LAYERS OF RE-ITERATION
An exhibition and book dedicated to the memories of Nevadan artists Galen Brown and Jim McCormick.
Curated by Candace Garlock and Frances Melhop
The connections we forge with fellow artists often transcend mere friendship, evolving into collaborative legacies that shape our personal and shared creative journeys. This sentiment resonates deeply with our experiences alongside Nevadan artists; Galen Brown and Jim McCormick, two remarkable figures whose lives, philosophies, humor and artistry have left an indelible mark on our community. In this exhibition, we invited artists from the Printmakers' Conspiracy group to reflect on the works of Galen and Jim, creating their own pieces inspired by their memories of these two influential figures.
PRINTMAKER'S CONSPIRACY PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
Galen Brown
Jim McCormick
Anne M. Hoff
Bobbie Ann Howell
Candace Garlock
Carole-Ann Ricketts
Carol Brown
Frances Melhop
Lynn Schmidt
Nolan Preece
Rachel Stiff
The Printmakers' Conspiracy group, established in 2006, is a collective of printmakers from Nevada dedicated to broadening the audience for fine art printmaking. Their mission is to enhance public understanding of both traditional and contemporary techniques through shared knowledge, exhibitions and educational initiatives. Artists in this group practice a diverse array of fine art printmaking methods, including lithography, intaglio, relief, photography, monotype, collage and hybrid assemblages.
Current and former members of Printmakers' Conspiracy still find inspiration in Jim and Galen's dedication to their craft and their unwavering commitment to the community. Both men exemplified integrity in their artistic practices, earning respect not only for their technical proficiency,
Melhop, Frances: - Frances Melhop is a visual artist, curator and gallery director, born in Christchurch, New Zealand, living and working at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.Melhop works in tactile mediums such as photography, printmaking, hand embroidery, sculpture and oil paint exploring the tensions between the virtual and physical ways we experience the world. Her focus is on human presence and absence in our screen and material lives, reveling in imperfection and evidence of the human hand.Melhop has had solo exhibitions in USA, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Italy, and the UK, and she has exhibited at notable institutions such as such as Autry Museum (Los Angeles, CA), Brownsville Museum (Brownsville, TX), Cincinnati Art Museum, (Cincinnati, OH), Murray State University, (Murray, KY), Gertrude Herbert Institute, (Augusta, GA), and Arizona State University, (Phoenix, AZ), and the University of Nevada, Reno. She has exhibited collaborative works with Susan Norrie at Nancy Hoffman Gallery (New York, NY) and the NSW Museum of Art, (Sydney, Australia).Awards include, Nevada Arts Council Fellowship 2025, University of Nevada, Reno, Outstanding Artist Award, 2019, NNDA Innovator of the Year 2014, Luerzers Archive World's Best Photographers 2009/2010.In 2020 as founder, curator and artist, she opened Melhop Gallery °7077, at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, representing 12 national and international artists. She also curates themed group shows with other invited exceptional artists. For the last 6 years she also taught in the art departments of University of Nevada, Reno, Western Nevada College, Truckee Meadows Community College and Lake Tahoe Community College.Melhop spent her early career as an acclaimed editorial fashion photographer based out of Sydney, Australia, and Milan, Italy. She made narrative fairytale photographic stories of women for women. Her work appeared in Vogue Australia, Vogue Italia editions, Vogue Pelle and Vogue Gioielli, Elle Portugal, Gioia Italy, Casamica, and Marie Claire Italy.She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photography and Art History, a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Art from University of Nevada, Reno, and a post graduate CAS in Curatorial Practices from Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland.
