20/20 Vision, Second Edition

The Art of Contemporary University Printmaking

Allison Mott

I spent all of Christmas break in the town that I grew up in, New Orleans. This visit reawakened my appreciation for the old, beautiful homes I know from childhood. I find there is elegance in antiquity. There are many homes that are still in the process of recovery from extensive damage. I think the idea of the destruction of fine things is both a tragedy and a reality that can lend itself to some amazing artistic applications.

In my prints I have been investigating this juxtaposition with the use of textures, finishes and color. My most recent prints include the use of both metallic ink and gold leaf. I am creating large-scale monotypes with the use of screen printing and collage. I am taking imagery from the homes that I knew growing up, and playing on this damage that they now have. Color inspiration for my prints comes from the water damage lines that were found in the homes after Hurricane Katrina.