UA News

Exhibitions at UA Museum of Art cover the history of lithography and current lithographic works.

The University of Arizona Museum of Art presents two exhibitions that span the history of lithography.

"The Stone Palette: Lithography, the Early Years (1802-1899)" is on view through Oct. 4. The exhibit shows examples from the beginning of lithography. "The Machine Stops (or Inkjet My Foot!)" is also on exhibit, through Dec. 6, and features the work of contemporary lithographers.

Lithography was invented in 1798 by Alois Senefelder. "The Stone Palette" explores the productions of the 19th century as the lithography process was refined by commercial printers and investigated by artists as a method to make limited edition prints by printing directly from their drawing.

Lithography offered unique opportunities for creative expression when compared with woodcut and intaglio techniques, the two major printmaking methods of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

This exhibition explores 19th century lithography as a creative medium with examples from the museum's permanent collection.

Complementing these early lithographs are the prints in "The Machine Stops." This is a limited edition print portfolio inspired by E.M. Forster's 1909 short story "The Machine Stops." In the story Forster describes a human existence that is completely dependent on technology.

Using Forster's prescient masterpiece as a point of reference, the exhibit portfolio explores relationships between humanity and the technological world that is increasingly encompassing it. It showcases traditional hand lithography as a central medium while incorporating other such processes that accommodate the theme.

The portfolio was organized by UA professor Andrew Polk and Kathryn Polk.

The museum will hold an open house on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and a lithographers panel discussion on Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. The discussion, "The Machine Stops: A Conversation with Lithographers Andrew Polk, Kathryn Polk and Paul Croft," will be moderated by UAMA Director Charles Guerin.

The UA Museum of Art is at 1031 N. Olive Road, near the corner of Park Avenue and Speedway Boulevard.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays and University holidays.

UAMA is accredited by the American Association of Museums, an honor given to fewer than 5 percent of museums in the U.S.