art show
Two art exhibits displayed on campus
by Brittany Kemp/A&E editor
The Bruce Gallery’s 2008 – 2009 season continues with November’s–not one, but two– featured exhibits, “More than a Book” and “Interlocution.”
Although at first glance they may appear as contrasts, they share a significant bond: the role of printmaking, both artistically and functionally.
The first is a collection of handmade books, fittingly titled “More Than a Book.” It is set out in the middle of the gallery, where the art appreciator must make his or her way through the small labyrinth of pedestals set out.
It’s a traveling exhibit, on loan from Lafayette College’s Experimental Printmaking Institute (EPI) in Easton, Pa. EPI was founded in 1996 by Curlee Raven Holton.
The exhibit has been to various parts of the world, including the University of Manchester in England, Mexico City and Costa Rica since 2006, as well as other venues across the United States.
According to the accompanying statement, “More Than a Book” is “designed to actively involve the audience in the observation process and provide a rich source of discovery and creative exploration.”
“Artists never seem to be satisfied with the role of merely the observer or the reader; they prefer to touch, smell and feel simultaneously. Artists embrace the full meaning of the object held in one’s hand,” said Holton.
Visitors to the exhibit can do just that. The books are displayed in numerous creative setups, testing the borders of structural tradition, combining different mediums into something that stands on its own.
Among the artists appearing in “More Than A Book” are Wayne Crothers, Sam Gillam, Kumi Korf, Curlee Raven Holton himself, Marie G. Pisano and MaryAnn Miller.
John Lysak, Edinboro professor and director of Egress Press and Research, helped bring “More Than a Book” to the Bruce Gallery after meeting with members of EPI at a symposium. In addition to pieces from the EPI, there are also those from the rare book collection at Lafayette’s Skillman Library.
The other exhibit, “Interlocution: the role of printmaking as catalyst within graphic design and illustrative aesthetics,” is just as noteworthy.
It is laid out in chronological order on the walls of the Bruce Gallery, starting on the left in 1853 and winding up, all the way on the other side of the door, in 2008.
Like “More Than A Book,” it too contemplates function in art, but with a more specific focus on the printmaking itself.
“Interlocution” is the brainchild of Lysak and his graduate student assistant, Laurie Godfrey, the co-curator. They united over their “shared love” of printmaking.
“We wanted a show that spoke to and dialogued the role printmaking has had as an important contributor to the history of illustration and graphic design,” said Lysak.
The artists included in “Interlocution” are historical heavy-hitters, such as Toulouse Lautrec, Maurice Denis, Pierre Bonnard, Arthur Wesley Dow, Gustave Bauman, Oskar Kokoschka, Jacob Lawrance, Pablo Picasso, Takashi Murakami, Kiki Smith and Robert Mangold.
More contemporary artists such as Bill Fick, Tom Huck, Jenny Schmid, Jay Ryan and Diana Sudyka also share the spotlight.
Chicagoan Ryan designed the “Interlocution” limited edition screenprint, which is for sale for $20 and signed by the artist. The proceeds from that sale will benefit the Bruce Gallery as well as the Student Art League.
More of his work can be seen at his Web site www.birdmachine.com. Some of the artists are even Edinboro alumni, such as Andrew Todd and Mike Budai.
Their art comes from their post-Edinboro careers.
It’s interesting to see, when walking the span of the illustrations, the different purposes the prints have served throughout history.
There are Japanese woodcut prints, which helped to influence European art in the modern era, like that of Van Gogh.
This continues through European magazine illustrations, all the way to posters from the past 50 years, announcing various art exhibitions and musical acts, from an Elvis performance in 1950s Buffalo to the DJ Girl Talk from last year.
A lot of the art seen at “Interlocution” comes from private and corporate collectors.
Some of the art is from small, independent printing houses, such as “The Little Friends of Printmaking,” a husband-and-wife silkscreen team from Wisconsin.
There’s something for everyone at the Bruce Gallery throughout November, whether it be a colorful poster or an elaborately crafted book. Both “More Than A Book” and “Interlocution” will be running through Nov. 25.
The Bruce Gallery is located in the basement of Doucette Hall and open on Nov. 21 from noon to 7 p.m and Nov. 22 from noon to 5 p.m
In December, they will host the “Annual Edinboro Faculty Exhibition.” It opens Dec. 3. For information about next semester’s programs, visit www.brucegallery.info.
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This was published on November 18, 2008.
by Brittany Kemp/A&E editor
The Bruce Gallery’s 2008 – 2009 season continues with November’s–not one, but two– featured exhibits, “More than a Book” and “Interlocution.”
Although at first glance they may appear as contrasts, they share a significant bond: the role of printmaking, both artistically and functionally.
The first is a collection of handmade books, fittingly titled “More Than a Book.” It is set out in the middle of the gallery, where the art appreciator must make his or her way through the small labyrinth of pedestals set out.
It’s a traveling exhibit, on loan from Lafayette College’s Experimental Printmaking Institute (EPI) in Easton, Pa. EPI was founded in 1996 by Curlee Raven Holton.
The exhibit has been to various parts of the world, including the University of Manchester in England, Mexico City and Costa Rica since 2006, as well as other venues across the United States.
According to the accompanying statement, “More Than a Book” is “designed to actively involve the audience in the observation process and provide a rich source of discovery and creative exploration.”
“Artists never seem to be satisfied with the role of merely the observer or the reader; they prefer to touch, smell and feel simultaneously. Artists embrace the full meaning of the object held in one’s hand,” said Holton.
Visitors to the exhibit can do just that. The books are displayed in numerous creative setups, testing the borders of structural tradition, combining different mediums into something that stands on its own.
Among the artists appearing in “More Than A Book” are Wayne Crothers, Sam Gillam, Kumi Korf, Curlee Raven Holton himself, Marie G. Pisano and MaryAnn Miller.
John Lysak, Edinboro professor and director of Egress Press and Research, helped bring “More Than a Book” to the Bruce Gallery after meeting with members of EPI at a symposium. In addition to pieces from the EPI, there are also those from the rare book collection at Lafayette’s Skillman Library.
The other exhibit, “Interlocution: the role of printmaking as catalyst within graphic design and illustrative aesthetics,” is just as noteworthy.
It is laid out in chronological order on the walls of the Bruce Gallery, starting on the left in 1853 and winding up, all the way on the other side of the door, in 2008.
Like “More Than A Book,” it too contemplates function in art, but with a more specific focus on the printmaking itself.
“Interlocution” is the brainchild of Lysak and his graduate student assistant, Laurie Godfrey, the co-curator. They united over their “shared love” of printmaking.
“We wanted a show that spoke to and dialogued the role printmaking has had as an important contributor to the history of illustration and graphic design,” said Lysak.
The artists included in “Interlocution” are historical heavy-hitters, such as Toulouse Lautrec, Maurice Denis, Pierre Bonnard, Arthur Wesley Dow, Gustave Bauman, Oskar Kokoschka, Jacob Lawrance, Pablo Picasso, Takashi Murakami, Kiki Smith and Robert Mangold.
More contemporary artists such as Bill Fick, Tom Huck, Jenny Schmid, Jay Ryan and Diana Sudyka also share the spotlight.
Chicagoan Ryan designed the “Interlocution” limited edition screenprint, which is for sale for $20 and signed by the artist. The proceeds from that sale will benefit the Bruce Gallery as well as the Student Art League.
More of his work can be seen at his Web site www.birdmachine.com. Some of the artists are even Edinboro alumni, such as Andrew Todd and Mike Budai.
Their art comes from their post-Edinboro careers.
It’s interesting to see, when walking the span of the illustrations, the different purposes the prints have served throughout history.
There are Japanese woodcut prints, which helped to influence European art in the modern era, like that of Van Gogh.
This continues through European magazine illustrations, all the way to posters from the past 50 years, announcing various art exhibitions and musical acts, from an Elvis performance in 1950s Buffalo to the DJ Girl Talk from last year.
A lot of the art seen at “Interlocution” comes from private and corporate collectors.
Some of the art is from small, independent printing houses, such as “The Little Friends of Printmaking,” a husband-and-wife silkscreen team from Wisconsin.
There’s something for everyone at the Bruce Gallery throughout November, whether it be a colorful poster or an elaborately crafted book. Both “More Than A Book” and “Interlocution” will be running through Nov. 25.
The Bruce Gallery is located in the basement of Doucette Hall and open on Nov. 21 from noon to 7 p.m and Nov. 22 from noon to 5 p.m
In December, they will host the “Annual Edinboro Faculty Exhibition.” It opens Dec. 3. For information about next semester’s programs, visit www.brucegallery.info.
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This was published on November 18, 2008.
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