Frank Boyden
Owl and the Moon, 1998
Cliché Verre, edition 7/15
8 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of the Artist
Photography: Jon Bolton

Much of What is Seen is Not: Frank Boyden as Printmaker

February 23 – June 8, 2014

This exhibition debuts a selection of prints presented to RAM by the nationally recognized ceramicist, Frank Boyden. This gift of nearly 30 of his prints and folios from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s depict fish, animals, and insects—which are also subjects in his ceramic work.

While artists are not always interested in—or successful at—exploring their ideas in different dimensions, Boyden has pursued concepts through multiple media for decades. He was trained as a printmaker, painter, and art historian; but he has created sculpture and public art. Boyden admits to being “seduced” by clay, a material he has worked with since the early 1970s. Inspired by Pre-Columbian and contemporary ceramics, Boyden has often chosen to use an anagama—or wood-fired—kiln to produce his clay vessels.

Boyden has produced almost 400 editions since his return to printmaking in 1984. Not only does he design and create the compositions, Boyden also pulls the prints himself, working in a large studio full of equipment that he built. A strong believer in creating art that reflects the natural world, Boyden connects his animal imagery to the species that inhabit the area near his home at the mouth of the Salmon River on the Oregon Coast.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Much of What is Seen is Not: Frank Boyden as Printmaker

February 23 – June 8, 2014
Frank Boyden
Owl and the Moon, 1998
Cliché Verre, edition 7/15
8 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches
Racine Art Museum, Gift of the Artist
Photography: Jon Bolton

This exhibition debuts a selection of prints presented to RAM by the nationally recognized ceramicist, Frank Boyden. This gift of nearly 30 of his prints and folios from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s depict fish, animals, and insects—which are also subjects in his ceramic work.

While artists are not always interested in—or successful at—exploring their ideas in different dimensions, Boyden has pursued concepts through multiple media for decades. He was trained as a printmaker, painter, and art historian; but he has created sculpture and public art. Boyden admits to being “seduced” by clay, a material he has worked with since the early 1970s. Inspired by Pre-Columbian and contemporary ceramics, Boyden has often chosen to use an anagama—or wood-fired—kiln to produce his clay vessels.

Boyden has produced almost 400 editions since his return to printmaking in 1984. Not only does he design and create the compositions, Boyden also pulls the prints himself, working in a large studio full of equipment that he built. A strong believer in creating art that reflects the natural world, Boyden connects his animal imagery to the species that inhabit the area near his home at the mouth of the Salmon River on the Oregon Coast.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Press Room

Gallery of Work

Exhibitions at RAM are made possible by:

Platinum Sponsors

Judith and David Flegel Fund
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Ron and Judith Isaacs
Nicholas and Nancy Kurten
Windgate Foundation

Diamond Sponsors

Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation
Ruffo Family Foundation

Gold Sponsors
Anonymous
David Charak
Silver Sponsors
Art Bridges
A.C. Buhler Family
Andis Foundation
Baird
Lucy G. Feller
Ben and Dawn Flegel
Annette Hirsh Family
J. Jeffers & Co.
Dorothy MacVicar
RDK Foundation

Jan Serr and John Shannon
Bronze Sponsors

Anonymous
Susan Boland
Virginia Buhler
Butcher & Barrel/Amos Los Tacos
Educators Credit Union
Express Employment Professionals
Get Behind the Arts Studio Tour
William A. Guenther
Tom and Sharon Harty
Tony and Andrea Hauser
David and Judy Hecker
Bradley Lynch
Carlotta Miller
Larry and Barbara Newman
The Norbell Foundation
The Prairie School
Georgiana Treivush
Twin Disc, Inc.
Deb and Will Walker

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