Herron ‘making an impression’ with printmaking

By Angie Antonopoulos

Garo Antreasian South of the Serenghetti, Lithograph, 21 in.x 60 in., 2001 From the Indianapolis Museum of Art Collection

Through the participation of renowned Herron alumni and faculty, this exhibit will examine the long-standing printmaking tradition at the Herron School of Art. Recently named one of the three finest undergraduate printmaking departments in the world, Herron has been a place where fine art printing techniques have been taught and developed for 55 years. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays.

A special addition to this group exhibition will be a featured selection of recent prints by Herron alumna, Vija (prounounced VEE-Yah] Celmins, who graduated from Herron in 1962.

At 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4, Celmins will give a keynote address, as part of the Efroymson Visiting Artist Lecture Series at the school. Her work has been exhibited at the world’s most prestigious galleries and museums, including the Institute of Contemporary Art in London, England, the Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Celmins’ exhibit piece is a spider’s web print, demonstrating a precision and attention to detail in contrasting light with darkness. The New Yorker touts Celmins’ webs as "self-portraying symbols of her spirit."

"Printmaking is a very old time-honored fine art tradition," said David Russick, director and curator for the Herron Gallery. "This exhibit reveals the untold story of Herron's significant role in the revitalization of fine art printmaking — lithography in particular—throughout the United States in the late 1950s through the 1960s. Both this exhibit, and Celmins’ talk, as well as the catalog we are publishing for this event, should not be missed by anyone interested in contemporary art here in Indianapolis."

In addition to Celmins, more than 20 other artists will exhibit their work. All have either graduated or taught classes at Herron. The artists include Herron alumnus and former instructor, Garo Antreasian; Robert Eagerton, professor of painting; Peg Fierke, professor of printmaking; David Morrison, associate professor of printmaking; Jan Tenenbaum, associate professor of printmaking; and Ashley Nason, Herron instructor.

Other Herron alumni exhibitors are Amanda Block, Jack Cowin, William Crutchfield, Robert Cutter, Keith Dull, Ed Funk, Ken Kerslake, Misch Kohn, Tim North, Ed Powell, Francisco Souto, Larry Spaid, William Vlantis and Kenneth Tyler. Tyler established one of the most well-known fine art printmaking presses in the world.

Rather than using paper, printmakers often produce images on fabric, parchment, wood or other materials to create graphic pieces of art. Considered one of the most difficult, labor-intensive mediums of art, many printmakers choose to make multiples of a single drawing.

Both the exhibit and the lecture are free and open to the public. For additional information, call 317- 920-2421.