Events

Event Description

Press and Presence celebrates a school year of creative exploration within the printmaking studio, presenting works from students across both the Fall and Spring semesters. Through diverse approaches—from the tactile, deliberate pressure of the printmaking press to the expansive possibilities of large-scale, experimental processes—this exhibition reveals the depth and versatility of contemporary print practices.

The Press of the Fall semester showcases intricate multi-plate linocuts and carefully crafted accordion books. These works are born from a deep engagement with traditional tools and techniques, where each pass through the press captures the artists’ intentions in crisp lines and layered textures. The tangible weight of process is present in every print, speaking to the discipline, rhythm, and quiet ritual of printmaking.

In contrast, the Presence of the Spring semester introduces an exploration of scale, materiality, and immersive experience. Utilizing methods such as suminagashi, monotype, cutouts, frottage, projection, virtual reality, and various installations, these works blur the boundaries between print and performance, object and environment. Expanding beyond the confines of paper, artists explore the interplay of light and shadow, the unpredictability of natural processes, and the immediacy of gesture, creating works that are both contemplative and dynamic. Here, presence is both literal—the mark of the artists’ hands, the sweep of ink, the impression of objects—and metaphorical, as viewers are invited to step into, around, and through the work.

Together, Press and Presence creates a dynamic dialogue between precision and experimentation, honoring the traditions of printmaking while embracing its evolving nature. The exhibition welcomes audiences to experience the convergence of touch, material, and space, highlighting how each artist leaves an indelible mark—pressed into paper, present in place.