Saturday Slideshow: The Artists of “Connections”

Tomorrow from 2-4 pm, the Chaney Gallery (Maryland Hall, Annapolis, MD) hosts the opening of “Connections,” a show featuring artists of multiple media.  4 of those 5 artists are WPG members.  So, if you’re in the area, be sure to stop by!

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Falling for Fall

“Verona” by Deron DeCesare

Annie Newman is back! And checking a week’s worth of emails and mail and press room proposals, so, we’re keeping this pretty short.  This is the last weekend for both Old World and New and Both Sides of the Brain.  Stop by and see Annie–she’s never too busy to talk prints!

October 2012 Show Pics

Sorry for the delay (camera trouble).  Here’s some installation shots of Old World and New: Apart, Though Still a Part in the main gallery space as well as the traveling mezzotint exhibition Both Sides of the Brain currently in the Press Room!

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Artist Update: Deron DeCesare

“Verona” by Deron DeCesare

The opening for Deron’s solo exhibition Old World and New: Apart, Though Still a Part is tomorrow!  We just uploaded two new prints to Deron’s page for you to see.  They’re big and gorgeous!

In addition to his large-scale monotypes, there are lots of smaller prints inspired by his trip to Italy as well, which are equally lovely.

One final note: during tomorrow’s opening reception (1-4 pm) we are pleased to welcome Amphibious Apes and their acoustic sound featuring Deron’s son, Joe.  We hope to see you there!

Intern Perspectives: Old World and New

“Lucca” by Deron DeCesare

Written by Jackson Frazier of UMD!

Opening this weekend at Washington Printmakers Gallery is Deron DeCesare’s show Old World and New: Apart, Though Still a Part. The inspiration for these prints comes from a trip that Deron took in the spring of 2011 to Italy to see where his family is from. While there, Deron was struck by the beauty of the Italian landscape. With this series of prints Deron tries to capture the beauty of the Italian landscape and areas closer to home. These prints vary in size and style, giving the viewer a full idea of the beauty of Italy. Some of the printing are in full color; others only have areas of color or are in black and white. The level of detail also varies. Some of the prints depict fully drawn out streets and other are just sketches of buildings. It is this variety that help to give the view a full idea of the beauty of Italy. Prints like “Lucca”with there large size and vibrant colors draw the view into the Italian street, letting them take in all the detail. On the other hand prints like “Casa Gailla, Orvieto” which is smaller and only uses color for one of the buildings feel more intimate. The use of little color draws the view attention to the house at the end of the street. The viewer does not feel like there are in a city any more but instead a small town full of homes.

It is through this variety that that Deron is able to create a full picture of what Italy is like. He is able to capture all the different sides of a small Italian village.

The opening reception for this exhibition along with the Press Room show Both Sides of the Brain is this Saturday, October 6, 1-4 pm.  Bonus: we’ll have live acoustic music by Amphibious Apes during the opening.  Hope to see you there!

Fall Arts Events for your Calendar

“Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, Lucca” by Deron DeCesare

WPG is excited to have two special Press Room Exhibitions in addition to our regularly scheduled October and November member and solo artist shows.  In October, mark your calendars for Both Sides of The Brain, a travelling mezzotint portfolio, in the Press Room and Deron DeCesare’s Old World and New: Apart though still a Part.  The Opening Reception for both these shows (and the membership exhibition) is Saturday, October 6 ,1-4 pm.  In November we have Before and After the Derecho, a solo exhibition by Yolanda Frederikse in the main space, and Carol MacDonald’s Line – Structure – Pattern in the Press Room.  The Opening Reception for these exhibition is Saturday, November 4, 1-4 pm.

In addition to our events, there are two fairs we’ve probably mentioned, but it doesn’t hurt to mention them again.  First, is the 2nd ever (e)merge Art Fair, put on by the WPA.  This fair focuses on under-represented artists and galleries “with an an energetic environment of collaboration and discovery.”  This fair takes place at the Capitol Skyline Hotel in SW DC, October 4-7.

Later, in November, there is the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair.   WPG will have a booth, and the full list of vendors is now online at their website.  Check it out, get excited, and come to the Book Arts Fair November 16-18, 2012.

Finally, looking forward to the Winter season, Maryland artist members of WPG will join their mentors (or artists to whom they have been mentors) for Mentor/Mentee II at the Brentwood Arts Exchange.  More details to follow, but know that the exhibition will run December 3-January 26 and the Opening Reception is Friday, December 7, 6-9 pm.

From our Fall Newsletter: Deron DeCesare

The following is an excerpt from WPG’s Fall Newsletter about our upcoming October exhibition.  Click the newsletter link for more information on recent and upcoming shows and events!

WPG is looking forward to Deron DeCesare’s upcoming solo show during  October 2012, which will include new drypoints, painterly monotypes and trace monotypes. Entitled ‘Old World and New: Apart, Though Still a Part,’ the show stems from a trip to Italy DeCesare took during Spring 2011. ‘Narrow medieval alleyways, huddled lake and oceanside towns, grand piazzas and Roman remnants became an additional source for me. More significantly, this trip was my first return to my ancestral home. Traveling with my immediate family as I did served to enhance the sense of reunion I felt. A reunion with, as the show title hints, something that has always been a part of me.’

The photos above and next page show Deron at work on new trace monotypes, a process where ink is transferred to paper (in this case a paper with a distinctive laid texture) from a plate covered with rolled-out ink. The impression, made with a sharp tool drawn across the back surface of the paper, retains a unique line quality where the paper is pressed into the ink. ‘This is a new technique for me. I’m enjoying exploring all the variables. For one thing, this method has facilitated experimenting with scale. With no press involved, I’m no longer limited by the size of my press. Working larger than I have in the past, at least with regards to printmaking, is a useful expressive tool in light of my treatment of some of my present subject matter.’ In addition to Italian scenes, DeCesare’s show will also include closer-to-home landscape subjects as well as nudes, providing an interesting counterpoint to the travel inspired work.

‘Old World and New: Apart, Though Still a Part’ will be on view October 3 – 28, 2012 with a reception and gallery talk planned for October 6, 1-4 pm. All are invited to the exhibition and to the reception to meet the artist.

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.

WPG 2012 Exhibition Schedule

We’re looking forward to the new year!  Mark your calendar now for our upcoming exhibitions.  We hope to see you around!

"Flying Fish in Blue" by Stephen A. Fredericks, in our January 2012 invitational

January-New York Society of Etchers Invitational–-we kick off the year with a fantastic show by ten members of this esteemed group.  You can read more about them in our winter newsletter.  The show is up starting January 4, opening reception on January 7, 1-4 pm.

February–2nd Annual Excellence in Printmaking Exhibition–this exhibition, which grew out of the previous award, recognizes emerging printmakers.  Our juror this year is Joann Moser, Senior Curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

March–ARTsparks, rekindling the gift, solo by Marian Osher–Marian has over 50 prints that she has pushed past the flat plane of the paper into mixed media, multi-dimensional monotypes on canvas.  You can read more about her show in our newsletter.

April–Pyramid Atlantic Member Exhibition–want to know what the artists are up to downstairs?  It’s all here in Pyramid Atlantic’s member show!

"Side by Side" monotype by Ellen Verdon Winkler

May–Ellen Winkler Solo Exhibition–long-time WPG member Ellen Verdon Winkler will have her second solo exhibition here since we’ve moved to Pyramid Atlantic.  You can see many prints from her May 2011 exhibition at the link above.  Bonus: Janet Yagoda Shagam will be exhibiting in the Press Room during May, as well!

June–Ex Libris–June brings a very special exhibition to WPG.  In April, artist member Rosemary Cooleycoordinated an exchange, where American printmakers exhibited prints in Shanghai.  In June, a reciprocating group of Chinese artists will be exhibiting illustration-sized prints (hence the “Ex Libris” name) at WPG.  This is another unique international exhibition that WPG is pleased to present, and we hope you’ll be able to come and see the show!

July–Lee Newman group exhibition–You’ll have to check back to hear who Lee Newman has invited to share his exhibition month with him.  Rumor has it that Jack Boul will be one of the artists!  Eric Robinson will also be exhibiting in the Press Room.

"Calm Day at Fort Stark" by Hannah Phelps

August–The 15th Annual National Small Works Exhibition–Wow! Fifteen years and still going strong!  Like previous years, WPG will exhibit prints under 170 square inches from artists across the country.  The juror is yet TBA.  If you’re interested in applying, check back soon–the prospectus will go live in January.  We are also excited to welcome Hannah Phelps, the 2011 grand-prize winner, as our solo exhibiting artist this month.

"Snowboarder and Pines State II" by Deron DeCesare

September–Deron DeCesare–Deron was the very first solo exhibition we had after moving to Pyramid Atlantic.  You may have missed it, if you either hadn’t found us yet or hadn’t realized we’d moved.  Make sure you don’t miss it this time around!

October–Nuong Van-Dinh Tran–This will be the first solo exhibition by WPG founding member Nuong in our new space.  Check out some of her earlier monotypes and screenprints at the link above.

November–Yolanda Frederikse–Yolanda is one of our best-selling artists, and you can see why–she has a beautiful color sense that is created in part by her unique process.  She paints dye-based inks–often on location–onto a litho plate.  This plate is then rolled through a press back at her studio to create the final monotype.  Since only certain inks can be used, a very specific (and beautiful!) color pattern emerges.

December–Trudi Y. Ludwig–Did you see Trudi’s show-stopping piece “Dumb Luck” at her last exhibition in our Dupont Circle space?  No?!  You can see it here.  We’re excited to see what Trudi’s next solo exhibition will bring a year from now!

3 WPG artists at the Arts Center in Orange

"Generations II" by Terry Svat

Deron Decesare, Margaret Adams Parker, and Terry Svat are the featured artists in the exhibition “Focus on the Print” at the Art Center in Orange (in Orange, VA), November 3-December 23.  We’re so excited to have some of our artists be a part of this four-gallery event curated and coordinated by Beth Nichols of the Nichols Gallery.  The opening reception for this exhibition is next Thursday, November 3, at 5 pm.

“Focus on the Print” celebrates hands-on printmaking.  While all of the prints WPG displays are hand-pulled prints, these artists were selected for their true commitment to a completely hand-created, sometimes even “low-tech” image.  Deron’s drypoints, for example, are created by a simple scribe, all the marks completely made by hand.  Margaret’s woodcuts, also, are hand-carved.  Finally, every element in Terry’s print collages are hand selected and torn down or cut out by the artist herself, recycling old proofs and prints to make new art.  If you’re in the area–or even if you’re around DC, a 90 minute to two hour drive, depending on where you live–we hope you can stop by to see the show!