Easter is around the corner, and I know many children are eager to go hunting for colorful eggs filled with tiny surprises. However, I just discovered a fun, free treasure for adults or kids that’s year round. You’ll find little treasures, but they won’t be in eggs. Instead, you’ll find miniature art in a tiny art gallery. Curated by Debb Ward, these tiny galleries are similar to the little free libraries often found in yards. Both are post-mounted boxes placed in front yards or public spaces. The community-driven art gallery promotes the arts and a community connection. Ward said the inspiration for the idea came from seeing the tiny libraries in people’s yards. She searched on Instagram and noticed there was a tiny art gallery in Connecticut, so she decided why not place one in her front yard. She purchased a kit on Amazon and put the first one together on her kitchen table. She then came up with the name “Tiny Gallery of Art” and started an Instagram account. After the first one, she had multiple friends that offered to assemble the tiny galleries and now has five located in Hampton Roads. Locations include: Ward’s front yard; Old Dominion University. (ODU) Hixon Building Art Education Hall; Salem Middle School – Art Department; VA Beach Middle School – Art Department; The Creative Well- off site – Cypress between 20th and 21st Street and TCC Norfolk’s campus. “Tessa Duquette, co-founder of The Creative Well Arts Foundation, saw mine on Instagram and said, ‘I want one,’” Ward said. “I’m a big fan of the ViBe Creative District and the city’s commitment for community art, so gifting one to the ViBe was an opportunity to expose ‘Tiny Gallery of Art’ to a larger audience with all the foot traffic down there.” Kate Pittman, executive director of the ViBe, said the ViBe will be commissioning local artists to create work for the gallery located in their district. When Ward first started, she placed three pieces of art in her tiny gallery, but also included a few small 2-by-2-inch blank canvases. She encouraged visitors to view art, make art and trade art. She said children were the first to contribute artworks, and then her art friends started adding to the growing collection. Most submissions are small paintings on canvas or watercolor paper, but other artworks have included ceramics, collages, wood pieces, air dry clay, print making and painted seashells and rocks. Ward estimates over 100 handmade artworks have been traded in her tiny gallery at her home. “It’s all about community art,” Ward said. “I like spreading the mission of Tiny Gallery of Art by encouraging people of any skill level or age to view art, make art or trade art.”