School of the Arts Publicity Office:
J. Paul DiMaggio, Publicist; 898-5739. jdimaggio@csuchico.edu
Story Contact: Catherine Sullivan, 898-4476; csullivan@csuchico.edu
Web Site: www.schoolofthearts-csuchico.com
Stop Date: Oct. 7
For Immediate Release
Turner to Present “Rubbings” Exhibition Oct. 5-29
Experience 206BC China, Cambodia and Thailand through one of the
earliest forms of printmaking – rubbings.
The Turner Print Museum, located in the Meriam Library on the CSU, Chico
campus, is presenting an art exhibition entitled “Impressions: Rubbings,”
October 5-29.
While historically rubbings have been made from carved bone, jade, brick,
tile, ceramics and cast bronze, most of the works that will be displayed at
The Turner are from stone tombs and shrines.
A rubbing is a form of printmaking – the reverse of relief printing where the
surface is inked and the paper picks up that impression. In a rubbing the
paper is placed over a bas-relief, or something with texture, and a crayon or
ink is “rubbed” across the surface and records the impression. Rubbings
predate press printed images.
“For the first time Chico State and the Chico community will get to
experience these rubbings and learn how this art form was used as a
prominent way of communication,” noted Catherine Sullivan, Curator of
the Turner.
A reception and curator’s talk takes place Thursday, October 7 at 5:30 p.m.
Special guest will be master storyteller Adrienne Scott, Curator of the
Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology, CSU, Chico. Her expertise is
communicating cultures through stories and myths.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), founded in 1945, originally produced the Chinese rubbings that
will be exhibited. They are on paper, but not rubbed from the original
caves, tombs or shrines. To preserve these original artifacts the rubbings
were made from casts, or re-carved blocks from the original sites.
“The rubbings have been at Chico State since at least 1961 and have been
used as art history teaching-tools, but they have never been exhibited,”
said Sullivan.
Visitors will also get to experience temple shrine rubbings from Thailand
and Cambodia.
“These rubbings are of characters from the Hindu ‘Ramayana,’ and
Buddhist ‘Ramakien.’ Each rubbing tells a tale of human existence that is
prominent to the culture and its heritage.”
Other rubbings in the exhibition shine a spotlight on a particular culture’s
daily activities, spiritual beings, animals and carved text.
Making rubbings of artifacts found at cultural sites was once a popular
souvenir activity for tourists but due to wear and tear most sites are now
protected, said Sullivan.
“The constant rubbing can over time wear away the original image.”
This exhibit is part of the local Artoberfest and its “Mystery, Museums and
Mayhem,” a community-based activity where visitors tour local museums
looking for clues to identify a particular piece of art or artifact. For more
information about “Mystery, Museums and Mayhem” contact Karen Wilke
at karenwilke@thewritingloft.com.
Sullivan said the Turner is encouraging people to do their own rubbings.
There will be art supplies, paper and instructions available in the museum
so visitors can find interesting textures, signs or grave markers to do their
own rubbings of. A wall inside the Turner is reserved for these contributed
artworks.
The Turner is located in Meriam Library on the CSU, Chico campus. Gallery
hours are M-F from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by special arrangement. For more
information contact Sullivan at 898-4476 or visit the Turner website,
wwwjanetturner.org.