#
Review
#
Talent shines in amateur works exhibit**
Although "Prints by Students of Colescott and Myers" is a combination of amateur works, it is clearly a complex and talented exhibit.
This new exhibition at the Institute of the Arts Gallery in Bivins Building combines the many subject matters and personal styles typical of an entire museum into one small gallery.
Each piece is by a different artist and reveals the individuality and complete freedom involved in print art. At the same time, these pieces are linked by their creators' training since all are prints by students who studied under the two renowned print artists, Warrington Colescott and Frances Myers.
Colescott and Myers are both known for their unique prints full of social commentary and current controversial issues. Although their work is not presented alongside the student prints, influence on their apprentices is obvious.
One particularly amusing work in the exhibit illustrates a common frustration of young adults aspiring to find meaning in a meaningless world. In Janet Morgan's "A Night Out," the viewer must look beneath the heavily scribbled top layer to find an image of a couple gazing at each other and tentatively holding hands.
This black and white print mimics the dismay and chaos inherent in a typical pick-up scene. Morgan's emotions surrounding bars and nights out on the town are transmitted to the viewer only through an examination of every detail of the work.
Art Werger's print entitled "One City Block" stands out from the other more abstract works as an interesting study of perspective and lines. The piece shows a very detailed city block of town houses and buildings, surrounded by traffic on the busy street.
While at first glance the print appears to be a birds-eye view of the scene, a careful gaze reveals that some of the buildings are slanted, allowing a look into the windows of the houses. Werger obviously has a talent for manipulating the viewer's eye, for only a prolonged examination of the piece reveals the varying perspectives.
Each artwork in "Prints by Students" presents a distinct degree of clarity and abstractness. While Morgan and Werger's prints were rather comprehensible, many pieces in the exhibit challenge the viewers to stretch and exercise their minds.
Patti Scobey's untitled print presents a nebulous scene of ghoulish figures floating among written phrases explaining that this is an early morning when the spirits paid a visit. The print is predominately black with some white etchings, portraying a dream-like, ominous feeling.
The students' prints were created by making a plate with the inverse of the desired design, inking the plate, pressing the plate onto paper and then allowing it to dry.
Each print in the gallery requires intense dedication and imagination on the part of the viewer. The varying clarity and subject matters do not allow a careless glance. Each individual piece adds to the collection as a whole by giving a sense of abstract uncertainty about some aspect of life.
The prints are on display in Bivins Building through March 31. Colescott and Myers will be in residence at the University from March 21 through March 23.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.