“Deep Etch: Legends of Chico Printmaking” is the latest exhibition to come to the Janet Turner Print Museum this fall.

Since the hiring of John C. Ayres in 1946, who established an accredited art program, the art department at Chico State has seen great art faculty come and go. This gallery is designed to present their talent and to showcase prints made by former faculty members.

The past 76 years of printmaking are showcased at the gallery, essentially giving viewers a taste of the history of printmaking in the art department.

“It’s a history of the art department in its modern sense,” curator Catherine Sullivan said.

“Chico State is a really old campus but the art in the art department doesn’t really start ’till the mid-20th century with John Ayres. This is a result of that where they decided to have an actual art department, and these are the players.”

Though the exhibition showcases print work, not all of the faculty actually taught printmaking in the past. Many of the faculty members simply knew how to make prints.

“(This gallery) represents the faculty that also did prints,” Sullivan said.

“Only about four (displayed) have taught printmaking. But a lot of artists in the department did prints, so those are in the collection.”

Some of the faculty were from different kinds of categories in the art department, such as James McManus, who taught art history and studio art from 1968 to 2008.

Another example is David Hoope, who taught painting from 1975 to 2011.

“Deep Etch: Legends of Chico Printmaking” will be on display in the Janet Turner Print Museum from Oct. 9 through Dec. 8.

Alex Coba can be reached at [email protected] or @ThatOneGuyCoba on Twitter.