Mazatl, Extincion 13
Recommended by Nikki (Fine Print Photographer & Content Publisher):
Mazatl, translated to ‘deer’, is a day in the Aztec calendar that is a good day to hunt and a bad day to be hunted. This contemporary artist uses woodcut and relief printmaking to advocate for environmental, political, and social justice. The level of detail Mazatl is able to achieve on this linocut print is incredible. He works every available surface with tiny cuts that delineate curves of spines, underwater flower petals, and hollow eye sockets. The mirrored image of the seahorse both alive and dead is attractive with its perfectly split composition and inverse imagery. This nearly two foot long print stares its viewer down, challenging them to think about extinction and its consequences, while simultaneously providing beautiful aesthetics.
Juan Alcazar Mendez, Magnetismo
Recommended by Paige (Collections Manager):
'Magnetismo' is a beautiful combination of fluidity and stability. The sky and sand are handled loosely to create a wild texture in the background while the foreground is much sharper with the firm lines of the woman, her hair and the bull. I am drawn to Mendez's work for his interest in Mexican magical realism and his emphasis of the woman as an active, powerful force. I always return to Mendez and find yet another reason why he is one of my favorite Mexican artists.
Ben Beres, Isolation
Recommended by Catherine (Collections Assistant):
I love Ben Beres' marbled monoprints and the vibrant texture of this piece makes it an easy favorite of mine. Beyond the beautiful color palette, Beres' bold display of a word associated with quiet loneliness is compelling (and rather ironic) and represents the complexities of human emotions. We may feel isolated, whether by choice or otherwise, while simultaneously yearning to be seen and understood. The large text and brilliant colors are impossible to ignore, igniting an almost synesthetic call for attention and connection.
Karen Kunc, The Wanting Pool
Recommended by Rebecca (Gallery Manager):
Karen Kunc's large evocative woodcuts are inspired by human relationships to nature and landscape. She brings elements from many cultures into her work, including Moorish, Spanish, and Japanese influences. Kunc is a master of woodcut and is distinguished from other artists by her innovations in the medium. We look forward to her solo exhibition of artist books at the Bainbridge Island Art Museum next month.
Ivan Rusachek, Full Moon, 100 Years of Solitude
Recommended by Suzannah (Marketing and Communications Manager):
Ivan Rusachek’s dreamlike etchings deliver the viewer into a liminal world. In “Full Moon, 100 Years of Solitude,” he references the magic realist masterpiece of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The woman depicted in this etching looks right into the viewer, much the way characters from Marquez’s novel see through time and even their own narrative. The symbol of the moon is at once a window into into the world and a shield from it. Rusachek’s interpretation of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” exemplify his ability to translate the essence of ephemeral stories that touch the heart of humanity, conveying meaning while retaining complex mystery.