Hnizdovsky woodcuts to be exhibited (05/26/02)

Hnizdovsky woodcuts to be exhibited

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. - The exhibit "Woodcuts by Jacques Hnizdovsky" opens at Firehouse Center for the Arts, on May 29, where it will be on view through June 24. An artists' reception and poetry reading by William Jay Smith will be held Thursday, May 30, at 5-7 p.m.

Jacques Hnizdovsky (1915-1985) was born in Ukraine, and studied art in Warsaw and Zagreb. After his arrival in the U.S. in 1949, he switched his primary medium from painting to woodcut. His work has been widely celebrated through prizes, fellowships, exhibitions, publications, and acquisition by many great museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The exhibit is made possible thanks to the generosity of Stephanie and Mira Hnizdovsky, the artist's wife and daughter, respectively, who have relocated from New York to the North Shore, and whose generosity makes the exhibit possible. All of the exhibited prints will be for sale.

The distinguished poet, William Jay Smith, a friend of the artist, has offered to read from his book, "The Girl in Glass: Love Poems," at the reception in memory of Mr. Hnizdovsky, whose woodcuts appear throughout the volume. Mr. Smith is the author of more than 50 books of poetry, children's verse, literary criticism, and memoirs, and the editor of several influential anthologies. From 1968 to 1970 he served as consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress (a post now called the poet laureate), and two collections of poetry were finalists for the National Book Award. Poet-in-residence at Williams College from 1959 to 1967 and chairman of the Writing Division of the School of the Arts at Columbia University from 1973 to 1975, Mr. Smith is professor emeritus of English at Hollins College.

The firehouse Center for the Arts is located on Market Square; gallery hours are, Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information call the center, (978) 426-7336.

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