Carol Summers, The Torture President's Legacy
Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):
"Carol Summers’ woodcut lacks crisp lines and edges, as is characteristic of his works. Unlike his other works, though, he used only two colors in ‘The Torture President’s Legacy’. Summers takes an internationally well known symbol of America and blurs its distinctness as the blue ink mixes with the red as the two pigments lift off the block and migrate onto tissue thin paper via solvents. This work particularly struck me, as I went through the gallery’s inventory, after the current president’s reaffirmation of America’s ban on torture during his meeting with President Ghani and Chairman Abdullah of Afghanistan several days ago. Summers may have been turning a critical eye on Bush in 2007 when this piece was made, but the damage was done and the legacy of horror continued in different ways under each new president. Will America always blur its lines when it comes to basic inalienable rights of all people, including its own?"
Kouki Tsuritani, They Are Always Together
Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):
"This piece from Japanese mezzotint artist, Kouki Tsuritani, has the exact spirit that inspires me now. It features two gender-neutral fish, a perfect identical pair, united by holding hands. The image's clear and simple background draws our attention to the two creatures. They are in focus, unified, and moving forward together."
Eva Pietzcker, River II
Recommended by Emma (Marketing & Communications Manager):
"Water, light, and nature dance together in this delightful new work from Eva Pietzcker. The delicate layers of ink are precisely applied and wash over each other effortlessly to create the organic imagery. The bright colors are sparing and the blacks soft, balancing contrast against subtlety. It is a perfect rendition of the tranquility of a rushing river."
Juan Alcazar Mendez, Nocturno
Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):
"This piece is a perfect composition of circles, from the crouched woman to the swimming fish to the sun and moon. It shows the artist's mastery of texture and transparency, even through darkness. He was a key figure to the art community of Oaxaca and is one of my favorite Mexican artists. For me, his works are clearly influenced by Mexican folk culture, imagery, and textures but are also clearly his own."
