Opening Reception: Friday, May 22, 5 - 8pm

GOLDEN - By Rachel Fritz “A series of printmaking inspired by my time in different parts of California”

ARTISTS’ STATEMENT:
I was born and raised in the Placer and Nevada County region and have always felt this area is magic. I grew up immersed in nature and constantly drawing. When I later moved to other parts of California, including Santa Cruz and Los Angeles, I often found myself homesick for the Sierra foothills. That longing became a central influence in my work, as I came to fully appreciate the beauty of California as a whole.

While studying at Cabrillo College, I discovered printmaking and immediately connected with its process of deconstructing and reproducing images. I continued my studies at California State University Long Beach, where I was introduced to lithography. I was drawn to its illustrative quality, and with access to one of the largest collections of lithographic stones and presses, it became the focus of my final body of work.

This collection reflects my journey through California—its contrasting landscapes and the diverse life forms it sustains. Within this body of work, you will find mountain ranges, oceans, and even an ode to the jungles of the city. Now that I have returned home, I continue to create work inspired by nature and my love for the Sierra.

Lithography (from Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos) 'stone' and γράφω (gráphō)'to write')[1] is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water.[2] The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German author and actor Alois Senefelder and was initially used mostly for musical scores and maps.[3][4] Lithography can be used to print text or images onto paper or other suitable material.[5] A lithograph is something printed by lithography, but this term is only used for fine art prints and some other, mostly older, types of printed matter, not for those made by modern commercial lithography.

Traditionally, the image to be printed was drawn with a greasy substance, such as oil, fat, or wax onto the surface of a smooth and flat limestone plate. The stone was then treated with a mixture of weak acid and gum arabic ("etch") that made the parts of the stone's surface that were not protected by the grease more hydrophilic (water attracting). For printing, the stone was first moistened. The water adhered only to the etched, hydrophilic areas, making them even more oil-repellant. An oil-based ink was then applied, and would stick only to the original drawing. The ink would finally be transferred to a blank sheet of paper, producing a printed page. This traditional technique is still used for fine art printmaking.[6]