Writeup: BMA Print Fair 2012

Last weekend was the BMA Print Fair.  WPG director Annie Newman went on Sunday, here is her report:

The founders of Printeresting, from left to right: Jason Urban, Amze Emmons, and R.L. Tillman

I was super excited to see the guys from Printeresting give their panel discussion.  It wasn’t truly a “panel,” but I enjoyed their talk all the same.  R.L. Tillman immediately launched into a discourse on the faddish-ness of printmaking–using the term positively rather than negatively.  It was interesting to see how pervasive it is outside of the art-world culture.  In particular, he pointed out the appropriation of the letterpress aesthetic in advertising, pulling up both JCrew and Target ad, amongst others.  Keep your eyes peeled and you’ll soon see what he’s talking about.

One of the most interesting trends the guys talked about was breaking out of the frame–or the three dimensional print.  You can see some really neat examples on Printeresting, just search 3D or three dimensional.  I particularly liked the example of Tara-Donovan-esque work by Andree-Anne Dupuis Bourret that they shared.  You can see their original post here.  Several of WPG’s own printmakers have been breaking out of the frame, as well–such as Mike Hagan’s screenprints on Tyvek or Terry Svat’s village constructs.  We also exhibited three dimensional prints this February, as part of our Excellence in Printmaking exhibition.  I, for one, will be interested to see how traditional methods are bent out of traditional uses.

The fair itself, of course, had some beautiful editions.  I was totally saturated by the time I left.  There was one print I had to visit twice, though, before leaving.  To be honest, I can’t remember the name of the print (it might have  been untitled), but it was a beautiful, understated and elegant print by Sara Sanders and the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop.  You can see it here (along with several other prints by RBPW and Sara Sanders).

Fenton Street Market opens this weekend!

It’s back!  The Fenton Street Market kicks off this year’s season this Saturday.  We are happy to report that FSM has signed a 3-year contract with Montgomery County and will now be operating at Veteran’s Plaza in front of the Civic Building (at the corner of Ellsworth and Fenton).  Check them out this Saturday 10 am-4 pm.  Along with 60-ish other vendors, Pyramid Atlantic will be there, with works from select members on display.

News Roundup from WPG

We have little tid-bits of info we wanted to share with you.  Some have been tweeted already (and probably will be again), but some needed a bit more than 140 characters:

Sargasso Sea Scrolls

Did you see the Sargasso Sea Scrolls that are part of Pyramid Atlantic’s member exhibition this month?  If not, you have until April 29 to come in and see them. A collaborative effort between Pyramid Atlantic and the Sargasso Sea Alliance (SSA), the scrolls illuminate the rich biodiversity of the Sargasso Sea and conclude months of collaboration between artists, printmakers and papermakers. You can buy a hand-printed, limited edition Sea Scroll Key and know proceeds will benefit both PA and SSA.  Contributing artists include our own Jenny Freestone and Lee Newman.

The Washington Print Club’s Annual Meeting and Party is Saturday, May 5, from 11-1 pm.  Not a member yet?  You can sign up at their website.  Also that day is Ellen Verdon Winkler’s Opening Reception, from 1-4 pm.  You can party-hop and make it a truly print-filled day!

"In the Beginning," a traditional, Western-bound artist book by Margaret Adams Parker

Official dates for Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair have been announced!  (We have the Save the Date bookmarks in the gallery, look for website updates from them soon.) Mark your calendars for November 16-18, 2012.

Our joint exhibition at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Pushing Process, is almost over!  We de-install Tuesday, May 1 at 10 am.  You (or any friends you have traveling through that airport) have until then to see it.

Finally, yesterday was the early-bird deadline for National Small Works.  If you didn’t make that deadline, you still have until May 19 to apply.  We posted our 2012 FAQ yesterday, and you can also check out our 2011 clarifications that went over some common issues last year, too.  If you’re still having trouble with our application, feel free to call us!

C Street Arts Festival CFE

"Calm Day at Fort Stark" 2011 winning print by Hannah Phelps

Hi artists–this is a friendly reminder that you now have just under two weeks to apply to National Small Works for the reduced early bird fee.  The fee goes up to $30 after April 19.

If you aren’t applying to National Small Works due to size or media constraints, (or even if you are) we want to share another call for entries with you from C Street Gallery in Laurel, MD.  Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 10-4 will be the inaugural C Street Arts Festival.  In addition to music, poetry, theatre, and dance, the Festival will feature a juried selection of high-quality and diverse visual artists.  We personally love new festivals because the fees are always low, and this one is no different–there is NO application fee, and, if you are accepted, only a $35 booth fee (as compared to the multiple hundreds you might spend at Arts on Foot, Adams Morgan Day Festival, and others).  Bonus:  If you don’t have booth supplies like tents, chairs, and tables, you are able to rent them for an additional fee.

You can see the full call for entries on this website.  The deadline for submissions is coming up – midnight on April 18.  Artists selected for the festival will be notified by April 27.  Good luck!

Area Print Fairs

Quick heads up for all you print junkies:  There are two print fairs on the horizon, one in the DC Metro Area and one in Baltimore.

The Capital Art Print Fair is Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 at the Rosslyn Westpark Hotel Holiday Inn (one block from the Rosslyn Metro station).  For your $10 admission, you can view thousands of prints from old master to contemporary.  Our good friends from the Old Print Shop and the Old Print Gallery will be there.

The Baltimore Museum of Art Contemporary Print Fair is Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29.  Admission is $10/1 day for $15 for the weekend–or free, if you’re a BMA member.  As the name suggests, this fair focuses on modern masters and contemporary innovators.  The event we’re most interested in: the Printeresting discussion on how printmaking impacts your dailly life, with the three  founders of Printeresting.org–the premier blog for everything print-related. (Sunday, April 29, 11 am).

Upcoming in 2012

"Calm Day at Fort Stark" by Hannah Phelps

Lots of news to share with you today!  First and foremost, we just spoke with 2011′s National Small Works Winner Hannah Phelps, who will be having her solo show here alongside August’s National Small Works exhibition.  The title of her solo show is “Plein Air to Print,” as all the prints included either began as plein air paintings or were printed outside on location.  There might be some drawings and paintings accompanying her prints, too!

Also, we just got an invitation to the upcoming exhibition at the Ratner Museum, entitled “Common Ground: The Handmade Print.”  Along with several other DC area printmakers, we are happy to see our own Deron DeCesare’s work included.  The opening reception is Sunday, May 6, at 1:30 pm.  The exhibition runs May 2-28.

Finally, we have a long-in-advance reminder.  It’s 2012, which means this fall will feature another Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair!  Everything is its very preliminary planning stages now (we don’t think vendors can even apply for tables, yet).  But, if you missed it 2010, make sure you’re around for it this year!  You can keep abreast of any updates on their website, linked above.

PrintHouston 2012

"Freedom 13" serigraph by Andis Applewhite

WPG member Andis Applewhite is also a big part of PrintHouston, a biennial event that will see it’s second installation in 2012.  This month-long celebration of original prints takes place in June (with some overlapping/extended events happening through August) and includes exhibitions, lectures, workshops and other special events.

Want to participate?  PrintHouston is holding a call for entries right now: PrintHouston: NEXT.  This is a very different printmaking CFE that allows video, installation, ceramics-you name it-as long as the primary technique used to create the piece is printmaking.  The juror is Dena Woodall, Assistant Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, TX.  Hurry though, the deadline is April 2.  You can see full details here.

WPG at the Takoma Park Holiday Art Sale

"Great Frog" monotype by Gabriel Jules, at the Takoma Park Holiday Art Sale Dec. 10

Today you’ll have two places to visit WPG–both at the Gallery itself and also at the Takoma Park Holiday Art Sale (at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave, Takoma Park, MD).  There are over 30 local artists participating, as well as holiday crafts for the kids and music by the Takoma Singers.  This event runs 10-4, and the gallery is open as usual from10-5.

"Music Listener 1" by Matina Marki Tillman--one of three from this suite in the Gift-Ready December show

WPG will have a variety of prints for sale at the fair, some framed but most unframed.  These are mostly small and cover a range of techniques and subject matter.  And, if you still can’t find that perfect print, we will have WPG gift certificates for sale so the art-lover in your life can pick out just the right one.  If you are looking for a framed print, definitely check out the gallery this month–the members’ exhibition is gift-ready–any print you buy can go home with you that day.  Many are under $200 (yes, even framed!).  We particularly like the trio of “Music Listeners” by Matina Marki Tillman–miniatures that are perfect for art lovers and music lovers alike!

Fotoweek DC starts Saturday

We wanted to mention Fotoweek DC, an event celebrating printmaking’s sister art, photography.  Now in its fourth year, Fotoweek returns bigger than ever.  This event, which started in 2008, draws over 20,000 professional and amateur photographers to its participating exhibitions, contests, and events.  Of note this year is the first ever Cherry Blossom Photo Contest and the opening of FotoSpace, a new gallery/office space in Adams Morgan.

The festival technically runs November 5-12, but there are several associated exhibitions already up.  If you’re really excited about it, you can go to the launch party tomorrow, which starts at Fotoweek Central and moves to the Corcoran Gallery of Art.  All information about this and other Fotoweek events are at the website link above.

Printmaking Events for your Calendar

"Walking Proof" by Michael Hagan

We have several shows and receptions we want to share with you as you make your plans for the rest of the Fall.  First, don’t forget the Closing Reception of Mike Hagan’s solo show Doodle Digit Dot, Saturday, October 29, 1-4 pm.  The artist will be in attendance to answer any questions you have about his prints, his paper and other surfaces, and screenprinting techniques.  Also on view will be Anne McLaughlin’s Press Room Mini Solo, Without Reservations.

Second, we want to recognize Jack Boul’s exhibition, Intimate Scale, at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Norwalk, CT.  We are sorry to have missed the opening, which was on September 18, but the exhibition is up through November 13, so you still have a few weeks to see it, if you will be in the area.  Jack Boul, a long-time friend of the gallery, has been the featured artist of two of WPG’s January Invitational and the teacher and mentor to several WPG artists.

Many WPG artists will be on view at the National Arts Club as part of the New York Society one week show (October 31-November 5), which corresponds with the New York Print Week.  You can see the November show schedule here.

"The Gift" by Jake Muirhead, etching/aquatint, 2010. Courtesy of the artist and OPG.

Finally, we also want to mention Jake Muirhead’s solo exhibition at the Old Print Gallery, November 11 through January 23.  Jake has been in several of WPG’s National Small Works Exhibitions and also was featured in last year’s Director’s Cut Exhibition, and prints downstairs from the gallery in the Pyramid Atlantic Print Shop.  You can meet Jake and see more of his wonderful prints at  his opening reception on Friday, November 11, 5-8 pm.