"Rolled and Stoned" takes Matchbox

By Allison Schaich     1/27/14 6:00pm

On Jan. 23, Rice's Matchbox Gallery opened its first show of the new semester, Rolled and Stoned. The show features lithographs and monoprints from seven Rice undergraduates: Sophie Eichner, Geraldine Franco, Gabbie Hulet, Kelly King, Claire O'Malley, Ellen Marsh and Morgan McNeel. The majority of the artists each had three prints featured, which they created using methods taught in Karin Broker's lithography and monoprinting class. The prints are very elaborate, featuring multiple layers of ink and paper, making it very clear that the artists put a lot of time and effort into carefully constructing the beautiful print

masterpieces.  

Eichner explained that printmaking is different from other forms of art in that it involves a relatively intricate, multi-step process.  

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"I start making the mono-printed central image, an aggregation of rock formations developed from digitally collaging a smaller base image," Eichner said. "I then pull lines and forms from the print, in a sense deconstructing the form in key areas with penwork and collage to create the final product." 

O'Malley, who had two triptychs featuring various views of a bicycle and androgynous legs on display, described the difference between lithography and

monoprinting. 

"Lithography is an old process of using greasy ink on limestone, which stores the drawn image so that it can be printed repeatedly," O'Malley said. "Monoprinting is what it sounds like: a process which makes a unique print each time."

Although each artist's prints were made under the same instructor using similar

techniques, each set of prints is remarkably unique, so there is a fascinating juxtaposition of subjects in the small gallery. While some of the prints feature dark undersea scenes, others feature subjects such as human figures and brightly colored geometric shapes. Some prints are more abstract, leaving it at the discretion of the viewer to try and decipher the meaning

behind the work. 

O'Malley explained how Broker allowed her students creative license and freedom with the project. 

"Karin Broker, the printmaking professor, does not use this ample source material to guide her students; she encourages us to use something personal and to develop a unique path with the medium," O'Malley said. "Each student arrived at their end product independently of any major artistic influence." 

According to Eichner, printmaking is different from other types of works she has done

in the past. 

"You have to embrace the imperfections, and let them guide you," Eichner said. "This is a kind of liberating change from the carefully planned sculptures I have made

in the past." 

Gallery openings at the Matchbox Gallery are unique and intimate due to the small size of the gallery, making it very easy to converse with each artist

about their work. 

"A smaller venue lends itself to student work, which in many ways allows it to be less rigorous than something larger like an installation at the Rice Gallery, but still quite thoughtful and deliberate. A young artist can confidently experiment with the space, or multiple artists can display side by side," O'Malley said. 

It is unbelievably refreshing and impressive to realize that despite Rice students' busy lives, these students still have time to create such beautiful and distinctive works of art. While Eichner's solo show at the gallery last year makes her a veteran Matchbox artist, O'Malley said it "feels wonderful to join the ranks of other Matchboxers." 

Both O'Malley and Eichner suggested taking professor Karin Broker's class at Rice as a way for Rice students to get more involved with printmaking.

"By taking a class with Karin Broker, [a] printmaker, artist, and feminist extraordinaire, you don't just take printmaking to learn the craft, but also to get to know Karin," Eichner said. 

While I unfortunately cannot speak for the class, I would highly recommend taking time to check out Rolled and Stoned, located in the Matchbox Gallery in

Sewall Hall.

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