From 1 come many

The essence of printmaking — multiple impressions taken from a plate — and the various ways creativity sprouts from that basic concept, are at the nucleus of "Multiplicity," the latest exhibition presented by the Hono­lulu Printmakers.

The show, on exhibit at the Pegge Hopper Gallery, showcases both newly conceived prints and their original counterparts.

A black-and-white woodcut of the lilikoi plant that Elizabeth Nakoa created in 2009, for instance, is given new, colorful life with two relief prints that incorporate different abstract backgrounds and papers.

Sergio Garzon worked on small-scale prints, presenting rows of front-view images of cars and trains alongside the plates from which they originated.

The playful "Where’s Liberty?" — printed off an engraved copper plate by Jared Wickware — was inspired by the Hawaii All-State Marching Band’s 2005 performance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the group’s first appearance there.

"There’s a bit of a ‘Where’s Waldo?’ in this piece," Wickware said. The Statue of Liberty can be found among the band, and there’s even a smiling spectator waving the shaka sign.

"I’ve lived here for 17 years, and I admit I was moved by the event. We were in the middle of the first Iraq war then, and even though New York City and Hawaii are sort of at opposites, I always thought there was a kinship and attraction between the two places.

"Over the years, I’ve noticed that my work has a lot more intellectual content in it and that I’m more comfortable pulling off prints of a larger scale," Wickware said of the evolution of his work. "I realize that as a visual artist I have to compete with TV and movies to get people’s attention, so that’s informed my recent work."

Laura Smith, executive director of the Printmakers, was pleased at the showcase of 30 prints by 12 Honolulu Printmakers members.

In the artists’ explorations of repetition and variations on a theme, Smith said, works like the ones by EddIkeda celebrate the exhibit’s title. Ikeda’s "Aku Aku" linoleum print comprises multiple hand-colored images of the same fish.

Two unique pieces by Doug Gibson focus on food. In one work the artist prints names of bars, or "saloons," of bygone days on four Saloon Pilot crackers. His other piece replicates the Ragu logo, using pasta sauce on lumpia wrappers, which are then varnished on dried lasagna noodles.

A piece by Kimberly Chai reflects island roots. It features three large wood and linocut prints intended for aloha shirts manufactured by Kahala Sportswear and Patagonia.

"Kimberly usually doesn’t exhibit this as artwork, but it does represent a historical side of printmaking where artists like her make a side income designing fabric," Smith said.