April 19–26, 2001

arts picks|art

James Engelbart

When James Engelbart says he makes portraits, he’s not telling the whole story. Every face is obscured by something — a hand, a comb — that adds an element of the unknown to his lithographs. Because he didn’t want to make his friends sit for an hour while he carved their likenesses, Engelbart ended up being the model for his own prints. "They’re not really supposed to be me, but they are, out of necessity." Expect about 20 stone and wood prints by the veteran of the now defunct Zone One gallery, including still-lifes of Mexican figurines (portraying chickens playing tambourines, for example) which he says were the predecessors of the modern Chia Pet. As of press time, Engelbart says there’s a possibility he’ll debut some excerpts from Parmenides for the Young, a children’s book he’s working on which apparently will combine "being and non-being" with "This Little Piggy Goes To Market."

—Patrick Rapa

April 20 through May 15, opening reception Sat., April 21, 5-8 p.m., University of the Arts, 333 S. Broad St., 6th floor Printmaking Gallery, 215-717-6491.