A VAST, tiny WORLD

Did you ever imagine, with childhood wonder, being so tiny you could live among flowers as tall as trees and converse with miniscule creatures now the size of companions? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, one of Charles Burchfield’s favorite books, portrays an anthropomorphic fantasy that materializes in many of his paintings and drawings. He gives agency to insects and spiders ordinarily hidden in the landscape by exaggerating their scale. Their animated energy becomes visible, captured in flight and sound patterns.

In Burchfield’s art, oversized cicadas rattle metallically, crickets fiddle in the grass, and humming mosquitoes sting maddeningly. Twelve-spot skimmers dart over pond lilies. Colorful Monarch and Swallowtail Butterflies flutter in airy arabesques and inhabit dreams. Sporting wings emblazoned with crescent moons, Cecropia Moths provide an air of mystery to summer nights, and fireflies are “the most beautiful things of the evening.” In his arachnid world, a Golden-orb Spider weaves a glistening web that captures “drops of sunlight” that glide on gossamer. These windows onto a microcosmic world guide us to appreciate what many of us overlook. His art hones our personal observational abilities.

Artworks from the Burchfield Penney Art Center and private collections include examples by Western New York artists that provide alternative interpretations. They offer a glimpse into each artist’s fascination with some of the smallest creatures in the immense ecosystem we inhabit. In addition, specimens and audio of distinctive "insect songs" add to the verisimilitude and learning opportunities. Through his inventiveness, Burchfield is our nature guide. — Nancy Weekly, Burchfield Scholar

The exhibition is presented through the generosity of the Charles E. Burchfield Foundation. For their meaningful support in memory of Harriet and Mortimer Spiller, we gratefully acknowledge Lora Spiller, Jill Spiller Underwood, and Harley Spiller. Our heartfelt appreciation, also, to Mrs. John Kociela, for her generous support.

Related events include a workshop on creating Burchfield-like "doodle-bugs" and other activities and demonstrations, and a screening of Amanda Besl's animation videos. See events for listings.