Tiny works of art took over the Oak Lawn Public Library this week.

The library at 9427 S. Raymond Ave. collaborated with Acorn to Oak Studios on a community art project featuring original artwork by patrons—with a twist. All the pieces entered had to be small, part of the cleverly titled Tiny Art Show.

“My first time creating art on this miniature scale was a magical mind shift for me,” said Nancy Brummerstedt of Burbank. “Thinking through every tiny detail of the theme ‘Home’ was indeed a challenge, and I loved every minute of it.”

This year marked the second annual Tiny Art Show, which brought together participants from Acorn to Oak Studios, students from Oak Lawn’s two public high schools, adults with special needs from the Oak Lawn Park District’s Special Recreation Department, students in the library’s ESL class, and various adult and teen patrons.

The theme was “Home,” with artists asked to depict what “home” means to them personally.

“We were thrilled with the success of the Tiny Art Show in 2023 and eager to try again with a new theme,” said Kate Donley, the adult and young adult programming librarian at the Oak Lawn Public Library. “It was incredible to see the artistic talent in our area.”

Donley, who organized the event, added: “We’ve been able to bring together teens and adults in a creative way that explores creativity. People think libraries are just about books—we do so much more.”

Everyone who registered received a Tiny Art Kit from the library, which included a miniature 4-by-4-inch canvas, paints, and a brush. Participants returned their completed works to Adult Services in October to enter the friendly competition.

Judges for the show were Oak Lawn artists Linda Vorderer, a founding member and director of Acorn to Oak Studios, and Patrick Kerrigan, a Marine Corps veteran and visual artist who attends St. Xavier University.

“Very few art shows and contests nurture adult artistic expression,” Donley said. “I’m very happy to be part of a project that gives adults and teens a little push to try something new.”

Patrons agreed, including 65-year-old Georgeann C. Losurdo.

“What I liked about the Tiny Art Show is that it gave us artists the opportunity to express ourselves on the smallest of canvases,” Losurdo said. “For me, who usually paints on large canvases, it took me outside the box. To express what ‘home’ means to me was easy—the first ones I thought about were my grandsons. They love my husband and me unconditionally and always support my art.”

“When I asked my youngest grandson what he thought, he said, ‘Nana, it doesn’t matter how big the canvas is; your love for what you paint will shine through,’” she added. “I love to paint floral arrangements, so for mine, I painted a heart as my vase to hold the flowers. The idea of a heart-shaped vase came from my grandson.”

Patrons were encouraged to have their art framed at The Great Frame Up.

“One of the reasons I like the Tiny Art Show is because it gives artists a chance to express themselves within a smaller size, and for patrons to own an original piece of artwork without a large price tag,” said Tony Lipka, manager of The Great Frame Up. “We’ve always welcomed artists to come in and express their aesthetic through the framing of their work.”

The winners of the 2024 Tiny Art Show include:

Best in Show: Adrianne Hall, piece titled “Snoot,” and Kaitlin Mikols, piece titled “Home is Where the Cat Is.”

Adult Art Prizes: Michelle Pala, “Cozy Home with a Cute Fluffy Cat;” Gretchen Maguire, “Jethro + Gibbs — Holiday Window;” Bobbie Burns, “It’s Where My Machine Is;” Armoni Towner, “Up, Up and Away;” and Kathy Los-Rathburn, “Autumn at Home.”

Special Recreation Art Prize: Scott Sullivan, “Home for IT Work.”

Teen Art Prizes: Layla Montoya (Oak Lawn Community High School), “Through Hazed Glass,” and Ina Gonzalez (Oak Lawn Community High School), “Green House.”