Curators Amy Tobin and Hannah Mumby have done a great service to Langwith’s Norman Rea Gallery with their latest exhibition of prints and etchings. This, the first exhibition of the new academic year, shows the work of three local artists whose contrasting and wide-reaching themes are brought together through the medium of print.
Catherine Sutcliffe Fuller’s large etchings are splashed with colour, helping to express the theme of ‘conservation’ which permeates her work. Her work seeks to echo the transient nature of our planet’s resources through the limited number of prints each of her plates affords.
Mary Greene’s Buddhism-inspired prints and Nathan Chenery’s quirky pen and ink drawings contribute a more abstract vibe to the exhibition. Taking her inspiration from the musicality of Buddhist teachings, Greene aims 
to blur the line between music and image with her striking visual representations of religious chants. There is an undeniable charm to Chenery’s work, affected through his simple, yet bold use of line. His sketches and prints are an exploration of his experiences as a homosexual in contemporary society, but they hold their own through their pure aesthetic qualities and are not dissimilar to today’s popular illustrative artists such as David Shrigley.
The exhibition’s opening on Monday night saw two of the three artists visit Langwith College, mixing with students and members of the public alike, highlighting the universal appeal of this showcase. Gradually the gallery is edging its way into the student consciousness through such innovative and professional spectacles as ‘Graphic’.
Upcoming exhibitions at the Norman Rea Gallery include a spectacle of sculpture entitled ‘Place-making’. Dramatically different to the current showcase, ‘Place-making’ will push the boundaries of campus art with large scale installations in a variety of media. This opens on Monday 30th November, but I highly recommend a visit to ‘Graphic’ in the meantime, which runs until the 27th November.