Melissa Harshman: A Piece of the Pie
Artist(s):
Title:
- A Piece of the Pie
Exhibition:
Creation Year:
- 2000
Medium:
- Lithography, serigraphy
Size:
- 17 1/2 inches x 16 inches
Category:
Artist Statement:
For the last three years I have been exploring ways in which to incorporate digital images into traditional printmaking practices. Thus far I have experimented with serigraphy, Xerox transfer to traditional litho plates, Pronto industrial litho offset plates, and photo positive litho plates. Currently I am using photo negative litho plates to transform my images from digital files to a finished print. The image “A Piece of the Pie” was made in Adobe PhotoShop and then printed in four-color CMYK separations with photo positive litho plates. Additional silkscreen runs were added to complete the work.
A digital portfolio that I was invited to be in, “Pictionary,” inspired I my current body of work entitled “Word Play”, which includes “A Piece of the Pie.” The only requirement for inclusion in the portfolio was the image had to contain either a dictionary or encyclopedia image. I especially liked using the dictionary image and started my hunt for old dictionaries at flea markets and antique stores. Each of the prints in “Word Play” began by scanning in an image that appealed to me from an old dictionary. I would then respond and build upon that image. Some of the pieces are completely whimsical while others have underlying political content. All use text in some form. My goal was to create prints that were aesthetically pleasing and conceptually significant, often playing off the meaning of the chosen icon.
