MORGANTOWN , W.Va.West Virginia University art alumni as well as current and former art professors will have their contemporary prints on display in the Mesaros Galleries at the Creative Arts Center during July 1Aug. 27.

The exhibit was organized by current WVU Assistant Professor of Art Joseph Lupo.

A closing reception will be held Thursday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Galleries. All events are free and open to the public.

The exhibition titledFrom the Muddy Banks of the Monongahela,will feature prints by art alumni Derek Reese, of Columbus, Ohio; Matt DiClemente, of Detroit, Mich.; Matt Forrest and Patricia Villalobos Echeverria, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Michelle Moode of Los Angeles, Calif.; Samantha Mosby, of Athens, Ga.; Jeff Hindal and Jennifer Rockage of Morgantown; Grant Johnson and Martin Mazorra, of New York, N.Y.; Ashley Nason, of Dekalb, Ill.; and Miguel Rivera, of Kansas City, Mo.

Current and former WVU art professors exhibiting their prints include Carmon Colangelo, a former chair of the WVU Division of Art and Design, who is now dean of the Sam Fox School of Design&Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.; Sergio Soave, also a former chair of the Division of Art and Design, who is now chair of the art department at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; Sarah Smelser, assistant professor of art at Illinois State University in Bloomington, Ill.; Chris Hocking, senior associate director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga.; Joseph Lupo, assistant professor of art at WVU and Robert Bridges, associate professor of art and curator of the Mesaros Galleries at WVU .

Managed and programmed by Curator Robert Bridges and the WVU Division of Art, the Mesaros Galleries organize a diverse and exciting schedule of exhibitions throughout the year. The galleries are committed to showing experimental work that is innovative both in terms of media and content. The Mesaros Galleries also host contemporary artists of important or growing reputation who work in all media in its visiting artist program.

When I conceived this project, the challenge of creating a successful contemporary print exhibition and portfolio was the first thing on my mind,Lupo said.What I quickly realized was that being associated with West Virginia University gave me access to many very successful and important contemporary printmakers.

Lupo said the participants in this exhibition have a connection to WVU that spans more than 20 years.

They all have walked through the top floor of the Creative Arts Center and used the same presses and equipment that my students and I use today. The excitement in the responses I received from these artists is proof that while many of them live far away from Morgantown, there is still a connection and respect for the program and the effect it has had on their lives.

Lupo also mentioned the diversity of imagery and subject matter within this group of prints.

They are great examples of the WVU Printmaking Departments ability to offer an education where an emphasis is placed on both tradition and personal exploration, while no style or technique or process is valued over another. The quality of individual work has always been the measure of success for our program.

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