The exhibit, Shades, Shapes, and Story-Lines, showcases prints that tell a story. From the earliest cave paintings to the present day, artists use images to tell a story. For many centuries artists needed a wealthy patron to support them, so European artists often worked for the Catholic church to create visual depictions of bible stories and themes. Their artwork was hung in cathedrals and churches for nonreading Christians to learn the biblical stories. Some artists found a royal patron and created works of historical events. In previous decades, narrative art was referred to by the categories of “religious” or “historical” works. Later when artists could create and sell images for themselves, their works were called “genre” art pieces.

Whether done consciously or unconsciously, the visual artists of today continue the precedent set in past centuries to develop a narrative in their work. Storytelling takes many forms, but at its root, it is about communicating to and connecting with the audience. Visual cues resonate strongly and can wordlessly communicate a narrative to all ages and cultures. Telling a story visually may be done with a reference to a universal archetype, a cultural concept, or by using poignant events and ideas personal to the artist. Artwork allows the viewer to react to the artist’s narrative or conceive a personal interpretation and story-line that is unique to the viewer.

The artwork in Shades, Shapes, and Story-Lines are prints that either have an apparent story or one that is more obscure and requires the viewer to add his or her own interpretation and impressions. Two pieces in this exhibition that challenge the viewer to create a story-line are Waiting by Harold Altman and Wings of a Dove by Chaim Koppelman. While Hauling in the Nets by Gordon Grant and Clowns and the News by Joseph Hirsch have narratives that are more readily discerned. These four prints and thirteen others from the Gladys Lux Print Collection, all with a story to tell, may be seen in the Lux Print Gallery on the second floor of the LUX Center for the Arts from May 9 to Sept. 10, 2019.

The Exhibition is curated by Susan Soriente, Curator of the Lux Print Collection.