Chazen explores ‘Color of Iron,’ Tandem Press achievements

Red ochre, certainly, but Prussian blue and emerald? You may be wondering what the artistic media of ceramics, painting, glass and photography could possibly have in common.

The answer is iron, at least as practiced by the three artists represented in a new show at the Chazen Museum of Art.

“The Color of Iron” uses color to foster a greater understanding of the role that iron plays in color in different media, and, by extension, the role that color plays in artistic creation. Ceramicist John Britt, San Francisco painter Sandra McPherson (who traveled on a Geology Museum expedition to Wyoming to enhance her understanding of pigments), glass artist Scott Shapiro and photographer Mike Ware are represented in the exhibition, which opened on Jan. 14.

On Saturday, Jan. 21, the Chazen will open an exhibition of highlights from Tandem Press, UW–Madison’s fine arts press.

Founded in 1987 as a venue for nationally recognized artists working primarily in media other than prints to experiment with them, the press consistently has pushed the envelope of printmaking techniques. With a mission dedicated to fostering research, collaboration, experimentation and innovation, Tandem has hosted such artists-in-residence as filmmaker David Lynch; cartoonist and graphic novelist Art Spiegelman (“Maus”); painters Robert Cottingham, Jim Dine, Sam Gilliam, the late Al Held and Jaune Quick-To-See Smith; installation artists GRONK and Judy Pfaff; and many more.

These artists have produced more than 200 prints during the last decade, in media ranging from etchings to photogravures to collographs to woodcuts, lithographs and others, sometimes less easily described. This outpouring of excellence has not been lost on the nation’s art museums and galleries, according to Tandem Press director Paula Panczenko.

“Our prints are currently in 27 museum collections and 67 corporate collections, and we exhibit annually in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles,” she says.

Panczenko says that recent years have seen more and more Tandem artists start to use computer technology. “They are combining old techniques, such as etching, with digital imagery,” she says. “One of our goals is to keep our studio equipped with the latest technology so that our visiting artists will have the fullest range of opportunities and that Tandem Press can continue to be a truly experimental press,” she says.

UW–Madison students have had a hand in Tandem’s success, Panczenko says, and they will continue to play an integral part of press activities. “We involve students at every level of the operation, including sales, research and development and marketing as well as the printmaking itself,” she says.

Ultimately, Panczenko says that Tandem Press is poised to become a player on the international art stage. The press recently had exhibitions in Switzerland and Spain, and would like to expand its global reach.

A reception at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, at the Chazen will celebrate Tandem Press’ achievements of the last 10 years. Both exhibitions have scheduled a number of related lectures, free and open to the public. For details, visit the UW–Madison events calendar, http://www.today.wisc.edu or the Chazen Museum’s Web site.