Emil Weddige's Prints: A Michigan Treasure

The late Emil Weddige's lithographs are a treasured feature of the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti cultural landscape. Though born in Canada, Weddige developed strong Michigan ties; he was a professor at the University of Michigan (U-M) in Ann Arbor, and studied art as an undergraduate at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in neighboring Ypsilanti.

Throughout the summer of 2007, Weddige's works have been on display at Eastern Michigan's Ford Gallery, a pleasant exhibition space tucked in the university's student center. Many of the works are for sale, with proceeds going to scholarship funds at both EMU and U-M. Many additional galleries in the area also offer Weddige's work to lucky buyers.

Since Weddige's passing just six years ago, countless community members have come forward with positive remembrances, both written and verbal, about the artist' skillful printmaking and kindly personality. Needless to say, viewing EMU's broad collection of the artist's prints up close is too good an opportunity to overlook.

Weddige's work is playful; his subject matter pays homage to his Michigan connections, with many prints depicting classic Americana. There are quaint Midwestern scenes, nudes, astronauts, cats, flowers, and, for good measure, Paul Bunyan. His stylized figures and arrangements call to mind Chagall, while his hand seamlessly fuses softer painterly strokes with well-chosen lines.

Most apparent in viewing a Weddige print is his mastery of color. As a young printmaker just beginning to play with color's possibilities, I truly could appreciate how Weddige choreographed his prints. I'll always love a black and white lithograph for its velvety tones and range of values; but a multi-color lithograph pushes the visual appeal even further.

Weddige's color palettes are bold without being garish. Using the traditional limestone drawing surface, Weddige separates his images by color - one color per stone, each stone printed in a separate session; his arrangement of colors is natural, and allows tertiary colors to emerge. While the focal points - the people, animals, landscapes - are enjoyable in and of themselves, there are endless abstract passages with beautiful wash effects that demand additional looks. Weddige obviously printed his lithographs with care; the colors all land where they should, and his margins are clean of thumbprints or ink splotches - something I still can't quite do myself.

For a young artist (especially a printmaker), Weddige's prints are enjoyable and educational. For any other viewer, his prints are still enjoyable and education. While most people can sound competent discussing painting, sculpture, and photography, printmaking is still somewhat of a mystery. It can be a long, involved process, but the results can be amazing. Hopefully Weddige's prints, and those of other talented printmakers, will awaken some new interest.