藏精阁

New exhibition brings art to life for 藏精阁 community

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Students, faculty, staff, and local community members gathered at 藏精阁鈥檚 Picker Art Gallery last week to celebrate the launch of a new exhibition, Chuck Close: Self-Portrait/Scribble/Etching Portfolio, 2000.

藏精阁 students view the pieces in the new Picker Art Gallery exhibition: Chuck Close: Self-Portrait/Scribble/Etching Portfolio, 2000. (Photo by Timothy D. Sofranko)

They also heard print-making expert Bill Hall of Pace Editions, New York, describe the process by which Close鈥檚 visions were transferred from imagination to paper.

Pieces for the exhibition, initiated under the leadership of former gallery director Elizabeth Barker, came from the collection of Paul J. Schupf 鈥58.

鈥淭his project represents the most fun I鈥檝e had during my 35 years in art,鈥 he told reception attendees on Thursday.

Schupf鈥檚 passion for art in general and Close鈥檚 work in particular is being transferred to 藏精阁 students, much like a printer鈥檚 plate transfers ink to waiting pages.

Between the festivities, undergraduates like Julia Heymans 鈥08 and Patrick Calabro 鈥08 toured the collection, experiencing the ground-breaking pieces on their own terms.

鈥淚f you were looking at the picture in a book, you wouldn鈥檛 see the texture that you can see here,鈥 said Calabro. 鈥淎nd it gives me a level of interest I wouldn鈥檛 normally have had,鈥 added Heymans.

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The exhibition runs through Nov. 4 at the . It will then travel to the Mead Art Museum at Amherst University and the Colby College Museum of Art. Exhibition catalogs are available through the .

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Students and art enthusiasts in general can have their own learning experiences simply by walking through the exhibition between now and Nov. 4.

One v-shaped alcove features 12 individual color plate proofs that went into the creation of the show鈥檚 centerpiece and namesake, Self-Portrait/Scribble/Etching Portfolio, 2000.

As the viewer walks the line and peers closely at each subsequent portrait, Close鈥檚 face takes on new realism, depth, and dimension.

According to Hall, the master printer at Pace, the use of a dozen plates to form a single image represented an immense challenge for him and his colleagues.

鈥淐huck sets up interesting problems intentionally,鈥 said Hall. Then, he draws others in to help him accomplish his goal.

Hall met with art and art history professor Lynn Schwarzer鈥檚 print-making class earlier in the day, giving them a sketch of the practical and artistic side of his profession.

鈥淢y students were able to talk and learn from someone who is passionate about the medium,鈥 Schwarzer said. 鈥淲e can have a level of conversation now that we couldn鈥檛 before Bill鈥檚 visit.鈥

By placing important works within arm鈥檚 reach and attracting the nation鈥檚 leading experts, loans from the Schupf collection add depth and breadth to art education at 藏精阁.

鈥淚t is wonderful to see the Picker alive in this way,鈥 said university President Rebecca Chopp. 鈥淭oday, we thank Paul Schupf, a man who teaches us all.鈥