Justified

About

Justified is an exhibition of prints and objects by Rahim Amartey, Cristiana Ilie, Marlene Wlodarczyk and Pauline Wood, four artists who are currently undertaking the annual Print Fellowship scheme at the University of Northampton’s School of The Arts.

Under the scheme, the participants – all recent graduates – have gained valuable experience supporting art and design students in a busy-open access print studio, in exchange for unlimited use of the facilities to further develop their own skills and knowledge.

Central to the Fellowship is the graduates’ professional development and the continuing pursuit and progress of their own art practice. To this end, the exhibition Justified is an important milestone for them.  It functions as a culmination of their valued commitment to the University, while it also acts a springboard to a new chapter in their fledgling careers as arts professionals.

Catriona Leahy, Lecturer in Printmaking, explains more about the work on show in the exhibition:

“As artists we are continually compelled to justify our position within the world, to register our place. Printmaking by extension is no stranger to this challenge. Often deemed as the poorer cousin to painting and sculpture, print does more than strive to hold its place. Artists working in print today explore it not only for its unique aesthetic but also for its capacity to reproduce, circulate appropriate, collaborate; thus recognising its agency in effecting social change. Print therefore seems an appropriate medium when we speak about justification.

Here in this exhibition, the end clearly justifies the means. Printmaking as a medium has done more than just serve its purpose, but has helped to channel themes of transformation, identity, cultural memory and perception, present within the Fellows’ work. In doing so, they have challenged conventions of print, extending its language beyond the confines of the press.

Justified will be open to the public from 26 May to 2 June.  Avenue Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and is located in the University’s Avenue Campus near the main reception on St. George’s Avenue.  For more information about the exhibition, contact the gallery on 01604 893050, gallery@northampton.ac.uk, or look for Avenue Gallery on Facebook.