The BIG Show art exhibit celebrates its third annual year

For the third annual year, the Art Garage is excited to share their largest exhibit yet — The BIG Show.

Taking up over 62,000 square feet, this exhibit fills both the Art Garage’s Gallery and Studio B spaces.

Executive Director Lindsay Olson comments on how The BIG Show came about.
“The idea behind The BIG Show is the spectacle, showing artists that work with larger mediums. There’s always a lot of small shows where size is scaled down, but here the show allows us to showcase our space while giving space for the artists. The only limitation is what fits through the door,” she said.
While many dabble in art through mediums like painting, collages or prints, most people typically stick to smaller canvases that can fit in their cart.

Olson aims that The BIG Show allows people to be inspired by the scale of art and the possibilities that arrive alongside it.

“I wish I had a video of the artists bringing their work in. In past years we’ve had artists bring in pieces 96 inches wide while the wind is catching the other side. Last year we had Gregory Frederick who built his artwork onsite and it ended up taking up an entire wall!” she said.

With modern contemporary art appearing in various forms, The BIG Show is built on a collection of pieces that span a minimum of three feet, with its scale being just as crucial as the art itself.

“With this show in particular there’s a lot more fiber arts and sculptures than years past. It’s fun because this show brings that potential to the table and the artists truly make it their own. Seeing what they can do through these pieces is really a spectacle in its own right,” Olson added.

Olson highlights some of her favorite pieces, such as Tanya Steele’s Can’t Stand the Heat.

“There’s a lot of wonderful 2D canvas pieces, but the fiber pieces are also very close to my heart. There’s some really beautiful felted pieces. One of them in the gallery is a felted husk of corn with little kernels popping. Tanya brought it in and it was the size of a body!” she said.

Similar to the sense of awe one feels in a Renaissance chapel, when someone has to look up towards a piece of art, there becomes this growing practice of looking outside oneself, which for many, gives them a better sense of self in relation to the rest of the world in return.

Olson affirms that the best way to experience these large pieces is by seeing them in person.

“The artistic mind has boundless creativity. I hope people take away the idea that the sky is the limit. I also hope that it inspires them to really take up space in the end,” she said.

The BIG Show exhibit is open through May 10 as the Art Garage shifts into their Spring Hours after Easter.

The Art Garage is open 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m to 3 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. The Art Garage is closed on Tuesdays. The exhibit is free and open to the public. See The BIG Show in person at 1400 Cedar Street in Green Bay.