Prints exhibit shows a spectrum of artists, styles

Entering the Allen Memorial Art Museum, one may get a funny feeling that they've been transported to communist China. The two large, vibrant Andy Warhol portraits of Mao that hang down from the Ripin Print Gallery set the mood for a palatable, well-organized, and somewhat comedic survey of prints since 1960.

Printmaking has evolved into a major medium of experimentation and breakthrough since the time that Warhol began screening Mao and Monroe. The exhibition offers work by big-name artists such as Warhol, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauchenberg and Roy Lichtenstein, but also gives attention to several women, minority and Oberlin based artists.

One particularly impressive print, "Cathedral No. 1," by Warhol's contemporary Lichtenstein consists of yellow dots that seem more akin to those of the pointillist Georges Seurat than Lichtenstein's previous comic strip compositions. As one steps back from the dots, it becomes clear that Lichtenstein is quoting Monet. The large print, anchoring the exhibit, directs the viewer's gaze to Lichtenstein's femme fatale comic book character who appears to be pointing a gun at a Marilyn Monroe portrait. This, eerily enough, has ties to the assassination attempt made upon Warhol.

Although pop artists such as Warhol are best known for prints, abstraction is also a well-represented genre within the Prints Since 1960 show. Ad Reinhardt's black geometric squares in "Number One from Ten" appear to have a contemplative spiritual element to them. Helen Frankenthalers's vibrant serigraph; "Air Frame," vibrates with its rich color scheme.

Along with abstract artists like Hellen Frankenthaler and Eva Hesse, women artists are well represented within the show. Many of the prints within the social activism portion of the exhibit use powerful text to convey evocative feminists messages. Barbara Krueger and Jenny Holzer are probably the most potent representatives of this ideal, yet the most eye catching of these works is by Lesley Dill. Dill's print consists of a pair of hands containing delicate pink stitches and clusters of text from Emily Dickenson poems.

Modern art is too broad a term to encompass all media.

The Allen Memorial Art Museum's Prints Since 1960 organizes an important experimental medium into something tangible that anyone can easily enjoy.

Bold Statements: AMAM's prints exhibit includes this work by Barbara Krueger (photo courtesy AMAM)