Schmid introduces Mezzotint

Art instructor Jenny Schmid's work on display in Kiehle until Friday

Media Credit: Blair Schlichte/Staff Photographer

A labor-intensive form of artwork that originated in the 1600s is currently on display at the Kiehle Gallery in Kiehle Hall, through Friday. Jenny Schmid, an art instructor in her first year at SCSU, is the featured artist.

Schmid specializes in printmaking but also teaches 2D Design and Computer Studio. She taught at Wayne State University in Detroit for three years before moving to Minnesota, something that has proved to be a good choice for the artist.

"I can't think of a better field to be in and there is a great atmosphere in the art department," Schmid said.

The art style featured in the show is called "Mezzotint," which Schmid provided the following short history for: A copper or zinc plate is rocked with a tool that looks like a half-moon shape with a handle. This tool has tiny teeth on the end of it and puts a dot texture on the plate when rocked back and forth. After many hours of rocking, the plate would print black, and then polishing out the whites with a small spoon-like object creates the image. The smoother the surface, the lighter the image will print. When the image is completed, multiples can be printed onto paper with an etching press.

Though we may not be familiar with mezzotints in the U.S., in Europe mezzotints have been kept alive due to their visual attractiveness. Print collectors are attracted to mezzotints because of their beautiful appearance as well as the fact that the work is so labor intensive.

Schmid fell in love with mezzotints and printmaking in Bratislava, Slovakia, where she was a Fullbright fellow. Because of her fascination for this art style she completed a series of mezzotints, which focus on girls who participate in non-traditional sports, such as a boxer, racecar driver, wrestler, hunter or hockey player.

These pieces, which Schmid combines old and new styles, can be seen at the Kiehle Gallery.

"I was really attracted to mezzotinting as away to make my content have a humorous Old World reference," Schmid said.

She felt that the contemporary subject matter had a nice contradiction to the traditional technology. Her work explores the contradictory situations of beauty and power using humor to lure the viewer into the work.

The combination seemed to work on many of the viewers at the art show opening Thursday.

"I really like her style and the message behind it," said Farrah Haase, a junior mass communications major.

Schmid's art is currently in a show in Detroit that she helped organize called "Imitations," which will also be showing at the Soo Visual Arts Center in Minneapolis in December of 2002. The show includes five artists from the Twin Cities and five from Detroit.

If you are interested in getting involved with the visual arts on campus there are plenty of opportunities. Check out the next art opening or speaking event. The formal and experimental galleries always have exhibits on display. Another option is taking foundation level art classes, which are open to non-art majors.

"I always enjoy having non-art majors in my classes, as they often bring in a fresh perspective," Schmid said.

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