What was perhaps most impressive to juror Helen Frederick last week was not the array of fine prints she perused for the Honolulu Printmakers' 82nd Annual Exhibition, but the longevity of Printmakers itself.

“;The really wonderful thing is that this organization has been alive and well for 82 years,”; she said.

That's not at all to say that Frederick didn't find the more than 200 entries engaging. In fact, she deems the exhibit's body of work—nearly 100 pieces—“;internationally grounded.”;

The highly regarded Printmakers show draws new work from artists all over the state each year and brings in a nationally recognized printmaker to jury the submissions. Frederick fits that bill. She directs the print department at George Mason University in Washington, D.C., as well as its Navigator Press, and is an internationally exhibited artist. Before teaching at George Mason, Frederick founded and ran Pyramid Atlantic, a printmaking and book arts organization outside Washington.

Frederick said the works she saw evidence the strength of Hawaii's printmaking community.

“;I saw intergenerational qualities in the work ... (that show) how supportive the community is,”; she said. “;It's a passion-driven show.”;

The juror spent a full day surveying the submissions, and selection was tough.

“;As a juror I come in with a clean slate, and it was interesting because themes grew and developed out of the body of work. Abstraction led to nature, which led to cultural, then political works. And there were the hybrids that mixed ideas and media,”; Frederick said. “;There were so many 'maybes' that I wanted to get into the show, but there wasn't enough space. So I eventually drew on thematic content.”;

Laura Smith, executive director of Printmakers, said what struck her most about Frederick's jurying was the investment she made even in those works that didn't make the cut.

“;She dictated notes for the rejected works,”; Smith said. “;That she bothered to look at those works long enough and thoughtfully enough to offer feedback was really impressive.”;

Frederick said her criteria for selection come down to this: “;It must be an image that stays with me. It must stare back at me with meaning.”;

In the final analysis, she said, “;I feel that I evenly and fairly depicted what's going on in printmaking in Hawaii.”;

And that, she said, is work of the highest caliber.

“;You could show this work anywhere in the world. Not because it's printmaking, but because it's great contemporary art.”;