The Grunwald Gallery at Indiana University is pleased to announce Midwest Matrix: Continuum and Dennis McNett: Wolfbat Offerings: Blooming Grove and the Luck of the Cardinal. These exhibitions will open Friday, August 29 and continue through Wednesday, October 1. A gallery talk and opening reception will be held on Friday, August 29 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Grunwald Gallery.

Midwest Matrix: Continuum explores the "Midwest tradition" of printmaking, featuring over 20 artists highlighting this history and calling attention to the next generation of artists. Susan Goldman, Director of Lily Press in Rockville, MD and former professor of printmaking and master printer for Navigation Press at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, created the documentary Midwest Matrix. This film explores the history of fine art printmaking in the American Midwest. European expatriate artists and their students, post-World War II, either transformed existing or founded influential workshops and printmaking departments in Midwestern universities. Goldman's documentary examines the strong sense of community that prevails and how it continues to manifest itself. Mentors of this Midwest printmaking tradition will exhibit alongside nominated former students, who have gone on to have active careers of their own. Dennis McNett, one of these former students, will create a print installation in conjunction with the Midwest Matrix: Continuum symposium. His installation, titled Wolfbat Offerings: Blooming Grove and the Luck of the Cardinal, will focus on the Cardinal as the state bird of Indiana with a rich mythological history. He will exemplify the Midwest tradition of printmaking by collaborating with students at Indiana University through workshops by assisting to create his installation in the gallery. Midwest Matrix articulates a history and the legacy of fine art printmaking in the American Midwest and poses the question: What is the "Midwest tradition" of printmaking?

Dennis McNett has been carving surly block prints for over 18 years. His graphic aesthetic and love for narrative work has been translated in many ways. His work ranges from larger than life Viking ship performances and parades, masks, installations and sculptures to unique hand-carved wood cut pieces, traditional relief prints, and graphics.

This exhibition is shown in conjunction with the Midwest Matrix: Continuum symposium at Indiana University from September 19 - 21.

These exhibits and corresponding programs were made possible by The College Arts and Humanities Institute, The Grunwald Gallery of Art, and the Printmaking workshop, all at Indiana University.