Artists from 15 countries accepted the invitation and the challenge of the “International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition,” creating more than 100 sculptures — none larger than a shoebox.
Organized by the University of Hawaii Art Gallery, this 10th exhibition — currently housed in the LSU Museum of Art — has been traveling the globe since March 2009 and will continue its journey until 2012.
The initial exhibition contained 141 sculptures, but the traveling portion is comprised of 81 of those works.
Natalie Mault, curator for LSUMOA, said the size limitation on
the sculptures helps transport them from venue to venue.
“Because the exhibition is organized in Hawaii, they had difficulties in shipping large scale sculptures,” Mault said.
“When you think of sculptures you think of giant works, which are more expensive to pack and ship. The university started working with sculptures small enough to fit into a shoebox, and it went well so they decided to continue in that size.”
Mault said the scale of the sculptures is a unique and attractive element of this exhibit.
“The smaller something is, the more intimate it becomes,” Mault said. “Every detail becomes magnified. The artist had to think about every small, intricate detail to work in this unusual scale.”
The exhibit contains a sculpture by local full-time artist Aaron Hussey, who participated in this year’s Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition for the first time.
“I got accepted to the show in Hawaii, and I sent the piece out there,” Hussey said. “From that point they choose works. … It has been a good opportunity for me to have … ‘international participation.'”
Hussey said his sculpture, “Congressional Yes Man Leo,” is a visual opinion of the political events of 2008.
“Every piece is a challenge trying to work out the components and the detail,” Hussey said. “Especially with small scale, people will be up close and personal. When you’re working small, the detail really counts.”
Mault said the small works are reminiscent of dioramas in a shoebox, and the exhibit might help viewers remember the days of childhood projects.
“This exhibit is not just one artist from one region or subject matter or media,” Mault said. “There are different artists from the globe working in every kind of media imaginable.”
The 10th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition will be available from May 29 to July 10.
LSUMOA is free for University students with an ID, people under the age of 13, senior citizens and members. Admission is $5 for the general public.
“Some of the work is politically charged, some is humorous and some is off-putting or upsetting,” Mault said. “There is something in here for every single person.”
 
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Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]