FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013

PER∙FORM 7.19.13- 9.14.13

WASHINGTON, DC: The Old Print Gallery is happy to announce its upcoming summer show, PER∙FORM, which opens on Friday, July 19, 2013, with a nighttime reception at the gallery from 5-8pm. The show will be on view until September 14, 2013. PER∙FORM celebrates depictions of dancers, musicians, circus performers, and stars of the stage, and pulls from our inventory of both early 20th century and contemporary prints. Ranging from abstract to figurative, these compositions are ambitious and inventive in their attempt to capture sound, forms in movement, and the indefinable energy- both physical and emotional- that fuels and motivates performers. Highlights include Stanley Kaplan’s Vibrato II, which uses multiple, repeated cuts into a linoleum matrix to mimic the quiver of its musical title, the impassioned arched back of Robert Riggs’ Drum Major, completed in charcoal and red crayon, and an original offset lithograph, circa 1938, that announces the arrival of Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus performers to 5th and Florida Avenue in Washington, DC. Several prints offer intimate compositions- dancers hovering in the wings of a theater, a reserved and focused duo practicing for a recital- which serve as a nice contrast to scenes of rigorous athleticism and dramatic lighting mixing on center stage. As such, this collection of prints not only showcases the spirit and emotive vitality of performers, but also draws attention to the diverse venues in which these performers execute their talent. Scenes are set under striped circus tents and red-curtained stages, as well as on subway platforms and city streets- conveying that these printmakers were inspired by acts of performance both spontaneous and practiced. Selected Artists: Abe Blashko, Central PTG and Illinois Co., Joseph Essig, Eugene C. Fitsch, Maya Hardin, Stanley Kaplan, Doel Reed, Robert Riggs, John Ross, Andree Ruellan, Ellen Nathan Singer, John Sloan, and Bruce Waldman.

About The Old Print Gallery: Established in 1971, and known for its wide selection of antique prints and maps, in the last six years The Old Print Gallery has expanded into the world of contemporary printmaking. The gallery was transformed to create space to showcase new work by regional artists. It hosts printmaking demonstrations and publishes informative showcases, and has established itself as a source of inspiration for print artists, enthusiasts, and the general public.

Image Credit: (Top) Zasis IV. By Stanley Kaplan. Soft ground, aquatint, and etching, 1979. Ed. 50. (Right) Drum Major. By Robert Riggs. Charcoal and red crayon, c.1930.

### Media Contact: Caroline Bonardi, Laura Graham/ 202-965-1818/ info@oldprintgallery.com

The Old Print Gallery 1220 31st Street NW Washington DC 20007

www.oldprintgallery.com