all entries, but cannot assume liability for loss or damage while works are in our possession.
• All unsold work must be picked up on December 26th and 27th.  Alternative arrangements can be made by notifying the gallery (by phone or email).
• Artists whose work is exhibited in this show give Lawrence Street Gallery permission to use submitted images for promotion and display for sale on our website.
• The gallery reserves the right to cancel the event due to unavoidable events, and entry fees will be refunded.
   

Remember: ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 30th AT 11:30 p.m., but we really appreciate it if you don't wait until the last minute to enter.