‘Little Art’ makes big impression

Miniature 4-by-4-inch artworks adorn the library’s wall as part of a project known as “Little Art.”

By Kira Erickson • March 8, 2024 1:30 am

Most art installations are created to be admired from afar. A trio of Whidbey artists are hoping that visitors to the Freeland Library will want to take a piece of their installation home with them.

For the entire month of March, miniature 4-by-4-inch artworks by Cyndy Jensen, Karen Rothboeck and Linda Schrock adorn the wall of the library as part of a project fittingly known as “Little Art.” A sign encourages admirers to take one of the 100 pieces.

“When people take it home, maybe they just use a magnet and put it on the refrigerator,” Rothboeck said. “Maybe they use it for a bookmark. Or maybe they frame it and enjoy it like a little piece of art.”

A Greenbank resident, Jensen came up with the idea for the interactive art installation while paging through a magazine from the library. An article about a graduate student’s thesis project caught her eye. The student, Erika Stearly, decided to display diminutive prints of her work around her university campus in 2013. She also laid out craft materials for people to make their own little paintings.

Although the Whidbey artists didn’t have the space to leave out supplies, they do invite visitors to also take a blank square of paper with them to create their own art later.

Jensen approached friends Rothboeck and Schrock, who both live in Coupeville, about displaying their art together in the Freeland Library. Between the three of them, they created 200 artworks. The surplus pieces are used to replace the ones that have been taken.

“We know that they’re taking them because there are blank spots,” Rothboeck said.

“And there’s putty on the wall,” Jensen added.

The friends – who enjoy getting together for “crafternoons” on a regular basis – all have distinct art styles. Jensen described her abstract work as “funky.” Rothboeck’s whimsical mixed media pieces contain clippings from an Italian dictionary. Schrock uses a gel printing plate that looks a lot like Jell-O to create her art.

“I believe everyone is an artist; the power of art is the connection it makes between people,” Schrock said.

“I do art just to please myself,” Rothboeck said. “I don’t need to sell it. It’s just a very satisfying thing to do with my retirement.”

Jensen expressed gratitude to the Freeland Library for allowing the three friends to showcase their work.

“It really is awesome because to show your work at a gallery, it’s a different procedure,” she said.

Rothboeck hopes that their unique show might move on to other venues if it proves to be successful.

“It’s quite different,” Rothboeck said of Little Art. “I don’t think they’ve ever had anything this interactive, so to speak, at the library.”

An individual piece of Little Art, made by Linda Schrock. (Photo by David Welton)

Cyndy Jensen, Karen Rothboeck and Linda Schrock created a total of 200 miniature artworks to display in the Freeland Library for the month of March. Admirers are encouraged to take a piece home with them. (Photo by David Welton)