The 2023 Delta National Small Prints Exhibition (DNSPE) opened Feb. 16 at Arkansas State University’s Bradbury Art Museum (BAM) with a public reception for the artists and arts patrons.

Jenn Bratovich, juror for this year’s exhibition, reviewed entries from printmakers based in the United States and beyond. She was able to see the title, medium, dimensions and artist statement associated with each print, but not the artist’s name or place of residence.

Bratovich, who is director of exhibitions and programming at Print Center New York, selected the prints to include in the exhibition and recommended artworks to receive purchase prizes. The recipients of purchase awards become part of A-State’s permanent collection. Others received sponsorship awards.

A full-color catalog of the entire exhibition is available to visitors and the artists.
“Printmaking began as a means for disseminating information to the public — it originated as a tool for reaching out,” says Madeline McMahan, museum registrar and preparator at Bradbury Art Museum. “For this reason, it feels poetic that Bradbury Art Museum has its own origin in DNSPE. In many ways, the democracy of printmaking echoes our mission as an institution. BAM exists for the purpose of reaching out — extending our arms to the community, providing support for artists and encouraging art education. We hope that printmaking’s unique power is felt by our visitors as they explore DNSPE, and we thank all the printmakers who contributed their work to this exhibition. Their talent, their experience and their voices made it possible for us to have another incredible show this year.”

The purchase award-winning entries include (in alphabetical order by the artist’s last name):

• Les Christensen Excellence in Art Purchase Award (underwritten by Julie Bates of Little Rock): “Can You Hear Me?” 2021, relief and silkscreen, by Dustin Brinkman.

• Dr. Les Wyatt Purchase Award (underwritten by Jeanne and Dr. Les Wyatt of Dallas, Texas): “The Honeymoon is Over,” 2022, block printing ink and digital inkjet on Awagami Bamboo paper, by Patty deGrandpre.

• Cheryl Wall Trimarchi Purchase Award (in honor of her grandchildren—Max and Sebastian Giesecke and Olivia and Giorgia Hart): “Highway Pingpong,” 2022, CMYK silkscreen on laser engraved mat board, by Julie Kinu Egresitz.

• Delanie & Eric Atchison Purchase Award (underwritten by Delanie and Eric Atchison of Little Rock): “Foul Bite Happy Accident,” 2022, intaglio and chine collé, by Yuji Hiratsuka.

• Cultural Steward Purchase Award (dedicated to the Windgate Foundation): “Drops of Voyage,” 2022, etching, by Anthony TungNing Huang.

• Chancellor’s Purchase Award (underwritten by Karen and Dr. Todd Shields of Jonesboro): “Grandpa Jack’s Cabin,” 2022, lithography and serigraphy, by Kent Kapplinger.

• Chucki Bradbury Art Purchase Award (Underwritten by A Special Endowment in Honor of Chucki Bradbury): “Ghosts of Lithography,” 2022, stone lithograph, by Emmett Merrill.

• Lindquist Purchase Award (Underwritten by Chucki and Curt Bradbury Jr. of Little Rock): “Fretwork,” 2022, woodcut on kozo paper, by Ariana Padovano.

• Dr. Les Wyatt Purchase Award (underwritten by Jeanne and Dr. Les Wyatt of Dallas, Texas): “The Distance between Similarities,” 2021, screenprint, by Nathan Pietrykowski.

• College of Liberal Arts and Communication Purchase Award (underwritten by Dr. Carl Cates, Jonesboro, and Dr. Gina Hogue, Bay): “Floating Through,” 2022, silkscreen, by M. Robyn Wall.

• President’s Purchase Award (underwritten by Mandy and Dr. Charles Welch of Little Rock): “Mo,” 2022, intaglio, by Koichi Yamamoto.

The sponsorship awards this year are as follows:

• Curtis Steele Merit Award (underwritten by Curtis Steele), “Plug N’ Play,” 2022, etching and aquatint, by Sarah Manuel.

• BAM Staff Merit Award, “Evening Light,” 2022, lithography and intaglio, by Lila Shull.

The Delta National Small Prints Exhibition continues through March 29.Museum hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and by appointment.BAM is located in Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Dr.Admission is free. For additional details, contact the museum at (870) 972-3687.