Salem College will showcase two dramatically different artists at an exhibit that will open to the public on February 16. George Lockwood’s The Process of the Print features original hand-pulled prints, while Color Free: Works by Jade Ramey explores color shading and shadowing from the perspective of an artist who is red-green color blind.

George Lockwood’s work is valued not only for the aesthetics and technical skill exhibited in his prints, but also for the documentary insight of a master printer that his writings provide. During his short life (1929-1969), Lockwood made a lasting impression as an innovative printmaker, illustrator, and educator.

The Process of the Print highlights the stages involved in developing a hand-pulled print, from concept to completion. On display are original wood blocks, painted sketches, printed proofs, and various matrixes. The exhibit, which is on loan through the generosity of Lockwood’s wife, Margaret N. Lockwood, is augmented by the works of other nationally-known contemporary printmakers and explores techniques in lithography, linocut, solarplate intaglio, etching, monotype, and mixed media.

Jade Ramey is red-green color blind and had trouble with art that required shading. When he discovered he could use color as shading, he developed light/dark systems to distinguish shadowing and color differences. His work is inspired by Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol.

“Most artists are bound by color. They may be painting a portrait of a lady with red hair. The artist is struggling to get the exact hue of red in her hair. I am color blind, so there is only red in my world – not all the different hues of red. So, I paint her hair blue and give the rest of the painting red detail lines. I am not bound by the chains of color. I am color free,” says Ramey.

A reception honoring these two new exhibits will be held on Friday, February 20, at 6:00 pm. It is free and open to the public.

If you go:

The gallery hours at the Elberson Fine Arts Center are 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday; 1:00 – 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday. The Elberson Fine Arts Center is located on the campus of Salem Academy and College at 500 E. Salem Avenue, Winston-Salem.