With an exciting mix of 11 local, national and international artists, “Explorations” speaks to both the content and processes by which these diverse artists come to make their work. The general theme “human perspectives on nature” acts as a broad container within which artists push the boundaries of printmaking, exploring process, scale, color, text, texture, materials and beyond.
The work from the 11 invited artists includes the heads of Printmaking Departments at both California State University, Chico and the University of Nevada, Reno. Eileen Macdonald (CSU Chico) treats paper in the same way that she would treat a copper etching plate during the mezzotint or etching process. Her works combine printmaking with paper cuts and pinpricked paper.
Eun Kang Koh (UNR) was born and raised in the Korean myth culture and adopts Buddhist philosophy. “I assume that the world we are living in is not real but is an illusion that we perceive,” says Koh. Half-animal and half-human figures are often featured in her work, representing a portrait of us as social animals and the society that we live in.
Ulrike Theusner has shipped etchings and monotypes from her studio in Weimar, Germany depicting humans “trying to control the beast, the wilderness, the natural being of animals – but they can’t.” Moore and Theusner have a long history of creative collaboration, showing collective works in NYC in the 2010’s with their group, Gutbox and in a two-person exhibition at Galerie Rothamel in Erfurt, Germany in 2017.
Ben Beres, professor of printmaking at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and one-third of the well established collaborative trio SuttenBeresCuller, explores text and process in his hand-marbled, high-key color monotypes. Tracy Lang, who also got her start in the Capitol Hill/Seattle art scene of the 1990’s, elevates mundane subject matter, such as a simple drawing of a bird skull, through use of explosive scale in her massive woodcut prints.
“Explorations” also represents a strong selection of local and regional artists. Anne Beck uses agricultural byproduct from her farm in Southern Humboldt County for papermaking. Beck’s studio and collaborative work has been exhibited widely, most recently at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. Solange Roberdeau, 2023 Mendocino Arts Champion and new adjunct faculty in printmaking at Mendocino College, includes natural phenomena to make the work – for instance by applying ink to sheets of paper and leaving them out in the rain or allowing the wind to create patterns in suminagashi prints.
Another artist represented in “Explorations” is longtime Ukiah resident Kate Gould, who has spent significant time and energy championing the return of classes to the MC printmaking department. “Explorations” also features a selection of student work from Solange Roberdeau’s Introduction to Printmaking class here at Mendocino College. The college offers an AA in Art with a focus in Printmaking and recently added a new 46” x 96” Takach etching press to its Ukiah campus.
This exhibition will be open for ticketholders for the following event:
Nov. 17-19: Contours and Rhythms, presented by the Mendocino College Repertory Dance Company. Tickets available at Mendocino Book Company and at the Box Office before the show.
Regular gallery hours: Tuesdays noon to 3 p.m.; Wednesdays 3 to 6 p.m.; Thursdays noon to 3 p.m., and by appointment. Please see website for holiday gallery hours.
To view more from Mendocino College Gallery, including the new Visiting Artist Lecture Series, visit: https://www.mendocino.edu/academics/programs/arts/art-gallery
First Person: Explorations in Printmaking Exhibition – Opening Reception will be held Thursday, Nov. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Mendocino College Art Gallery, 1000 Hensley Creek Road. Admission is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be served.