Photo: Margaret McKinney/Highlands University
World-renowned Navajo artist Melanie Yazzie’s original prints from left, Learning Through Touch” and “They Help Us,” are part of the Print, Printed, Printing exhibit at Highlands through Feb. 22.
Las Vegas, N.M. — New Mexico Highlands University presents Print, Printed, Printing, anoriginal fine art printmaking exhibit featuring contemporary national and international artists, Feb. 10 – 22.
The public reception for the art exhibit is Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. in the Burris Hall Gallery, 903 National Ave. The work of approximately 80 artists is represented in the exhibit.
Fine arts professor and printmaker Todd Christensen established the first Print, Printed, Printing exhibit and conference at Highlands in 2010 and it is now a biennial event.
“This exhibit is a very diverse survey of all the different printing techniques, like lithography, woodcut, intaglio, silk screen and more,” Christensen said. “The exhibit is a great opportunity to see the work of accomplished printmakers. My goal is to inspire our students to experiment with their work.”
Along with the exhibit, Christensen organized the printmaking conference Feb. 21 – 22 that features studio demonstrations from many of the artists exhibiting in the show.
Other universities participating in the printmaking conference include the University of Arizona, University of Colorado – Boulder, University of Wyoming, University of New Mexico, and New Mexico State University.
Melanie Yazzie is a world-renowned Navajo sculptor, printmaker and painter with several pieces in the exhibit at Highlands. She will also demonstrate silk-screen printing during the conference.
Yazzie is an art professor and head of the printmaking program at the University of Colorado — Boulder.
“I think the students at Highlands are incredibly lucky to have such a unique printmaking program at their small university,” Yazzie said. “Todd Christensen has deep knowledge of so many methods and processes of printmaking, which is evident in his own work and his teaching. He also really cares about the growth of his students.”
Yazzie said that Christensen’s printmaking conferences inspired her to organize the first printmaking symposium ever in the Boulder-Denver area. It will be at CU — Boulder in March.
“Todd’s printmaking conferences are incredible and help students find their voice. We’re all a little envious, in a good way, at what he accomplishes. The conferences are also valuable for me as an artist because the youthful, almost pure, way the students see my work reinvigorates me in my studio practice,” Yazzie said.
She added that the printmaking conference at Highlands influences other university printmaking programs and has a far-reaching ripple effect.
Space is limited at the printmaking demonstrations at the Highlands conference. Community members interested in attending may contact Christensen at tchristensen@nmhu.edu