Art exhibit combines paper, metal mediums

The art in Gallery 110 has one thing in common: each piece has been formed, in some way or another, out of metal print.

Throughout February, an art exhibit called Metal Inkorperated will be featured in Gallery 110 of the Warren M. Lee Center for Fine Arts. The exhibit is done in coordination with the University of South Dakota and independent artists, many of them professional artists and professors at other universities.

The show is a collaboration of printmakers and metalsmiths. The metalworkers would create the metal plates while the printmakers would shape them into pieces of art.

Alison Erazmus, director of the university art galleries, said the show was brought to USD because Art Professor Johntimothy Pizzuto was one of the artists who worked on the exhibit.

“I felt it would be educational to the students here,” she said.

Pizzuto collaborated with printmaking artist James Meyer on his piece that is displayed in the gallery. The two spoke over the phone and exchanged artwork in the form of copper squares to begin the artistic process of creating together.

“It was an opportunity for me to stretch myself out of what I would normally do and work on responding to another persons artwork and pick up on what their voice was,” Pizzuto said.

Erazmus said organizing the event was incredibly difficult because she had to coordinate the packaging and shipping of all art pieces through individual members and organizations. Since the exhibit is almost entirely made up of delicate materials, Erazmus also has to ensure their safe return.

Pizzuto said he wanted his art to bring enjoyment to the public.

“An experience with art is a very personal, but I always hope people will walk away with a greater appreciation for the arts and a greater sense of poetry in life,” he said.

While the gallery exhibit is meant to educate students instead of selling the art, Erazmus said the artists do benefit from getting their name out in the art community.

Community member James Ernest attended the gallery and said the appearance of the art was unexpected and interesting.

“I like how this one artist actually turned his print into a book frame,” he said.

The show is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.