Dorothea Rockburne (Canadian, born 1932). <em>Locus, Series #2</em>, 1972. Etching, aquatint and graphhite on paper, 40 × 30 in. (101.6 × 76.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Nancy and Arnold Smoller, 2005.46.2. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: , CUR.2005.46.2.jpg)

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Dorothea Rockburne (Canadian, born 1932). Locus, Series #2, 1972. Etching, aquatint and graphhite on paper, 40 × 30 in. (101.6 × 76.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Nancy and Arnold Smoller, 2005.46.2. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: , CUR.2005.46.2.jpg)

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Tell me more.

Like many of the artists in this exhibition, Rockburne pushes the boundaries of what can be considered art.

Her work is considered to exist amongst the media of drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking -- while not being identifiable as any of them. These are about how they are made.

To create these works, Rockburne folded the paper and ran it through a printing press in sections, creating more permanent creases. She also applied aquatint, which creates the velvety sheen you can see in certain areas.

Locus, Series #2

Contemporary Art

Moving from the study of mathematics to art as a student at Black Mountain College, Dorothea Rockburne kept conceptual and structural thinking at the heart of her innovative art-making, and that logical approach has also dictated her use of materials. For the Locus series, the artist experiments with the sculptural possibilities of paper through folding, printing, and polishing the print surface. Looking to the history of Italian altar painting, Rockburne also considered wall placement and its influence on the viewer, seeking a heightened presence by activating the interaction from above.

PORTFOLIO/SERIES From the Locus Series

ARTIST Dorothea Rockburne, Canadian, born 1932

PRINTER Crown Point Press

PUBLISHER Robert Feldman

MEDIUM Etching, aquatint and graphhite on paper

DATES 1972

DIMENSIONS 40 × 30 in. (101.6 × 76.2 cm) (show scale)

SIGNATURE Signed and dated in graphite lower right: Rockburne 72 Titled in graphite lower left

COLLECTIONS Contemporary Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 2005.46.2

CREDIT LINE Gift of Nancy and Arnold Smoller

EXHIBITIONS

Out of Place: A Feminist Look at the Collection

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Dorothea Rockburne (Canadian, born 1932). Locus, Series #2, 1972. Etching, aquatint and graphhite on paper, 40 × 30 in. (101.6 × 76.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Nancy and Arnold Smoller, 2005.46.2. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: , CUR.2005.46.2.jpg)

EDITION Edition: 16/42

IMAGE overall, CUR.2005.46.2.jpg.

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