DaytonDailyNews.com

A highly detailed dress made from Starburst wrappers, small bronze smiley-face hands and a bubble-eyed goldfish ... these small sculptures and 79 more can be found at the ninth International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition at Wright State University.

The creations of artists from Sheboygan, Wis., to Seoul, Korea, mix it up to celebrate art in miniature. Sculptors are invited to produce works in any mode or media they wish, but the final sculpture must fit inside an ordinary shoebox.

"While many find it extremely difficult to make something so small, the size limitation almost always helps to generate a sculptural art rich with intricate detail," says Tom Klobe, director of University of Hawaii Art Gallery.

The exhibit is a triennial event that was developed by University of Hawaii professors Mamoru Sato and Fred Roster. Since the early '80s through the close of this year, the exhibition will have been presented at 126 venues.

"Of the nine exhibitions organized by UH, Wright State has hosted three. We kept bringing it back because we enjoy seeing the diverse range of media and themes," WSU gallery coordinator Tess Cortes said.

Three of the Shoebox sculptors on display are from Ohio. Johnny Coleman of Oberlin is showing "Sketch From a Promise of Blue and Green: Wings," a wood and mixed-media birdhouse. Katie Budd of Akron created "Chastity," a wax ball gown embellished with thin pink ribbon. Cleveland artist Laila Voss created "Cleveland Relic #2," a mixed-media sculpture that is not part of the traveling exhibit.

Contact contributing writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.

How to go

What: Ninth International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition

Where: Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries at Wright State University, A128 Creative Arts Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn, Fairborn

When: Continues through May 4. A public lecture by artist Kate Budd will be held at 2:30 p.m. May 4, with a reception following at 4 p.m.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

More information: (937) 775-2978 or www.wright.edu/artgalleries

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