Last month, the “;Slow News International”; exhibition at the ARTS at Marks Garage, featuring scrolls sent from across the globe via snail mail, was an intentional antithesis to instant, electronic communication.

Through Nov. 21, the examination of the changing face of communication continues in the gallery with “;comPRESS,”; a local show spearheaded by the Honolulu Printmakers. Erika Johnson Molyneux, president of the Printmakers, curated the exhibit, which speaks to the relationship of the electronic revolution to the printed page, and how changes in modes of communication affect our response to printed works.

“;While the Printmakers usually deal specifically with fine-art printmaking, I used the dictionary definition (of print), and this show was open to anything from a print matrix, such as a sculpture formed in a mold, a Xerox, digital or commercial (work), and expanded notions of that,”; Molyneux says.

Some 26 artists created a wide variety of work. One paper piece bears puncture designs made from darts thrown at the paper while it was folded. There are a number of double-sided hanging pieces and sculptures, including magazine racks and a newspaper-wrapped metal structure by Jackie Mild-Lau depicting interacting bodies.

Molyneux calls Dieter Runge's meditation piece “;a communication with the self.”; In it, Runge offers numerous versions of a sun image imprinted with the word “;surrender.”; The variety of color combinations of the sun and word elicit different feelings about the same image, Molyneux says.

Molyneux's husband, Robert, offers up the most basic of communication devices: a can phone, complete with string that stretches across the gallery.

Molyneux herself created a series of nonsensical Braille placards made from hammered steel. The pieces replicate official placards except for their messages, which are completely useless to a blind person.

“;It's a social experiment,”; says the artist. “;Do people notice?”;

Gallery director Rich Richardson calls the show “;a nice complement in our season of exhibits. The show tackles issues of communication and community that 'Slow News International' was also trying to address.”;

Richardson says that while his gallery usually features shows by local artists, the past year's lineup has included two international shows.

“;It's been nice to bounce back and forth,”; he says.

“;I thought Erika did a good job of putting together a roster of well-respected local artists.”;