(GOLDENDALE, Wash., June 1, 2015) – An exhibition of 40 prints by internationally recognized printmaker Andrea Rich is set to open July 11 and run through November 15, 2015 at Maryhill Museum of Art, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
Andrea Rich (American, b. 1954), Thistle, 2001, woodcut on Hosho paper, 20” x 24”, Edition: 4/30; Collection of Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
Drawing on printmaking traditions as diverse as Albrecht Dürer and Japanese Ukiyo-e, the Santa Cruz, California-based artist creates vibrant, detailed works that are distinctly her own. Three decades of travel have taken Rich to far-flung locales such as Madagascar, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Africa and Europe, to observe common and exotic species of birds and animals. These first-hand experiences are what she draws on to show her subjects in their natural habitats.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Rich’s work is her meticulous and labor-intensive process. She designs her drawings based on observations in the field, then carves and hand-pulls prints in her studio. It is not unusual for Rich to carve from 10 to 20 blocks for one final image. Working in the studio full time, a print could take two or three weeks to design and carve the blocks, and another two weeks to press as many as 20 colors on each print. Editions of her work generally number 30 or less.
Among the flora and fauna depicted in deep, rich color are elk, sunflowers and sparrows, otter, and thistles, as well as chameleons, European lynx, plum-headed parakeets, indigo buntings, Wilson’s warblers and calliope hummingbirds.
An Abundance of Riches features 40 woodblock prints drawn from the collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin. The presentation at Maryhill Museum of Art is sponsored by John and Laura Cheney.
RELATED PROGRAM:
Thursday, July 23, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
The Art of Woodcut Printmaking: An Illustrated Lecture by Andrea Rich
Rich will discuss the woodcut technique – its traditions, complexity and process – and also share her own work in the medium. The lecture is free to museum members / $5 non-members.
Media images are available for immediate download at http://bit.ly/1kP1KId. For further information, please contact Rachel Bucci at rachel@maryhillmuseum.org.
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ABOUT MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART:
Housed in a glorious Beaux Arts mansion on 5,300 acres high above the Columbia River, Maryhill Museum of Art opened to the public May 13, 1940 and today remains one of the Pacific Northwest’s most enchanting cultural destinations. The museum was founded by Northwest entrepreneur and visionary Sam Hill, who purchased the property and began building the house with dreams of establishing a Quaker farming community. When that goal proved untenable, Hill was encouraged by friends Loie Fuller, Queen Marie of Romania, and Alma de Bretteville Spreckles to establish a museum.
Maryhill Museum of Art boasts a world-class permanent collection, rotating exhibitions of the highest caliber, and dynamic educational programs that provide opportunities for further exploration by visitors of all ages. On view are more than 80 works by Auguste Rodin, European and American paintings, objects d’art from the palaces of the Queen of Romania, Orthodox icons, unique chess sets, and the renowned Théâtre de la Mode, featuring small-scale mannequins attired in designer fashions of post-World War II France. Baskets of the indigenous people of North America were a collecting interest of Hill; today the museum’s American Indian collection represents nearly every tradition and style in North America, with works of art from prehistoric through contemporary.
Maryhill’s William and Catherine Dickson Sculpture Park features more than a dozen large-scale works by Northwest artists. The Maryhill Overlook is a site-specific sculpture by noted Portland architect Brad Cloepfil; nearby are Lewis and Clark interpretive panels. Four miles east of Maryhill is a life-sized replica of Stonehenge, Stonehenge Memorial, which Sam Hill built to memorialize local men who perished in World War I. Nearby, the Klickitat County War Memorial honors those who have died in the service of their country since World War I.
The museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 2001 the museum was listed as an official site of the National Historic Lewis and Clark Trail and in 2002 was accredited by the American Association of Museums. In 2012 the museum opened the Mary and Bruce Stevenson Wing, a 25,500 square foot expansion that is the first in the museum’s history. The new wing boasts the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Education Center, a collections storage and research suite, a new cafe and terrace, and the Cannon Power Plaza with an installation of sculpture, and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood in the distance.
VISITOR INFORMATION:
Maryhill Museum of Art is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15 to November 15. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $3 for youth age 7-18 and free for children 6 and under. Admission to the Stonehenge Memorial is free; it is open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk daily.
Sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks, cold beverages, and freshly baked desserts and pastries, as well as a selection of local wines are available at the museum’s cafe, Loie’s, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily; the Museum Store features art and history books, jewelry, Native American crafts and other mementos.
Maryhill is located off Highway 97, 12 miles south of Goldendale, Washington. Drive times to the museum are 2 hours from Portland/Vancouver, 3.5 hours from Bend, 4 hours from Seattle, and 1.5 hours from Yakima. For further information, visit maryhillmuseum.org.