“the imprint of war: responses in print”, University of Pittsburgh

New Exhibition Curated by Pitt Students Showcases Works from War-Inspired Artists “the imprint of war: responses in print” to run through Dec. 5 on Pitt campus

PITTSBURGH, PA— A new exhibition, the imprint of war: responses in print, features three distinct print artists, working in different styles of printmaking from woodblock to intaglio, whose works are the reactions to wars, both historical and contemporary. Showing the intimate, miniature prints by Jacques Callot, the 8.5x11’’ images by Nicolas Naughton, and the large, confrontational 4x8’ works of Sandow Birk, this exhibition focuses on the repetitions of history: unending wars and continual responses.

When asked his thoughts on being shown with artists Callot and Birk, Naughton states, “It's quite an honor to be showing with two artists who I have much respect for. This show will hopefully greet people as a conversation spanning many generations and speak to the larger issues that underlie all of our works. Birk and I are carrying a torch passed on by artists like Goya, Callot and Kollwitz, and we are not likely to be the last artists speaking to war in our work.” On his own work Naughton says, “My work is about not diminishing in the shadow of stronger forces; rather I want to rise to challenge them. It’s about the importance of empathy. When we cannot empathize with those who suffer, we allow their pain to continue with license. If we cannot empathize with foreign people or people with different political views, then communication is handicapped through intellectual stagnation. Through images, horrific or otherwise, we can create sympathetic reactions. For a moment what we see is a reflection of ourselves and what happens in those images is happening to us.”

The show is organized by students enrolled in the Museum Studies Seminar undergraduate course in Pitt’s History of Art and Architecture Department. The exhibition will be presented from October 31 to December 5 at the University Art Gallery in Pitt’s Frick Fine Arts Building, 650 Schenley Dr., Oakland. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 10-4. The students and their instructor, Janet McCall, executive director of Society for Contemporary Craft, will host an opening reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the gallery. The reception is free to the public and appetizers and refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 610-357-4599 or visit imprintofwar.wordpress.com

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the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh artist advocate rick byerly.