Posted on Feb 5, 2010

Sunghee Park, “Pear Tree 2″, lithograph, chine-colle, color pencils, 18″ x 14”, 2009

A new exhibit in the Burns Atrium Gallery is a veritable feast of beauty, complexity and variety for the eyes. “Here and There: Two Degrees of Separation,” which opens Monday and runs through March 19, features 40 pieces by 20 printmakers. Ten are printmakers from the Capital Region, who invited an artist they admire from outside the area to participate. 

The show is the brainchild of Sandy Wimer, senior lecturer, printmaker and artist-in-residence at Union. It showcases prints made using traditional methods, as well as those created using newer, digital processes. The exhibit also includes letters from each area artist, in which they explain their own work and their reasons for inviting their chosen peer.

Manny Guerra, “No le tengo miedo al chile aunque lo vea colorado,” Lithograph, 13.25″ x 20″, 2010

“I have always liked the satirical caricature tradition of works from Francesco de Goya to Honore Daumier in art history. The genre has both sting and grace,” printmaker Sunghee Park said in her statement. “I was delighted to see Manny Guerra make a series of small, satirical black-and-white etchings of Mexican-American stories.”

“I not only love Manny’s work, but I thought the contrast of my contemporary Asian sensibility with his Meso-American images would be an interesting mix for the show,” she added. “I am certain that showing our works together will be an exciting experience.”

Manny Guerra is from El Paso, Texas. For a complete list of participating artists, and access to images of their work and written statements, click here.

An opening reception will be held Thursday, Feb. 18 from 4-6 p.m. in the gallery.