Light Prints: Cyanotypes by Erin Cross, Matel Rokke, Toan Vuong

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October 4 – November 9, 2019

First Friday Reception October 4, 6-8pm

Closing Gallery Event Tuesday November 5,  7-8pm

Light Prints explores the natural intersection of prints and photography as a means to record “outside” information onto paper.   Light-sensitive coatings onto paper are exposed with objects or transparencies blocking ultraviolet light leaving a silhouette image that seems to “capture” the moment and the ghost of the object.   These artists have used this historic process to record collected objects, the shift of time, and the nostalgia of memorabilia.    Cyanotypes are known for the rich Prussian blue of the iron-based inorganic colorant, the first synthetic pigment, and used for blueprints, and in Japanese woodblock prints, suggesting mystery and transience.

Erin Cross is Professor of Art at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska.   She received her MFA in Visual Studies from Norfolk State University and her BFA from Old Dominion University.    She focuses on the visual intrigue of shape and the memory of its movements in mixed media compositions incorporating found objects as a narrative agent, gathered in the Canadian Maritime while in residence.

Toan Vuong is an adjunct lecturer at UNL and Nebraska Wesleyan University.   He earned his MFA from Tyler School of Art Temple University, studying in Rome and Philadelphia.    He received his BFA in Studio Art and a BA in French Modern Language from UNL.   His works are an accumulation of parts, marks, particles and repetitions, until an image emerges.  In this way a record is held, through incremental interventions, as a way to make sense of the world.

Matel Rokke is co-owner of Tsuru Boutique in Lincoln.   She earned her MFA in Photography from Harford Art School, and her BFA at UNL.   She has also taught at Metro Community College Omaha, Southeast Community College Lincoln, Dana College, Lux Art Center and UNL.  Personal experiences and items from generations past have recurring roles in her art, and pose questions about identity, importance, desire, and worthiness of a memory.

Artist in Residence Taryn Zust, Cincinnati,Ohio

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Taryn is a senior art student at University of Cincinnati, and had research funding for her residency in August. At Constellation Studios she created 8 etchings, made handmade paper for the title page, with a letterpress printed text, and put all together in a hand-bound book, all in 2 1/2 weeks of intense concentration. Great project! Here are a few highlights.

Marking the Distance: A Retrospective of Books, Prints, and Assemblages by Bonnie O’Connell

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August 2 – September 25, 2019

An exhibition on the life and works of veteran artist and teacher Bonnie O’Connell, professor emeritus of University of Nebraska Omaha School of the Arts will be presented at Constellation Studios, Lincoln, Nebraska.   Curated by Karen Kunc, the retrospective will take viewers through her artistic journey spanning over forty years.

O’Connell produces work in the media of book arts, letterpress and relief printmaking, collage and assemblage, that address the material culture of prints and books, often deconstructing and celebrating printed ephemera, the book as object, and the charged images of the past and present.

She taught courses in book arts (letterpress printing, typography, book design, bookbinding, and papermaking), alternative media and color theory. She has directed and produced fine press limited editions of contemporary poetry for Abattoir Editions, the literary imprint of the Fine Arts Press at UNO. She also maintains The Penumbra Press, her own private press established in Lisbon, Iowa, with a 40-year history in literary fine printing.

O’Connell is a celebrated book artist, known for her teaching, wit, and vast knowledge of the fine press book field.  Her mentors include: Walter Hamady who introduced her to letterpress through his Perishable Press Ltd. and his legendary teaching at the University of Wisconsin Madison; Kim Merker who founded the Windhover Press at the University of Iowa; and printer-publisher Harry Duncan of the Cummington Press and Abattoir Editions at UNO.     She has collaborated with noted writers, poets and artists, including Poet Laureates Rita Dove and Ted Kooser, Norman Dubie, Tess Galleger, Lynn Emanuel, Brenda Hillman, and David St. John, Louise LaFond and Karen Kunc. 

In the Details: Woodcut Print Invitational exhibition

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June 7 – July 27, 2019

Artists:  

Alexa Goetzinger, Oklahoma City, OK

Liz Menard, Toronto, Canada

Barbara Putnam, Deer Island, ME

Kasey Ramierz, Fayetteville, AR

Mark Sisson, Stillwater, OK

Laura Smith, Honolulu, HI

These invited artists are attracted to the woodcut process for the extensive carving effort and handwork that goes into the wood itself, that affects the quality of detail in their printed impressions.   These artists share skills that are expressive or methodical, intimate, illusionary, layered, for the characteristic graphic impact that we love in the woodcut print.

Barbara Putnam carves shina wood, from drawings made onsite at dumps and recycling centers….mounds of metal, plastics, throw-aways including toys
Liz Menard’s migration of printed monarchs across vignetts of distant landscapes
Mark Sisson’s magical portraits, with color woodcut layers, and the key layer from lithography for tone and details
Large prints by Alexa Goetzinger, with variations of inking enlivening the massive orchid
Kasey Ramirez creates wood-grain atmosphere around haunting ruins or constructions
Laura Smith plays with her carved blocks to create printed variations of iconic dress silhouettes


Color Woodcut Workshop June 2019

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This annual workshop drew 12 artists from across the USA…coming from San Francisco, Virginia, New York, Illinois, Idaho, South Dakota, Massachusetts, and Nebraska. Intense work and comradarie of the group enabled sharing and a fun spirit, as we got to know each other across the ink and while carving blocks. Beautiful prints were accomplished by all, as we enjoyed the studio set up, and the nice spring atmosphere. Thanks all for a great workshop!


Artist in Residence – Robyn Langley

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Artist Robyn Langley, from Boca Raton, Florida, was in residence in May – June, creating her etchings on copper and printing series of editions and unique impressions with collage and letterpress. Her images of high fashion dresses are disembodied and iconic, and play with the patterns and details that abstract the human form. In her collage prints she studies pattern and design, and relishes visual contrasts and cross-cultural references. Her soft-ground etchings captured layers of details from pressed feathers and leaves, printed with a letterpress printed poem. She is going on to graduate school in the fall…..good luck Robyn!

In the Details: Woodcut Print Invitational

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Alexa Goetzinger, Oklahoma City, OK

Liz Menard, Toronto, Canada

Barbara Putnam, Deer Island, ME

Kasey Ramierz, Fayetteville, AR

Mark Sisson, Stillwater, OK

Laura Smith, Honolulu, HI

These invited artists are attracted to the woodcut process for the extensive carving effort and handwork that goes into the wood itself, that affects the quality of detail in their printed impressions.   These artists share skills that are expressive or methodical, intimate, illusionary, layered, for the characteristic graphic impact that we love in the woodcut print.

Worlds Apart: Comix+Fantasy in Prints

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April 4 – May 30, 2019.

First Friday April 5, 6-9pm

This invitational show presents the link between graphic cartooning, tattoo design, classic comics, manga, anime, detailed grotesque ornamentation and fantasy drawing styles that are sources for expression and distillation by contemporary print artists today.    This popular “low art world” crosses generations and genres, usually outside the fine art world, and artists respond with irony, visual puns, horror vacui compositions, and technical bravura.  This exhibition celebrates the spirit of imagination and skepticism, creative play, and topical messages.   Works in print media, book forms and drawing will be included.

Artists include:

Brett Colley, Michigan

DB Dowd, Missouri

Victoria Goro-Rapaport, Nebraska

Bob Hall, Nebraska

Liz Hermanson, Texas

Darren Houser, Minnesota

Trishelle Jeffery, Utah

Brian Johnson, Texas

Phoebe Little, Nebraska

Joe Lupo, West Virginia

Josh Norton, Minnesota

Sage Perrott, Tennessee

Jordan Scribner, Nebraska

Ryan Standfest, Michigan

 

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Field of Vision: Taryn McMahon solo printstallation

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Feb 1 – March 30  

First Friday Feb 1, 5 – 8pm

Images of plants and architecture from botanical gardens investigate sites and histories, highlighting the complicated cultural construction of an idea of “nature”. The digital and hand drawn print processes explore how our interactions with the natural world are mediated through technology, and are thus fragmented and selective. Through her work, the forms are remixed through the filters of printmaking, drawing, digital photography, and collage. This installation includes prints and Hanging Gardens, a large-scale banner with pigment printing on thin Awagami Inbe paper that has been intricately cut, creating interplay between light and shadows within the environment of the gallery.

Taryn McMahon received her BFA from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, and an MA and MFA from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. She has received numerous awards for her work including the Southern Graphics Council International Graduate Fellowship and residencies at Anderson Ranch Art Center, Anchor Graphics, Women’s Studio Workshop, and the Lawrence Arts Center. Her work has been featured in recent exhibitions at The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA and Carroll Gallery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, among others. She is an Assistant Professor of Studio Art at Kent State University.

 

 

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STELLAR Small Prints 2 – Invitational Exhibition

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December 1, 2018 – January 26, 2019

First Friday December 7, 6-8pm

• John Amoss

• Susan Belau
• Marnix Everaert

• Andrew Kozlowski

• Jillian Sokso

• Art Werger

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This exhibition presents the work of outstanding printmakers that use small printed forms for intimate visual engagement and graphic invention. The quality of their vision is expressed through an attentive nature and handwork. Additional small prints from the Constellation Studios collection will be on view.

Artists in Residence Kazuko and Kaoru

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Two artists from Tokyo Japan have been in residence here during November.   Kazuko Araki and Kaoru Morita are sharing a great experience for concentration on their printmaking and enjoying cultural exchange.   This is their first visit to the USA, and they are seeing Nebraska go through  all the drama of fall to winter changes, while enjoying the open prairie landscape, football crowds, and studio activities of exhibitions and workshops.   We are enjoying our language efforts and translations about life and printmaking!   Special thanks to the Center for the Science of Human Endeavor in Tokyo for continuing to facilitating this exchange opportunity for Japanese artists!

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Kaoru is working in Mokuhanga (Japanese watercolor woodblock) with soft colors printed by hand, one each day for a color record of atmosphere and influences.  She specializes in shallow carving into the woodblock, so that beautiful nuances of tone are printed.   Her drawing is here of a still life from some of the handblown glass pieces of Kenny Walton, and her woodblock print from this image is just getting underway.

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Kazuko has created two editions of collagraph prints, from multiple cardboard plates, that have textures and drypoint scratches that hold the ink, printed in registration for a constructivist landscape for mountain goats.   She is inventive with her platemaking and the beautiful printed layers.   These two artist friends have studied printmaking together at the Musashino Art School in Tokyo.

 

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