Gretchen Burns | Collegio Reporter

Students passing through the Harry Krug Gallery in Porter hall probably noticed a new art exhibit that has been set up.
“Dream States and Detrius” is an exhibit that features the work of visiting artist Russ Revock. It is his first solo exhibit in eight years and features selected prints and drawings created by Revock.
Revock has been a professor at Cleveland State University for more than 15 years, and he earned his MFA degree from Ohio State University.
He says he intends his art to engage the viewer without oversimplifying concepts.
“Every aspect of the subject matter is indirect and suggestive, and scenes often embody hints of existential despair, psychosexual conflict, and other forms of physical and emotional discord,” Revock said. “… I attempt to challenge the viewer by combining non-literal and symbolic imagery with universal human concerns in such a way as to ask rather than answer.”
Revock uses traditional and contemporary printmaking mediums, hand-drawings, digital techniques, photography and found images to create his art. Traditional printmaking techniques that Revock uses are etching, linocuts, and photopolymer gravure.
Etching is a method of making prints from a metal plate, usually copper, into which the design has been incised by acid. Linocuts are made from a sheet of linoleum into which a design has been cut in relief. Photopolymer gravure is a process in which the image to be printed is depressed or recessed on the surface of the printing plate.
According to S. Portico Bowman, Director of the University Gallery, the artist is currently trying to create new techniques.
“He is also exploring within the tradition of printmaking the typical use of layering images from a variety of sources, to create one final work as a Digital Composite,” Bowman said. “The digital technique would allow him to explore his ideas without the very laborious and time-consuming methods of traditional printmaking.”
Bowman says she appreciates the work of Revock.
“The artist has a strong commitment to telling a story through images that, seen in the context of an exhibit, make a very strong statement,” Bowman said. “While each individual work is also evocative and layered with meaning.”
Ross Schartel, Gallery assistant, says he enjoys the artistic expression in the exhibit and believes it gives the viewer a great sense of what can be done in modern art, giving aspiration and encouragement to the students.
“It is about the macabre and metaphorical transformation of the physical and mental limitations,” said Schartel, junior in history. “It is about expansion of the viewer, to absorb the artist’s work.”
According to Bowman, for an exhibit to be chosen for the PSU galleries, a national call for entries is mailed to over 300 galleries, universities, and art associations, as well as posting on a variety of websites related to art. The faculty look at all entries they have received, which is usually around 100, and 12-14 are selected based on which ones got the most votes.
The show will be displayed in the Harry Krug Gallery in Porter Hall until Oct. 17.