Tag Archives: printmaking

May 29, 2011 · 5:53 am

A pressing place

Lower East Side Printshop open access studio

Got here. Eventually. To a”printshop” the word used more often than not in the local (North American) parlance. This one is the Lower East Side Printshop.
Also in NYC there’s The Robert Blackburn Printmaking Studio -the exception that proves the rule? In Australia we usually say “printmaking studio”, rather than printshop. Or if you’re in a French speaking part of the world, just let “atelier d’estampe” roll off your tongue.

Squeegee wall

The Lower East Side Printshop, is no longer on the lower east side, having outgrown the original premises in 2005. Like the other places I visited it’s in a non-descript building up a few floors, but it’s a clean, light-filled welcoming space. There were only a couple of people working there when I was shown around by the incredibly helpful Christine. She filled me in on what the printshop offers – 24/7 studio access, classes at all levels, residencies (- available to legal US residents), master printing and of course details for all of these services are available on the website.

Exhibition space with "Collaborations" show on the walls

"Collaborations" in the exhibition space. All works (c) the artist

Apart from the etching presses, silk screen printing area (and areas for processing plates and screens of course) and digital facilities (complete list of facilities?: yes on the website), there is also an exhibition space.

The day I visited, I saw
“Collaborations” a selection of work done by artists working with the master printers in the Special Edition or Publishing Residency programs. Pictured L-R: William Powhida, Ars Magica, 2010, screenprint, portfolio of 13,(I loved the humour of this work) Joe Fig, Inka’s floor, 2008, screenprint, Joe Fig, Brushes (Bill Jensen), 2008, screenprint, (stunning use of colour in these prints about the mess and well, colour of the painting process) and Sebastiaan Bremer, Little Silver Breakfast, 2008, silver leaf (loved, loved this! Technically intriguing and beautiful -more about this work in a future post).
You can see these and more artists works on the website, biographical details about the artists and purchase work through the online store. Other artists in this show were Emilio Perez, Havard Homstevdt, Joan Lindner and Amy Cutler. Each artist has used different techniques in their work – evidence of the breadth of technical knowledge available to artists working in these programs.

I would love to come back and do some work here… maybe when I find a patron or win the lottery! It’s just a bit far from home for me, but if you’re in NYC I’d recommend doing some printing here!

With Food in Mind

Nice shiny catalogue from the "With Food in Mind" show at The Centre for Book Arts

I had a list about the length of Brooklyn Bridge, of places I wanted to visit and things to do whilst in New York City. Walking across Brooklyn Bridge was on the wish list but I ran out of time…

However one of the first places I managed to get to was The Centre for Book Arts. After being re-directed down to the correct floor I discovered a treasure trove of printing equipment, a couple of busy artists and three different shows.

I spent some time in the main exhibition space checking out the offerings presented for With Food in Mind.

Sneak peek showing "The Art of Fruit Desserts" 2003, John Ross with Sam Joffee

I really enjoyed the interactive recipe swapping piece by Heather Hart “The Oracle of Epicure”. According to the gorgeous catalogue (containing recipes as well as pics from the show), Hart’s recipes come from her Grandfather’s self-published cookbook.

Sounds delicious!

I chose this one in exchange for my remembered version of Stephanie Alexander’s Silverbeet Frittata. (Later I discovered Americans call silverbeet, swiss chard.)

There was a also collection of work from the 2010 Artists-in Residence Workspace Program scattered around the space, diverse explorations by each artist evidencing the open approach to book arts encouraged by the Centre. I particularly liked the work of Jennie C Jones (must be the music connection) and Angie Waller.

Of course I wasn’t allowed to take any photos of the shows but nor was I allowed to take photos of anything else in the workshop, which disappointed me – they had a great display of the stages of a dirty rag before it was time to chuck it, that I REALLY wanted to snap! Hence all the links in this post. Please follow them for more info and visuals.

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Tagged as Art, artist in residence, books, exhibition, Food, New York, printmaking

May 4, 2011 · 10:16 am

From Melbourne to New York City (via Kew)

I met Damon Kowarsky at The Australian Print Workshop – just one of the talented and friendly printmakers that one meets in such places. He is a hardworking artist who always seems to be showing in exotic locations.

However, a few weeks ago he had a show, Civitas, in Kew, right down the street from my work. As artist in residence at Trinity College he has been able to print his etchings at the school and display them in The Daley Gallery, their very nice, purpose built space. Damon is not only highly skilled in etching, his exquisite images are underpinned by solid drawing as evidenced by the two large scale drawings in this show, one of Melbourne and the other of New York.

I loved these large (100 x 240 cm) charcoal drawings. Little did he know how those drawings would resonate for me, as I was only a couple of weeks away from landing in New York.