UA News

A collaboration between faculty members at the UA and a university in Wales will culminate with three exhibitions exploring the history and evolution of lithographic works.

The work of University of Arizona faculty members will be highlighed in three exhibitions centered on lithography, a centuries-old medium, and other comparable artistic methods. 

The first, "Earth and Sky," will be at the Union Gallery, located on the third floor of the UA's Student Union Memorial Center. 

"Earth and Sky" is the result of an art exchange between UA faculty members and faculty at Aberystwyth University, located in Wales. Cat Marino, a UA master's student, is the guest curator.

The exhibition, which opens Monday, will include lithography, etching, screenprinting and relief printing. The exhibition will run through Sept. 11 and a printmaking workshop will be held at the gallery Sept. 2 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Holly Brown, the Union Gallery's curator, said one of the faculty members from Aberystwyth University received a grant to initiate the project, which involved faculty creating portfolios around themes, then exchanging their work.

Three UA School of Art faculty members – Sheila Pitt, Andrew Polk and Cerese Vaden – were involved, along with Kathryn Polk, a Tucson artist. Three faculty members from Aberystwyth also participated.

Paul Croft, an artist and master printer from Aberystwyth, will speak during a reception on Sept. 9, which will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., also at the Union Gallery.

Brown said the gallery collaborated with the UA Museum of Art, the School of Art and the student-led Printmaking Club to bring Croft to campus.

"He is an internationally known master printer, so it's going to be exciting for the students to have him here to share so much of his work," Brown said.

In addition to the exhibition at the Union Gallery, the UA Museum of Art will host two exhibitions on the history of lithographic prints: "The Stone Palette: Lithography, the Early Years" and "The Machine Stops," or "Inkjet My Foot!"

"The Stone Palette" displays works that span the years 1802 through 1899 and features examples of early lithographs. The exhibition will remain on display through Oct. 4.

"The Machine Stops" is a compliation of prints inspired by E.M. Forster's short story of the same name. UA art professor Andrew Polk and his wife, Kathryn Polk, organized the display, which will be shown through Dec. 6.

The museum, located at 1031 N. Olive Road, also will hold an open house on Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

On Sept. 10, a panel discussion will be held at the museum at 5 p.m. moderated by Charles Guerin, the museum's director, with the Polks and Croft as panelists.