Delta National Small Prints Exhibition to Open Jan. 23
JONESBORO – The Delta National Small Prints Exhibition (DNSPE) approaches the middle of its third decade at Arkansas State University’s Bradbury Art Museum (BAM) with a public reception from 5 until 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23.
The 2020 DNSPE juror was Gretchen L. Wagner, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow for Prints, Drawings and Photographs at the Saint Louis Art Museum. She selected 55 prints by 33 artists from across the country and around the world. Out of hundreds of submissions, she chose which prints to include in the exhibition without knowing the artists’ names or locations. She also selected which works were to receive awards.
“The impressive variety of submissions to the 2020 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition addresses a tremendous range of subject matter and represents a broad assortment of aesthetic styles," Wagner stated. "Some works examine pressing issues in American politics while others are non-representational abstractions composed of line, shape and color alone. Within this array, the natural environment emerges as a central theme inspiring the insightful and striking work by many artists and, thus, the topic unites those works selected for exhibition.”
In a statement on behalf of BAM, Hillary Brooks, registrar/curator said, “[The juror] masterfully chose 55 prints that represent the many ways printmaking explores different aspects of nature, and how we as humans relate to it. Gretchen has shown her compassion for contemporary print by painstakingly sorting through hundreds of submissions and talented printmakers. It is unfortunate that we cannot show them all.”
This exhibition would not be possible without the many generous individuals and organizations who provide the financial and practical assistance necessary to produce the exhibition and catalog, Brooks added. Several outstanding artists included in the show receive purchase prizes, which become part of the A-State Permanent Collection of Art.
A full-color catalog of the entire exhibition will be available to visitors and the artists.
The purchase award-winning entries are (in alphabetical order by the artist’s last name):
- Don A. Tilton Purchase Award (underwritten by Don A. Tilton of Little Rock): “The Original Sin: You didn’t eat first from the Tree of Life?,” 2018, etching, by David Avery.
- Mary and Don Vollman Purchase Award (underwritten by Mary E. and Dr. Don B. Vollman of Jonesboro): “Flow,” 2019, monoprint (intaglio, relief, silkscreen), by Laura Bigger.
- Drs. Phylllis and Warren Skaug Purchase Award (underwritten by Drs. Phyllis and Warren Skaug of Jonesboro): "Sunbaked," 2019, woodcut on masa, by Holt Brasher.
- College of Liberal Arts and Communication Purchase Award (underwritten by Dr. Carl Cates of Jonesboro and Dr. Gina Hogue of Bay): “Garden in Winter," 2019, reduction linocut relief, by Loralie Clemmensen.
- Chancellor’s Purchase Award (underwritten by Beth and Dr. Kelly Damphousse of Jonesboro): “Reverie,” 2018, woodcut, by Gary Comoglio.
- Lindquist Purchase Award (underwritten by Chucki and Curt Bradbury Jr. of Little Rock): “Circle and Cosmos VI No 1 (from a Portfolio of 6 Drypoint Etchings),” 2017, drypoint etching, by Patrick Gabler.
- Cheryl Wall Trimarchi Purchase Award (in honor of Stephanie Trimarchi Giesecke and Felicia Trimarchi Hart): “Retro Mode Dancing with Crane,” 2019, intaglio and chine collé, by Yuji Hiratsuka.
- Chucki Bradbury Art Purchase Award (underwritten by a Special Endowment in Honor of Chucki Bradbury): “Ancient Juniper, Sedona,” 2018, woodcut, by Ryan Horvath.
- Les Christensen Purchase Award (underwritten by Sharon and Evan Lindquist of Jonesboro): "Portraiture 179," 2019, silkscreen, by Rachel Livedalen.
- Les Christensen Excellence in Art Purchase Award (underwritten by Julie Bates of Little Rock): “Conserved,” 2019, photopolymer etching, by Michelle Martin.
- President’s Purchase Award (underwritten by Mandy and Dr. Charles Welch of Little Rock): “Japanese Snowbell,” 2019, relief print, by Taro Takizawa.
- Diane Haynes Purchase Award (in honor of Claude M. Erwin Jr. of Dallas): “Options at Levels,” 2019, multi-plate etching, by Brandon Williams.
The sponsorship awards this year are as follows:
- Curtis Steele Sponsorship (underwritten by Curtis Steele of Jonesboro), Juror’s Merit Award, “Eye Spy Hoo?,” 2019, woodcut, screenprint, by Wesley Kramer.
- Carlisle Sponsorship (underwritten by Pat Carlisle of Jonesboro), Juror’s Merit Award, “Moondance,” 2019, mezzotint engraving, by Carol Wax.
The Delta National Small Prints exhibition continues through Wednesday, Feb. 19. In addition, "Height X Width X Depth: Sculpture from the Arkansas Arts Center Foundation Collection" also continues to be on view at BAM.
Museum hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Thursday; 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday; and by appointment. BAM is located in Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr.
The exhibition is admission free. For additional information, one may contact the museum at (870) 972-3765.
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