Wiltonians' Work on Display in Printmaking Center Exhibit

Wiltonians Lois Errante and Renee Frentrop Santhouse proudly displayed their work this weekend at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking's juried "Editions" exhibition, the organization announced on Sunday.

Fairfield resident Roxanna Faber Savage's "Flock, 2010," an original photo etching with spit bite aquatint, received the "Best in Show" honor. The work was printed in an edition of 10. The first prize winner is awarded a day of studio time with a Center for Contemporary Printmaking  printer.

Second prize went to Julio Valdez of New York City for his print, "Oceanic Eyes," a photopolymer intaglio print published in an edition of 25. Valdez won a half-day with a printer at the center. Honorable mention went to eight artists, including one from New Canaan, Ann Conrad. Each of the eight receive a one-day studio rental at the center.

Michael Torlen, associate professor of art and design, at the State University of New York at Purchase, judged the entries.  In his juror’s statement he wrote,  "'Editions' is a strong exhibition, presenting printmaking in a variety of skillful, well‐executed editions, technically complex, many thoughtful and visually engaging." He said he liked more of the work than could be included in the "honorable mention" category.

The annual exhibition was open to artist members of the center, 65 of whom participated in the event. Most of the artists are from Connecticut and New York, although entries were received from printmakers from as far away as Vermont, Virginia, New Mexico and Oregon. All of the images were created last year or this year.

For the "Editions" theme of the exhibit, artists were directed to "produce an artistic, compelling image and—at the same time—explore one of the advantages of printmaking as an art form: the possibility of producing an edition; multiple, nearly identical impressions of one image," according to a statement released by the center.

Each of the entries is made up of three impressions from editions of at least five. The three are "reviewed for quality and consistency, as well as creativity," according to the center's statement. "One impression from each edition is on display, and additional impressions from each edition are also available, at the gallery."

Area residents with works in the exhibition include Norwalkers Karen Brussat Butler, Walter Buttrick, J. Wershil, Katharine Draper, Jack Hellaby, Janet Scabrini, and Hanneke Goedkoop (of Rowayton; New Canaanites Constance Old and Marjorie Tomchuk (along with Conrad); and Westporters Ann Chernow and Lucy Sallick.

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking is a nonprofit organization located in Mathews Park on West Avenue, in what was once the stone carriage house of the Lockwood-Mathews estate. A member of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, the center is open to everyone, ages 11 and up. Admission to the gallery is free. The center is open seven days a week: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.