MicroDwell: A Builder’s Showcase of Alternative Spaces for Simple Living is an exhibition of owner-built and human-inhabited micro-dwellings, that will be on display from Feb. 15 through March 23 at the Shemer Art Center & Museum 5005 E. Camelback Road.

The exhibit will showcase the design-build features of small modular structures, their varied uses, alternative construction techniques and cost effectiveness.

An exhibit showcasing small modular structures that can serve as mini-offices or tiny guest houses comes to the Shemer Art Center Feb. 15-March 23 (submitted photo).

An exhibit showcasing small modular structures that can serve as mini-offices or tiny guest houses comes to the Shemer Art Center Feb. 15-March 23 (submitted photo).

On opening weekend, Feb.15-16, Arizona wineries and Arizona breweries will be featured in the “micro-dwellings.” On Saturday, Cellar 433 will present distinctive handmade wines from AZ Angel, Dribble Creek, Fiddleender and Jerome Winery. On Sunday, beer tastings will begin at noon with the following breweries: Four Peaks, Sleepy Dog, Mud Shark, Mother Road and Prescott Brewing Co.

Food trucks, Short Leash Dogs and J’licious Gourmet Tacos also will be on site. Admission is $5; hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days.

For various reasons, people around the world are living and working in small spaces. In densely populated areas, available living space demands small-sized dwellings. For some, the benefits of small architectural spaces are economic, which means less percentage of income is spent on housing and operating costs, leaving more funds available to meet other needs. And for others, the choice of a minimalist lifestyle is appealing and deliberate because of their desire to reduce their footprint on the environment, or simply to spend less time and expense on property maintenance.

Within the movement towards small, affordable housing and work spaces, there are those who have taken the idea even further, and are creating extremely small, pre-manufactured, modular structures that can be easily built, moved and configured to meet a variety of needs.

The MicroDwell exhibit will showcase varied designs from practical to artistic, as well as the creative effort of each builder. Structures on exhibit are required to be 600 square feet or less, self-contained, modular, and portable.

MicroDwell 2014 also will highlight the positive benefits to the environment by conscientious material selection, use of salvage materials, and minimization of waste.

Free workshops and various do-it-yourself demonstrations are planned during the run of the exhibit as well as lectures by knowledgeable speakers. For up-to-date information on all events, visit www.shemerartcenter.org.

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