by Christina Clark
The Unified for 25 celebration of the School of the Arts continues on Thursday, January 26, at 7 pm in the Performance Hall at IU South Bend with special guest Paul Catanese. Catanese brings a unique perspective to the evening as a hybrid media artist, working in multiple mediums. He is also Associate Professor and Director of the Interdisciplinary Arts and Media MFA Program at Columbia College Chicago, as well as an ISE International Board member.
Catanese's presentation should be thought provoking, as “He literally wrote the book on post-digital printmaking,” according to Hannah Lorenz. Lorenz is a Columbia College Chicago 2016 alum, who wrote his faculty page for the university. “Along with Angela Geary, Catanese wrote Post-Digital Printmaking: CNC, Traitional and Hybrid Techniques to document the ways artists blur the lines between traditional and digital printmaking.”
“Often times, people think [experimentation] means without rigor. For me, it really means with iteration, with failing many times and trying again,” Catanese says. His motto is “concept first, material second.”
He intentionally takes on concepts he doesn’t fully understand to learn more on his journey to creating.
In one of Catanese’s current series Visible from Space, that will be on exhibition in The Gallery from January 9-February 4, he uses a wide array of materials listed on his website to create the work: “video, relief prints, installation, projection, handmade paper, artist’s books, found objects, field notes, interviews, essays, and site specific events.” In his brief biography available on his website paulcantanese.com, he lists “printmaking, video, sculptural objects, artists books, code, net.art” in addition to the ones listed for Visible from Space. Blending together many mediums and sensory experiences to create a thought project in the ways he has successfully provide a rich experience for those looking to experience his pieces or listen to his story and learn from his creative experience.
Come hear Catanese speak about his experiences and processes at 7 pm on January 26, in the the Education and Arts Building, room 1011. As with all Unified for 25 events, admission is free, but tickets are required. This lecture is open to the public. Please call 574.520.4203 for tickets.