Art

Farnham Galleries Exhibit - Four Directions

The art showcased in this exhibition brings together four master printmakers from four different areas of the United States; Robert Kennon (Missouri), Kent Kapplinger (North Dakota), Catherine Chauvin (Colorado) and Ralph Slatton (Tennessee).

These artists have dedicated their time, talent and experience to create a unique collection of prints in a variety of media from etching, engraving, lithography and silkscreen. Their subject matter covers four vastly different directions including rock formations, machinery, animals and landscapes; introducing a variety of styles influenced by realism, abstraction, surrealism and romanticism.

Monolith at Dusk10Roberton Kennon
Kennon was born in St. Louis, MO. He is currently Associate Professor of Art & Design at Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO. Bob received his B.F.A. in printmaking from Webster University, St. Louis, MO., M.A. & M.F.A. degrees in printmaking and M.A. degree in art history from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

His new solo exhibition is titled “Monumental Mysteries” and explores the prehistoric monoliths, megaliths, menhirs and dolmens of Britain taken from sketch books that he made on location. The prints represent the monuments constructed by prehistoric peoples along with the mysteries of the purpose for these objects in the landscape. They could have represented celestial observatories, calendars for the seasons and spiritual complexes for religious rituals or land markers.

The stones throughout their history show the passage of time through erosion, sediment flow and melting of glacial layers of the earth. The intaglio prints mare produced by combining two separate plates, the first etched with line and aquatint work is printed in color followed by the second copper plate engraved to hold the key image.

"My new exhibit explores the prehistoric monoliths (single upright stones), megaliths (multiple stones), memoirs (squared top stones), dolmens (capstone tombs) and henges (circular enclosures) taken from sketches made on location during numerous trips to England," said Kennon. "The prints represent the various stone monument shapes (i.e. Stonehenge and Avebury) constructed by prehistoric Neolithic people."

SameMoldIIKent Kapplinger
Kapplinger is an Associate Professor of Art at North Dakota State University where he has taught printmaking and drawing since 1992. He also directs and is master printer of the Printmaking, Education and Research Studio. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking from the University of Iowa and Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD.

He has received fellowships from the Hungarian Multicultural Center, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Woodstock School of Art in New York, and Vinalhaven Press in Maine. Kiplinger’s art has been shown in over 150 individual and group exhibitions and his work is part of more than 25 public and corporate collections, including Johnson & Johnson Co, Thrivent Financial, The Print Consortium, U.S. Art in Embassy Program, The Amity Art Foundation, Museum of Texas Tech University, and Northern Illinois University Art Museum.

"My work addresses socio-environmental issues and focuses on balance, order, and regeneration," Kapplinger said. "Imagery includes patent designs or machinery illustrations, layered with shape, texture, color, and text meant to initiate dialogue concerning how we impact our quality of life."

night treeCatherine Chauvin
Chauvin uses printmaking to examine what is done to the environment in the name of progress. Currently her work is using historical battle maps (like Gettysburg) to pit trees vs. stumps – the idea exploring what battles nature is fighting without human knowledge or ability to intervene. 

Printmaking and teaching combine at the University of Denver, where Chauvin is an assistant professor. Catherine trained at the Tamarind Institute, earning Master Printer Certification, after receiving an MFA in printmaking at Syracuse University. 

As a master printer, she has collaborated with many artists including Jaune Quick-to-see-Smith, William Wiley, Enrique Chagoya and Gladys Nilsson in New Mexico, Texas and at Anderson Ranch Arts Center (ARAC) in Snowmass Village, Colorado, where she was the master printer in residence 1998-2000. 

She also has a considerable juried show exhibition record, and her work has been shown nationally and internationally, notably, with work included in the Christchurch Arts Festival 2009, Christchurch, New Zealand.

transmigrationRalph Slatton
Slatton was born in 1952 in an old farm house located in the middle of the cotton fields of Eastern Arkansas. I was a product of both Oriental and Southern culture, as my Mom was a native of Yokahama, Japan. She provided much toward my artistic sensibilities, while my Dad gave me the good legacy of Southern humor.

I served in the Army in the early 70s and began my university degrees soon afterwards. I hold the BFA and MA degrees from Arkansas State University and the MFA from the University of Iowa.

While at Iowa, I worked as assistant registrar at the IA Museum of Art, and accompanied a large show of African art to the Taiwan Museum of Art in Taichung. This greatly influenced my interest in animal imagery and symbolism. I was hired at ETSU in 1990 to head the drawing program, and later served as department Chair. I now head the printmaking program, teaching full time.

"People who view my work often respond with opposite reactions. Some experience humorous animals, while others see sinister one," Slatton said. "My influences are considered fantasy gothic, an often dark view of fable, humor, and lore."

Last Updated: 11/18/11