Do you remember working on group projects for school? For many of us, the journeys to those final products aren't fond memories. But the 67th Street Printmakers couldn't be more different. Composed of creative, driven, and collaborative artists, the group finds joy in coming together to create something meaningful… especially a show like this one!

Once or twice a year, the 67th Street Printmakers gather to plan upcoming exhibitions, sharing what they've been working on, and often, a theme naturally emerges. For this show, the Harrison Center proposed the prompt "critter," and Creature Feature was born.

Through beautifully detailed prints, the artists invite you to spend time with the creatures that inhabit our world. Some are very familiar and deeply loved, such as a sleeping cat, a rowdy dog, or a wise old owl. Others ask us to take a closer look at those we might not usually welcome, like the cicada, jellyfish, or snake.

Inspired by the renowned woodblock artist Gustave Baumann, who began his career in Brown County, Indiana, in the early 1900s, the 67th Street Printmakers are drawn to printmaking for its range and versatility. "Printmaking is a very broad term that covers many different techniques," artist Melissa Nees Hauger says. "Wood and linoleum block printing, etching, lithography, screenprinting, and monoprinting, just to name a few." She adds that there's always something new to learn, discover, or perfect, which perfectly aligns with the group's philosophy of always creating art and learning new methods to keep things interesting.

Melissa notes that printmaking is a process-driven art form and can be unforgiving. Though the practice is rhythmic and meditative, it demands technical precision. Still, she emphasizes that the effort is worthwhile. The labor poured into each piece deepens the artist's connection to the work—and hopefully, the viewer's as well.

If you're ever curious how a piece came together, the printmakers would love to share their process with you!