This past weekend I taught another 2.5-day workshop on the polymer photogravure process at Highpoint Center for Printmaking. Again, I was fortunate in having eight fantastic participants, most of whom happened to be photographers.
The first evening we looked at prints and discussed the kind of film output that is necessary for polymer photogravure and how it varies from the kind of film needed for other processes. We finished the evening by making the film positives using an Epson printer, ready to start making plates on the Saturday.
On Saturday morning I demonstrated the preparation of the plates, the two exposures – aquatint screen and film positive – and the processing. We also covered inking and wiping and how it differs from copperplate. Then they were on their own, making plates and printing, and even after just half a day’s hands-on experience the results were amazing; they were all producing very respectable prints. Sunday was spent working on other images, outputting more film, making new plates or experimenting with the same image using stiffer/looser inks or different papers.
September and October are going to be busier than ever, so here are several things that are happening over the next couple of months. There’s also ‘one more thing’ that I’m excited about, but I can’t say anything about that yet…
POLYMER PHOTOGRAVURE WORKSHOP
In October I’ll be teaching a 2.5 day workshop at Highpoint Center for Printmaking in Minneapolis, using the polymer photogravure process. We’ll start on Thursday evening by looking at prints, discussing the differences between copperplate and polymer gravure and how to make the digital film positives using an Epson inkjet printer. Then on Saturday, we’ll expose and process the plates ready for a full day’s printing on Sunday.
The class size is limited to 8 participants. More information can be found here. Thursday, October 11th, 6pm – 9pm and Saturday and Sunday, October 13th and 14th, 9am – 4pm.
Highpoint Center for Printmaking 912, West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408 Telephone (612) 871-1326
SHADOWS TRACES UNDERCURRENTS
On October 18th there is a public reception for the show shadows traces undercurrents that opens at the Katherine E. Nash gallery. Curated by Christine Baeumler and Joyce Lyon, the show is part of Mapping Spectral Traces: A Dakota Place and is an international group exhibition mapping unseen and acknowledged pasts that continue to structure present-day social relations. I’ll be exhibiting twenty of the Dark Matter photogravures.
The opening reception is Thursday, October 18th, 6 – 8pm and the event is free and open to the public. The show runs between October 16th and November 17th, 2012.
Katherine E. Nash Gallery Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota 405, 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455
A SENSE OF PLACE IN ARTIST BOOKS
There is also a companion exhibition A Sense of Place in Artist Books, that runs from October 12th to December 12th, 2012 at the ALA Library Gallery, Room 210, Rapson Hall. This exhibition has been curated by Karen Kinoshita and the opening is on Friday, October 19th, 6.30 – 8.30pm.
2011-2012 McKNIGHT ARTIST FELLOWSHIP EXHIBITION
The work of the four 2011-2012 McKnight fellows is also on show at the Rochester Art Center, between September 14th, 2012 and January 6th, 2013.
Beth Dow uses historical references and traditional photographic processes to address our use of land and experience of time. Her current project, ‘Here, Nor There,’ employs tongue-in-cheek conceptualism to cross-reference historical and local architectural landscapes which re-imagine history and space.
Peter Happel Christian’s work investigates social relationships with the natural landscape using photography, but operating within a broader practice which integrates performative events, sculptural objects, as well as science, philosophy, and history to create connections and disconnections with the natural world.
James Henkel’s new body of photographs, LAB WORK, is a continuation of his interest in studio based still-life photography. Using vessels found in a chemistry classroom as subject matter, these works distance objects from their intended functionality by representing them as abstract formal arrangements that explore the relationship between art and science.
Colleen Mullins’ most recent work explores her sense of memory, family, and place through revisiting and documenting sites along the West Coast, recharting her family’s histories and creating new personal meaning.
The opening reception is on Friday, September 14th, 2012 at 7pm. For those in Minneapolis, a shuttle will run from the Walker Art Center to the Rochester Art Center. More information on that can be found here.
October 26th sees the benefit fundraiser for Photography at the Center. I have a photogravure that’ll be up for grabs – for just the purchase of a $15 lotto ticket, if you’re lucky!
Since 2011 I’ve been working on DARK MATTER, a series of images photographed in and around the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search II Lab (CDMS II) in northern Minnesota, where scientists are searching for evidence of dark matter. This body of work formed the core of my book that was produced last year during my MCBA/Jerome Foundation fellowship.
This summer I’ve been given special access to the CDMS II lab, where I’ll continue to work on the series and expand my conceptual investigations into the nature of dark matter.
To help fund this next stage of the project, I’m offering a small edition, both in number and size, of hand pulled photogravures of one image from the series, Dark Matter XI.
Title: Dark Matter XI. Date Printed: 2012. Medium: Hand pulled polymer photogravure. Dimensions: 5″ x 5″ image on 8″ x 10″ Hahnemühle paper. Edition: 15 plus 2 APs. Signed: Signed on front. Stamped, signed, numbered and dated on reverse. Price: $150 (plus sales tax for MN residents). Shipping: $6 US / $20 worldwide.
A selection of images from this series are also available for purchase as a boxed portfolio, made in conjunction with the Jerome Foundation/Minnesota Center for Book Arts mentorship program. You can read more about the project here.
Thanks to all who came out for the opening of the MCBA/Jerome show this past Friday – it was fun and we had a great turnout. For those who couldn’t make it, the show’s up until January 24th 2012.
In the next few days I hope to find time to copy all twenty of the photogravures and put them up on the website. I had hoped to have done this sooner, but it’s been a little chaotic recently.
The show is the culmination of a year’s worth of learning and hands on experience for the six recipients – Amanda Lovelee, Caroline Keefe, Rachel Perlmeter, Meryl DePasquale, Ben Lansky and myself.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts is located in the Open Book building at 1011, Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415. 612-215-2520.
First Prints
