lFresh Hot Press"" is not only the name of a new exhibit at the Overture Center, but also the publishing component of Madison's print organization. While the print club's ideals, goals and activities are excellent, the exhibit falls a bit short of expectations with its slightly lackluster and ""already seen that"" display.
Fresh Hot Press is an organization on campus that helps publish small editions of unique prints done by students, faculty and visiting artists, as well as promote interaction between these three groups.
Most of the prints from the ""Fresh Hot Press"" exhibit - which are displayed in two, fairly small galleries - elicit a feeling of being mish-mashed together, as if they were just hung next to each other without any real planning.
""Distribution"" by Matthew J. Bindert, is a very tall and large canvas that has black square patterns printed on it. While simple in its color choice, this piece stands out for its uniqueness and size, two elements missing from many of the pieces.
Another striking print is ""Will Hoge and Jason Ishell Gig Poster,"" by Erion O'Connor. Although it is merely an advertisement for a band, the piece is reminiscent of the pop art advertising movement because the only object in the print, other then the concert information, is an overly large matchbook.
All the pieces in ""Fresh Hot Press"" are unique or gain a sense of uniqueness when viewed in relation to other pieces by the same artist or similar works. Still, the show has a feeling as if it is one the viewer has seen before - something that resembles every other student print show you've been to. So here's to hoping that it's the assemblage of different artists and styles, and not the decline of true originality in today's up-and-coming print artists that creates this uninspiring feeling.
