K. Kuster and Carole Nelson at Dickinson University

"Shiraz 9" by Carole Nelson

Two WPG artist members are currently showing in the invitational exhibition “January Blues,”  at Dickinson University in Dickinson, ND.  If you can’t guess from the name and the print to the left, there is a “Blue” theme to this show.  Unfortunately we weren’t able to post about it until today, and the show closes on January 31.  If you’re in the area, though, you still have a few days to see it!

Three New (?) Trends in Printmaking

We wanted to share a little musing with you today.  Working with not only our own printmakers but also keeping our finger on the pulse of printmaking in general, we’ve noticed an upswing in several areas of the print world over the past few months/year.  Tell us, are the trends below something you all are noticing as well?  Or perhaps you’ve noticed something else?

"Dance With Me" by Marian Osher, relief monoprint on sculpted canvas

Thinking outside the box–more and more printmakers are breaking out of the traditional rectangular picture plane.  For example, some of Ed McCluney’s intaglios are cut into the shape of the subject they are depicting.  Other of our artists are not only thinking outside the box, but morphing a traditionally 2-D media into 3-D.  We are particularly excited to see Marian Osher’s relief monoprints on sculpted canvas (see example, left) in her March solo exhibition, ART*SPARKS.  Also, next month we even have an entry from Paulette Palacios that is three dimensional.

"Dispersion" Mezzotint by Julie Niskanen

A renewed interest in super work intensive processes–Printmaking in general can take a lot of time, depending on what you’re doing.  However, we’ve noticed in particular a general rise in interest in techniques like mezzotint and wood engraving.  To create a mezzotint the artist (or assistant, if they’re lucky enough), must rock a special tool completely across the plate in about 30 different directions to create that rich, velvety black indicative of the medium.  Also, wood engraving requires intense attention to detail (and patience) to create all those tiny little lines making up the image.

The written word–the combination of visual art and storytelling really is nothing new, we know.  However, up until Clare Winslow and Andy Farkas joined WPG, only Andis Applewhite had been using words with regularity.  We are looking for broadsides (poems accompanied by an illustration) to make a resurgence in popularity here soon.

Looking for an alternative Superbowl experience?

Pyramid Atlantic is offering an Artist Tailgate Party at Fire Station 1, 12-5 pm on Superbowl Sunday (February 5th).  You can come and enjoy some lunch while screenprinting a poster or you  can bring a t-shirt to screenprint with your team’s logo.

Fire Station 1 is just down the block and across the street from WPG/Pyramid Atlantic.  The restaurant is housed in what was originally the Silver Spring National Guard Armory.  In 1919, the Fire Department purchased the building and renovated it into a fire station.  The Silver Spring Fire Department recently moved to new facilities across the street, and former fire fighter Jeremy Gruber opened the restaurant that is housed there now.

If you want more information about this event, or want to RSVP (so Pyramid knows how many football cards to bring!) please email jdominguez (at) pyramid-atlantic (dot) org.

Ed McCluney at Parish Gallery

"Gargoyle and Five Doors" by Edward McCluney

WPG artist Edward McCluney has several drawings and paintings included at Parish Gallery’s “Dutch Auction-Bid Down Not Up,” on view now through February 29th.  Also included in the show are works by other mid-career artists that have shown at Parish Gallery over the years.

This auction is different from a traditional auction as you bid down from the asking price.  The trick is to stay over the hidden reserve (aka lowest accepted price).  At the end of the show, the bidder with the highest bid (somewhere between the lowest accepted price and the asking price), wins the artwork.

At the time of this writing Ed’s work had not made it to the exhibition page, but it should be there soon.  In the mean time, you can get more information at Parish Gallery’s website or see examples of Ed’s prints here.

Next Week: “Birth of the American Artist Printmaker”

"Flying Fish Fossil" by Stephen Fredericks

Next Saturday we are excited to welcome back Stephen Fredericks, founding member of the New York Society of Etchers for a 1:30 talk.  Stephen has developed an audio-visual presentation called “Birth of the American Artist Printmaker,” which grew out of his book on the New York Etching Club (published 2009 by Rice University Press, details at the link).

Stephen’s talk covers a period of American artist activity – primarily etching – that accompanied a broader graphic arts movement during the last quarter of the 19th Century, and the underlying significance of this era defined by a national graphic arts, and etching boom – which gave birth to American artist printmaking as we know it today.  The slideshow Stephen compiled includes early ‘artist etchings’ made by members of the New York Etching Club, their applications in fine press books, early portfolios, and in exhibitions – followed by images of more commercially refined decorative art books, auction catalogues and limited editions by important publishers of the day.

Again, this lecture/discussion begins at 1:30 pm on Saturday, January 28th (next Saturday).  A closing reception for the show immediately follows Stephen’s talk.  We hope you will be able to join us!

SGCI INKubator sessions

SGCI’s 40th annual conference holds some interesting opportunities for attendants in the form of small-audience INKubator sessions.  The topics of these sessions include topics such as “The Future of the SGCI Archives” to “Prints in the Built Environment.”  Small groups of artists (no more than 25 per session) can interact with the panel to discuss topics that are pertinent to their work–such as digital printmaking, the relationship between studio practice and accompanying liberal arts studies, or collaborations with other artists.  Also interesting is the ability to help shape the future of SGCI with discussion such as “The Future of the SGCI Archives” listed above and also a discussion on the development of Graphic Impressions into a journal.

For more details or to register for the conference, please visit SGCI’s website.

Update: Art Cart

We first told you about Art Cart last month.  In case you missed that post, Art Cart connects aging professional artists with teams of student fellows to undertake the preparation and documentation of their creative work, offering both groups an educational experience that will help shape the future of our cultural legacy.  Currently, Art Cart is looking for DC area artists age 62+ to be a part of this project.  If you or someone you know is interested, there are two informational meetings in the area:

Friday, February 10, 3:30pm
Iona Senior Services
4125 Albemarle Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20016

Saturday, February 11, 10:30am
Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Place SE
Washington, D.C. 20020

You do NOT have to attend either of these meetings to apply, they are just informational sessions.  To RSVP or get more information, please contact Marisa Klein at marisak.artcart (at) gmail (dot) com.  You can also get more information at their website.

Have you checked out our newest members?

WPG welcomed a lot of new members in 2011!  Just in case you missed them as they joined, here’s a quick review.  We bet you’ll find some new favorites!

"I Promise" by Andy Farkas

Andy Farkas works primarily with wood engraving and also some handset type.  He has written and illustrated his own children’s stories, too.  (Ask to see the beautiful hand-bound book we have in the gallery!).  Andy is our only artist working regularly in wood engraving at this time.

Clare Winslow is a new local member, so you might see her sitting at the gallery if you come on a Sunday.  Clare is creating mainly screenprintsShe has a tangential history with WPG, printing in the studio of Terry Svat and Pauline Jakobsberg and later taking classes with Michael Hagan, another of our screenprinters.

"State Line" by Dean Russell Thompson

Dean Russell Thompson is a woodcut artist.  We have woodcuts large and small of his infrastructure-inspired subject matter.  Dean also runs Copperplate Press, which you can read more about at the link.

Edward McCluney recently had a mini-solo in the Press Room.  If you didn’t see it, you can see samples of Ed’s linocuts and intaglio prints on his page, linked above.  Ed’s work is in many collections, including MIT and Harvard University.  We’ve also been told that one of his “Nine American Master’s” prints graces the walls of Samuel L. Jackson’s home.

Eric Robinson is a master of the varied edition.  You can see the range of expression he gets from one matrix with subtle changes in color and treatment when you visit his artist page (linked above).  Eric also uses wood engraving from time to time, for those interested in seeing more of that medium.

"Still" by Heather McMordie

Heather McMordie is an emerging printmaker currently studying the art at the University of Pennsylvania.  You may remember her print, “Still II” (pictured at Left) in 2011′s National Small Works exhibition.

Janet Yagoda Shagam’s prints look great on the screen, but we want everyone who can to come in and see them in person.  The rich, velvety quality of her blacks can’t be beat.  We are looking forward to seeing more of her work in a press room mini solo later this year.

Kiyomi Baird joined us after her National Small Works solo exhibition, which she won in 2011′s juried exhibition.  If you liked her big prints, but didn’t have enough wall space for them–a common problem, in DC–come back to see the smaller works we have in the bins.  They’re just as lovely.

Study with Pyramid Atlantic in Italy!

Pyramid Atlantic is offering a unique opportunity to study art in Italy for two weeks.  The course, entitled “Paper, Print and Book,” is led by PA-affiliated artist Lynn Sures with Giorgio Pellegrini of the Museum of Paper and Watermark, Fabriano, Italy.

The trip lasts June 12-27 and is limited to 10 people. The $3000 cost includes tuition and most materials, hotel with full breakfast in the historic center, and transportation on most field trips. WPG artist Michael Hagan went on the trip last year and had a fantastic time.  You can see pictures of last year’s trip here.  If you have any other questions, or want to register, you can contact Jose Dominguez at jdominguez (at) pyramid-atlantic (dot) org.

Sneak Peek: Excellence in Printmaking 2012

"Inside" by Jennifer Anderson

We want to give a big thank you to Joann Moser, senior curator at SAAM and this year’s Excellence in Printmaking juror. You can see Multiplicity, the printmaking exhibition she curated, at SAAM right now.  Thanks to Joann’s help, accepted artists have been notified for Excellence in Printmaking 2012!  We’ll have a full list after the show goes up on February 1, but in the mean time, enjoy these images! More information about the exhibition will be on our website next week.

 

"Navy Gator" by Shana Stephens

"Too Much Love" by Brittany Ferguson

"Amateur" by Laura Finestone