Contemporary artist Randy Bolton’s work mimics the style of early children’s book and scientific illustration and has been characterized as “an exploration of images that seem familiar and comforting on first glance, but become strange and disturbing on further consideration.” A collection of his screen prints is on display at the Class of 1956 Gallery at the Mollie Dodd Anderson Library from October 27, 2011 to December 16, 2011. A gallery talk and artist reception was held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 27.

Printmaking traditionally has been a medium to exchange information across a wide audience and has frequently been a means of provoking social commentary. “Bolton’s work openly invites engagement. It wants to debate you—or perhaps, to bait you.” Said art critic Andrew Mangravite of Randy Bolton’s earlier show at Schmidt Dean Gallery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“To me, the wonderful thing about Bolton’s art is that you can draw a half-dozen people in off the street, invite them to view the works and discuss them among themselves—and everyone will have opinions to offer,” continued Andrew Mangravite. “These works speak to people. They engage them and invite their participation.”

Born in Dallas, Texas, Randy Bolton received a BFA from the University of North Texas in 1978 and a MFA from the Ohio State University in 1982. He has taught in many visiting artist positions across the country, including four years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. From 1989-2002, he was Professor of Art and Printmaking Area Coordinator at the University of Delaware. In 2002, Randy Bolton was appointed Head of the Print Media Department and Artist in Residence at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. His work has been widely exhibited in one-person, invitational and juried shows since 1982.