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As part of the ongoing celebration of the Experimental Printmaking Institute’s 10th anniversary, EPI is exhibiting More Than a Book at the Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano (Costa Rican-American Cultural Center) in San Pedro, Costa Rica.
Art major Sara Smith-Katz ’07(Stroudsburg, Pa.) is acting as student curator of the exhibit, which opened May 15, and traveled to San Pedro to help with the installation.
“When Professor [Curlee Raven] Holton asked me if I would be interested in accompanying the More Than a Book exhibition, I was overwhelmed with the possibilities that this opportunity could afford me,” Smith-Katz said. “I am hoping to glean ideas from the various artists that we are working with. I also look forward to seeing how exhibitions are presented in another country. I have seen the work that is involved when there is more than one language to be addressed.”
The exhibit, which includes two galleries of handmade books, was organized by Holton, professor and head of art and founding director of EPI. One gallery features prints and books by Holton and the other includes 55 works from artists and students from Lafayette, Costa Rica, Mexico City, and the University of Manchester in England. More Than a Book builds on past collaboration with the artists of Costa Rica, including exhibitions at the Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo (Museum of Art and Contemporary Design) and workshops at the University of Costa Rica.
Students have been involved in all aspects of the project, from preparing the works for exhibition, documenting the exhibition, corresponding with the exhibiting artists and the host galleries, and producing art. Lafayette students Melissa Spitz ’06 (Livingston, N.J.), Caitlin Chandler ’06(Durham, N.H.), and Alexis Gale ’05 (Bangor, Pa.), who have graduated with A.B. degrees in art; Ellen Rose ’09 (Spring Lake, N.J.), a double major in Spanish and art; and Carolyn Burns ’09 (Wallingford, Conn.), an art major, all have works included in the exhibition.
“Before I became involved with this exhibition, I did not realize the time and effort that surrounds one show,” Smith-Katz stated. “It is a tremendous endeavor to make a show come together between two countries. Packing, shipping, translations, and numerous e-mails are just a small part of it.”
More Than a Book is one of many events Holton has organized for EPI’s anniversary. The largest was the World’s Longest Print in April where a team of artists and volunteers created a 2,000 foot mega-print, which shattered the old record of 200 feet. Other events over the next school year will include exhibitions at the Williams Center for the Arts Gallery, the Skillman Library, and the Allentown Art Museum.