Kathryn Maxwell

Discussing ideas with Derek.

At the end of February, I visited Ohio University in Athens, Ohio . Professors Art Werger and Karla Hackenmiller had invited me to spend 4 days as a visiting artist and work with the graduate students. After initial discussion with the grad students in the spring of 2011 and then again via Skype in January 2012, I decided I wanted to do a temporary installation that involved the students not only in the physical completion but also in some part of the conceptual and visual development of the piece.

Preparing to print.

Before leaving Tempe, I had conceived of a small installation that explored concepts related to inside/outside, aspects of the gaze as well as issues related to the artist (as a collective rather than an individual). The space would be defined by a series of banners  that referenced those used to create barriers, those for celebrations (like birthday parties), and prayer flags. These would be held up by small posts and surround a black stool and a pointed hat that was suspended above the stool.

Close up of printed hat.

The hat was a very specific pointed shape similar to that is typically associated with magicians as well as dunces. (The magician reference was highlighted by printing images of constellations on the hat.)  Both of these, in conjunction with the empty stool, represented the artist and differing viewpoints, both internal and external, of the artist. (One of the grads also pointed out it was similar to a party or birthday hat–I had noticed that during the original concept design but was ultimately pleased with the references to party contained within the overall installation!)

Derek & I hanging the hat.

The interior of the banners had been pre-printed with eyeballs before my arrival in Athens. (The pink blend for the ground came later.) These were to face in toward the empty stool but would be visible to the observer as well. After a day of discussing my concept and asking the students for input on concepts and images, I began designing the outside of the banners, utilizing some imagery and ideas from the students in combination with some of my own.  This combination of many artists’ imagery and ideas on the outside of the banners helped convey a sense of the artist as a collective concept rather than any individual artist.

It was a very busy 4 days but with the help of the graduate students (Ax, Sage, Kayla, Shana, Joey,

Ax, Sage, Kayla and Joey working on setting up the banners.

Derek, Adam, and Bobby) and the print faculty (Karla, Art and Danielle), we managed to print 5 different banners, the interior of the banners, cut and fold the banners, print and coat the hat with glitter, paint the stools, paint and assemble the stands, find a location for the installation, AND install the whole thing in the lobby of the library. Without the assistance of these talented and hard-working individuals, the installation could not have been completed. The artist “collective” really came together to help realize one artist’s vision!

A selection of prints from the portfolio.

In 1990, two artists, Oscar Gillespie and Larry Schuh, came up with the idea of an exchange portfolio of prints. The concept was to include 36 artist/printmakers in the early stages of their university teaching careers. The artists represented schools from across the U.S. I was thrilled to be included in that group of artists and even more thrilled when I received the portfolio of prints. I have shared that group of prints with students for many years. It remains one of the strongest group of prints and artists in which I have participated.

Fast forward 20 years–I decided to invite these artists to create a new portfolio and Reunion: Images 2010 was born. Thirty-three of the original artists agreed to create editions for this new portfolio. The prints started coming in at the beginning of 2010 and the final edition arrived in April. I  opened each package with anticipation. As the editions came in, I realized this was going to be a terrific collection of prints. The first exhibition of Reunion took place in March during the Southern Graphics Council Conference in Philadelphia. Other exhibitions are planned and, hopefully, 5 copies will go into permanent public collections in the coming year.

Meanwhile, my studio has been filled with boxes filled with the clamshell portfolios and for return shipping. I know the participants are eagerly awaiting the receipt of their portfolio and I am working diligently to get them shipped as soon as possible to the artists. It’s been a pleasure to be associated with this project and group of artists–and it will be a pleasure to have a studio not filled with boxes!

Participants in the Reunion: Images 2010 portfolio are Rosemarie Bernardi, Carmon Colangelo, Sydney Cross, Barbara Duval, Scott Evans, Richard Finch, Debra Fisher, Oscar Gillespie, Beth Grabowski, Joan Hall, Adele Henderson, Kathy Hettinga, David Johnson, Sarojini Johnson, April Katz, Kurt Kemp, Leslie Koptcho, Karen Kunc, Robert Lazuka, Beauvais Lyons, Hugh Merrill, David Morrison, James Pace, Andrew Rubin, Joseph Sanders, Larry Schuh, Linda Seckinger, Bradlee Shanks, Mark Sisson, Kimberly Vito, Art Werger, Judy Youngblood and me.