Small Works is a national exhibition that Harper hosts annually featuring approximately 40 works by 22 artists. It attracts renowned curators as judges including Chicago-based art critic John Brunetti, who served as the 2003 judge, and it features an array of art forms on a small scale (pieces can be no greater than 23 inches and no greater than 45 pounds).

Sponsored by the Harper College Educational Foundation and a grant from the Omron Foundation, the National Small Works Exhibit opened in early April at Harper’s New Student Services and Art Center to the enjoyment of hundreds of fans.

The 39 art works at this year’s exhibition were selected from among 129 entries. Artist Kelly Stachura, a Harper student from Barrington, and the youngest artist featured at the prestigious exhibition, created a piece that combines fiber sculpture with photo transfers. Photosynthesis resembles a plant with its colorful upward-reaching tendrils and urchinlike fingers. “I felt honored just to be included in the Small Works exhibit because it was my first National Exhibit, and appropriately, I was honored to be included in my first national exhibit at Harper College surrounded by the community of art and artists that I’ve known for the past two years,” said Stachura.

Stachura was honored to be included in the prestigious National Small Works Exhibition at Harper College. “As an artist and especially as a full-time student-artist, actively pursuing exhibition of your work truly becomes a full-time job. For me, every aspect of this exhibit from receiving notification of acceptance into the show to attending the Educational Foundation’s Board Meeting to ‘hand over’ my piece has been an exciting, almost surreal journey, to say the least,” she said.

Stachura was interviewed and her piece, Photosynthesis, was featured in a Pioneer Press article in April. “It felt surreal to be chosen, the youngest of all the artists, to have my work highlighted by the Pioneer Press article and to feel (as still a student) equal to all of the other very talented artists in this exhibit. On top of this recognition, I was absolutely thrilled to then be embraced by the Harper College community again and to receive the support of the Educational Foundation through their purchase of my work,” she said.

The Harper College Educational Foundation has purchased Stachura’s Photosynthesis as well as artist Frank Trankina’s oil on paper, Nurse, to add to its permanent collection.

Stachura graduated from Harper this spring with two associate’s degrees. Described by one of her professors as a “pace setter” who set the tempo for other students in her art classes and encouraging her peers to push themselves to create their best work, she will transfer to the School of the Art Institute, to pursue a bachelor of fine arts in studio art.

While she said she will miss Harper College, she is positive about her educational experience. “I’m glad that I chose Harper College and truly believe that my experiences here have given me a solid foundation on which to build my future.”

For more information on the National Small Works Exhibition or to make a gift in support of Harper’s extensive art collection, please call Catherine Brod at 847.925.6278.