Shelter In Place Gallery, exterior view of the building. Photo courtesy of Shelter In Place Gallery.
Art galleries and project spaces around the country have been closed for almost a month now due to COVID-19, but Shelter In Place Gallery is open for business. Well, kind of…. Boston-based artist Eben Haines saw an opportunity to open an exhibition space during a worldwide pandemic, making it possible to install, exhibit, and promote artists while everyone else is hosting online-only shows. The one catch - it’s tiny! His miniature gallery measures 20 x 30 inches - and this 500 sq. inch exhibition space is actively accepting applications for small artwork.
Haines’ goal is to encourage artists to continue to create artwork during a time when there is less access to studios. “I've built SIP gallery as a new platform for Boston Artists (and eventually from all over) to allow for large scale artworks to be made at a desk or dining room table,” says Haines, “The gallery exists at a 1:12 scale, which means 1 inch = 1 foot.”
“Crated” artwork and new window ready for install. Photo courtesy of Shelter In Place Gallery and Wilhelm Neusser.
Our artist Wilhelm Neusser recently had a solo show on view at Shelter In Place Gallery. Neusser created a site-specific artwork that spanned the main wall and flowed onto the floor, emulating the experience of wading through a New England cranberry bog. This “massive” artwork is just 22 x 14 inches, and Haines was excited to spend install rearranging the gallery - even adding a new window to brighten Neusser’s work. Neusser also joined in on the fun and took delivery as seriously as ever, rendering a crate by painting details on the sides of his miniature packaging. The work was safely delivered on Haines’ doorstep, with no human interaction required.
The details within the gallery make it even more intriguing. Haines included weathered rafters, hardwood floors, windows for sunlight to spill in, and even the typical electrical outlets that are often found in the most frustrating places when hanging artwork.
To submit artwork for exhibition at Shelter In Place Gallery, direct message Eben Haines on Instagram @shelterinplacegallery or @ebenhaines
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