Visual & Performing Arts

Art in Tandem: New Prints by Six International Artists at UWL

Experimental and Traditional Artworks Created in Collaboration with UWL Students & Faculty

Opening Reception: January 31, 5-6:30 p.m. • Printmaking Workshop: February 7, Noon-3 p.m.

In a world where technology increasingly bridges distances, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) has taken a bold step in embracing both tradition and innovation in the arts. "Art in Tandem," a unique exhibition slated for January 27 – March 2, 2025, is a testament to the university's commitment to fostering creative exchange. This collaborative project brings together UWL's students with six professional printmaking artists from around the globe, including Norway, Australia, Qatar, and the United States. The outcome of this partnership is an exhibition that not only showcases extraordinary works of art but also reflects the transformative power of technology in artmaking today.

Printmaking, a centuries-old discipline that involves transferring images from a matrix (the technical term for the printing plate) onto a surface like paper or fabric, is the backbone of this collaboration. Traditional methods such as woodcut, etching, and lithography have long been associated with communicating ideas in mass—allowing artists to share their work with broader audiences. But in recent years, digital technology has entered the picture, transforming the way prints are made, shared, and experienced.

"Art in Tandem" marries these two worlds: students at UWL, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Zachary Stensen and Assistant Professor Marc Manke, have worked side-by-side with their international collaborators to produce print editions that blend traditional techniques with modern digital processes. The result is a dynamic dialogue that crosses geographic boundaries and explores the unfettered potential of digitally facilitated art practices.

The project, which included remote collaborations, transcended the traditional confines of an art studio. Many of the artists worked with UWL students and faculty from afar, exchanging project files and ideas via email and Zoom, breaking down the barriers of time zones and physical space. This virtual exchange enabled the students to engage in real-world artistic projects without ever leaving their classroom. Through these partnerships, students gained invaluable hands-on experience in printmaking, learning not just the technical skills required for creating prints, but also how to problem-solve and adapt to the demands of remote collaboration.

The exhibition highlights the collaborative spirit of the project, showcasing work from artists Zainab Alshibani, Richard Blackwell, Gina Hunt, Solveig Landa, Reham Mohamed, and Landon Sheely whose styles and techniques span continents and cultures. Alshibani is a graphic designer and lettering artist passionate about creating dreamlike ideations of life, time, gender, and language. Blackwell's work explores urban landscapes through robotic fabrication and print media, while Hunt integrates the fleeting qualities of light and color into her paintings and prints. Landa’s artworks reflect her deep connection to environmentalism and social issues, often transforming everyday objects into thought-provoking art. Mohamed engages with the ambiguity of the defined, labeled, and provable existence of the self in relation to the existence of physical and hypothetical matter by composing visual graphics from a myriad of sources. Finaly, La Crosse based artist Sheely refers to himself as a “tattooist, illustrator, propagandist, and muralist”. The diversity of the artistic approaches represented provided a rich experiencefor UWL’s student printmakers to explore and learn from.

One of the key features of "Art in Tandem" is the inclusion of both traditional printmaking methods and modern digital techniques. As students worked with artists who specialize in everything from hand-carved woodcuts to laser etching, they learned to blend the tactile, hands-on experience of creating a matrix with the precision and flexibility of digital tools. For example, students used advanced digital fabrication techniques, such as laser cutting and inkjet printing, alongside traditional hand-inking methods. This fusion allowed for the creation of more intricate and varied prints than either method could achieve alone all while facilitating collaborations with artists across town, the Midwest, and the globe.

The exhibition’s goal goes beyond simply showcasing art; it aims to demystify the printmaking process for the general public. Many visitors to the gallery may be unfamiliar with the painstaking process of creating prints, which often involves multiple steps and specialized equipment. Through "Art in Tandem," UWL seeks to educate and engage the public by offering a deeper understanding of these intricate methods, pulling back the curtain revealing these hidden processes.

As a result, "Art in Tandem" is not just an exhibition; it’s an educational experience—one that underscores the importance of collaboration, the evolution of printmaking, and the role of technology in artmaking. The project fosters a space where students and professional artists from across the globe can share, learn, and create in tandem, offering a glimpse into a future where art knows no boundaries.

By leveraging the internet and digital technologies, "Art in Tandem" allows the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to remain at the forefront of artistic innovation while honoring the traditions of printmaking. Through these collaborations, students gain invaluable skills, artists extend their creative reach, and the broader community is introduced to the rich world of printmaking, both old and new. The exhibition opens on January 31, 2024, with an opening reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and will be free and open to the public. This promises to be a celebration of art, technology, and the power of human connection across borders.

The public are invited to an open print session / drop in workshop on Friday, February 7 from noon until 3 p.m. to see demonstrations of the process used to create the works in the Art in Tandem exhibition. UWL Faculty and Students will be on hand to teach you about the tools, technology, and techniques used in the printmaking process as well as pull your own print from a selection of student designs.