Turner's First Exhibition – Into the Light -- Features Works From Three Chico State Art Collections

Turner's First Exhibition — Into the Light -- Features Works From ThreThe Janet Turner Print Museum's first exhibition of the 2011-2012 season, Into the Light, features unique and seldom seen works from three campus collections — the Turner Print Collection, the Department of Art's Ira Latour Visual Resource Center, and the Meriam Library Special Collections.e Chico State Art Collections

Into the Light, which runs August 22-September 24, shines a spotlight on unique works "that do not always fit thematic exhibitions, have been rarely shown, or do not have a venue to exhibit in on a regular basis," noted Catherine Sullivan, Curator of the Turner, and one of three people who selected works for the exhibit.

In addition to Sullivan, artworks were selected by Erin Herzog, Curator of the Ira Latour Visual Resource Center, and George Thompson, Library Specialist in Special Collections. Each selected works from their respective collections.

Sullivan, with Janet Turner Print Museum Collection Manager Adria Crossen Davis, made the final selection of which works would be shown.

"We looked for some resonance between the individual material and a reflection of the overall theme of exhibit, the unexpected," said Sullivan.

The works that ended up making it into the exhibition are collectively an eclectic group, to say the least. Various art mediums — relief, digital, lithograph, serigraph, photolithograph, mixed media, sculptural objects, artists' books and portfolios and audio works — are represented.

Works include Canadian artist Marcel Dzama's "The Cabin of Count Dracula" from the Ira Latour Visual Resource Center; a 16th century German bible by Heinrich Bunting with inventive hand-colored relief maps, courtesy of the Meriam Library Special Collections; and "Cuernavaca," a 3-D abstract kinetic work from the Turner Collection, an "agamograph," created by the man who invented this unique art form, Israeli artist Yaacov Agam.

Other unusual works from the Turner include a collagraph block by the late Dr. Janet Turner, hand cut Japanese stencils for obi printing, and examples of "pochoir," a stencil process that predates screen-printing.

Sullivan said the many different kinds of works in the exhibition will appeal to people who appreciate sculpture, conceptual art, satire, printmaking, mixing printmaking with other concepts and techniques, book lovers and modern art.

"This is our first exhibition of the academic year. It demonstrates how artists envision the use of printmaking as a multiple media and it explores printmaking resources from three local collections."

There will be a talk and reception for Into the Light on September 9 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Turner.

A select number of prints from the Turner Collection that expand on the Into the Light theme will also be displayed in the Ayres Hall, first floor cases on the CSU, Chico campus. Turner Print Museum Graduate Curatorial assistants Chelsea Gilmore and Ruby Rudnick curated this exhibition.

The Turner is located in the Meriam Library at CSU, Chico, adjacent to the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology, and is open M-F from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Sullivan at 898-4476 or visit the www.janetturner.org. Groups and classes can call to make arrangements outside the public hours. The website has a section for class application for docent tours and related activities. This form should be submitted prior to visit to ensure a productive and educational visit.

Please note that the Normal Avenue Parking Lot, located across from CSU, Chico's Performing Arts Center, is closed while construction commences on a new parking structure; parking is available near the Meriam Library on nearby Chico streets and also at adjacent Chico State parking lots.