It’s a little intimidating when a person is described as an “institution”. Mental images of bricks, mortar and imposing classical columns spring readily to mind. But, in fact, Professor Virginia Myers IS an institution in the printmaking department at the University of Iowa. “Miss Myers”, as she has been known to generations of Iowa art students, is a solicitous, sensitive teacher who can, and does, answer just about any question about intaglio printmaking. She also invented the “Iowa Foil Printer” which allows artists to integrate reflective, colored foils with other mono-printing processes.

Duplicity, Destiny Way, and Glory Byway / Foil Stamping / Kimberlee Rocca

My own training as an intaglio printmaker has fostered an admittedly myopic, coloristic prejudice- I have ever been mistrustful of the seduction of color at the expense of strong drawing. The work of Kimberlee Rocca, however, uses foil-stamping techniques with such compositional authority. Abstracted forms of vibrant color dynamically interact in her joyously expressive pieces. Miss Myers’ “Iowa Foil Printer” has landed in the hands of a capable, young woman exploring the breadth of the foil printer’s visual power.

Kimberlee is among the artists whom we will feature in the Metro Area Gallery Tour on Friday, October 2nd. Mark your calendars!