The Vault: Creativity Enclosed

ON DISPLAY

April 9   until September  28

RECEPTION

April 11  4:00-7:00

Creativity Enclosed

Opening on April 11 is “Creativity Enclosed: Reusing Historic Safe Deposit Boxes.” The Montgomery Museum of Art and History is located in the former Bank of Christiansburg building, which was completed  in 1964. The building retains many original features including the steel safe deposit boxes in the main vault. Reusing these tiny historic spaces is the focus of this exhibit. The museum invited fine artists, hobby miniaturists, and all creative souls to contribute small works for this show. The call sparked interest from artists across the mid-Atlantic and as far away as California. 

This art exhibit also features work from nationally-known miniature artists, Amanda Kelly “Panda Miniatures” and Blake Gore. Amanda Kelly is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture at Radford University where she also teaches. Kelly’s award-winning artwork has been exhibited in various art galleries and museums including The Museum of Museums in Seattle, WA, the Var Gallery in Milwaukee, WI, and the Olin Galleries in Salem, VA. Her commercial work includes miniature sets and content for clients such as Coca-Cola, Disney, XBOX, and General Mills.  In 2020, she was a finalist on the HGTV miniature competition show Biggest Little Christmas Showdown. Originally from New York, Amanda lives in Virginia with her wife and three cats. 

Blake Gore, a New River Valley resident, creates miniature art using a .15mm pen nib and minimalist canvases. Often drawing in a space of only an inch or two, he is inspired by the challenge of creating more with less. Gore’s miniature works have shown from Middle America to Manhattan and have found their way into private collections around the globe. He has partnered with brands such as Jo-Ann Stores, Monopoly/Hasbro, BLICK Art Materials, Sakura of America, Canson, Strathmore, and General Pencil.