If you have not yet visited Montana Gallery in Alexandria,
GO. There are many reasons to visit the gallery, and certainly one of the best is to view the work of Ann Zahn. A member of the faculty of the University of Marylan, she has rightfully earned herself a place among the best known Washington area printmakers and teachers. Zahn's work is included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Gallery and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She was one of the founding members of the Washington Printmakers Gallery.
"When the monkeys
Go to the zoo
The bars come unglued
This book is about
(with a smidgeon of doubt)
What they were tempted to do
While there.
So reads the first page of each of Ann Zahn's three handmade books currently on display. The works, titled
The Monkeys Have Gone to the Zoo, share an original story, which related the after-hour antics of monkeys run wild. They monkeys in the story are living, no doubt, their fantasies. One panel shows us a tiger tied up in a knot. The tale is billed as being for children. One can be thankful that no one has found a way to limit childhood to a specific age group. Children of all ages will find much to enjoy. Not only does the story amuse, the sensitive presentation and impressive craftsmanship provide visual entertainment.
The story is presented in three distinct book forms, one with a spine, one as an accordion fold, and the third as a wall sculpture. The wall sculpture is the most intriguing, with its pages folding out in different directions and one from another. The basic pages are covered with soft black and white etchings of zoo animals and flowers. Hand stitched to each page is a colored etching depicting a mischievous deed of the monkeys.
A series of colored etchings, depicting the monkeys' escapades found in the books are presented both as a suite on one panel and as a series of individual pieces. Also included in the exhibit are her individual handmade calendars.
Evident in the work of Zahn is the hand of a master printmaker. Her use of color and form show the touch of an accomplished artist. The whimsy in this series shows us that she has maintained that special sense of humor that so many lose in the transition to adulthood. It is nice to be able to have ones memories of childhood fantasies returns while immersed in the work of a mature artist. Not many artists are able to provide this luxury.