Dear Friends,

Summer is upon us and I am so excited about several new developments at the studio. We are just a few weeks away from the start of the first Certificate in Green Printmaking: Intaglio program. It’s a 3-week intensive workshop designed to teach almost everything we have learned and practiced in the realm of safer etching. We have one spot open if you are interested - read all the details on the website. We are also offering many one, two and three day workshops throughout the summer.

Our exhibitions committee has been hard at work seeking venues to showcase the extraordinary prints in our Flat File. As part of the promotion plan they have been curating digital exhibitions which we will be posting on the website. A new one will be featured every two months. Read about the current exhibition below and if you are connected to a gallery and would be interested in showing work from our artists, please be in touch.

I’m thrilled to announce that our photo screenprinting facility is up and running! Our wonderful interns, Kevin and Dan have done a fantastic job building out the darkroom to accommodate screen coating as well as the screen printing studio’s storage and drying racks. They have also done extensive research to find the safest photo emulsion out there and will present this research to the membership this week. Shortly thereafter you will be able to read all about it on our website.

In this newsletter, our editor Sally Clegg interviews residency artist Elly Prestegård (Norway), who spent the month of May with us. Currently, Bonnie Levinthal (Philadelphia) is in residence and in July we welcome Lisa Sweet (Washington). Our residency program has exceeded our expectations, mostly because the artists that come to work here bring such enthusiasm, joy and good spirit to the community. They all work hard and move themselves forward in their art making with the support of our beautiful space, equipment and welcoming community. We are currently scheduling residencies for 2016. Perhaps next year it will be your turn!

Lastly, I want to mention the significant changes to our annual Print Fair. We have changed the date, the format and are inviting other local printmakers and print shops to participate. We hope that this expanded event will showcase the amazing printmaking artists and resources here in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The details for participating in Print Fair North are below.

Warm, summery regards,

Liz

Meet ZMP's May Resident Artist Elly Prestegård

On May 20th I sat down with Elly Prestegård from Bergen, Norway, at the end of her month-long residency at Zea Mays Printmaking. The Annex was full of fresh energy and prints. Here are some excerpts from our conversation.
Sally Clegg

On finding the residency program: I found Zea Mays on the web at least two years ago, before the residency program even existed. I said 'this is my place, these are my people. I'm going to Massachusetts!' And I started sending this strong wish over the ocean.

On Northampton: It's so off, in a way! This place is fantastic.

On working in the Annex Studio: It's in the walls... [other artists] working, struggling... all these echos. Even though I'm alone down here I have an environment of very welcoming people. It gives me the right energy to create, to set free my work.

On ZMP's non-toxic methods: I spent so many years with solvents in my life. It's different to be in an environment like this. Here you can [work with] coffee and sugar, vinegar... it feels right. I wanted to get rid of the old printmaker voice saying 'it won't work as well.' You just have to make it stop talking to you.

On Akua inks: I think I love them... even though I love Charbonelle...

On BIG ground: A miracle.

On gardening: It's art, too, it's part of the same thing. You have to have a master plan, but it's always happening. I like what it does to me, how it influences my artwork.

On vitality in artmaking: I think we have a lot of voices in us. Childhood is a natural part of us. You just go for it: forget about time, forget to go to the toilet... those are the voices I like to incorporate. I want to have fun, I don't want to be a struggling person, never content with my work.

Heading home to Norway: I have a new vocabulary now. It will change my life. I have learned to love Akua, Pronto, BIG... I came to bring knowledge back home.

Advice for future residency artists: People here are willing to share, welcoming, it's so easy to communicate, just easy to be here. Be open, embrace what is waiting for you. There is so much given in this environment. Be thankful.

See more of Elly's work on her website

Learn more about residencies at Zea Mays Printmaking here

Cathe Janke and Priyoum Talukdar at Zea Mays Printmaking July 2015

Cathe Janke will be showing prints and drawings made on her most recent trip to India from January to April 2015. She taught a workshop and was a visiting artist at BK College of Art and Crafts in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. With the help of the teachers and students there, she editioned a four-color silkscreen and a lithograph.

It was a great experience and she hopes to return to aid in making their print studio more non-toxic.

She will also be showing the work of several artisans and craftsman of Odisha at Zea Mays during the month of July. The beautiful and skilled crafts and palm leaf carvings of the village of Raghurajpur, Odisha are famous throughout India.

She will also share work by Priyoum Talukdar, who has won numerous print awards and is currently showing in the 4th Bangkok Triennale International Print and Drawing exhibition at Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, and the Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA) award Show, Kolkata.

Cathe’s work will be in the Loo Gallery, and the rest will hang in the meeting room at Zea Mays.

See more of Cathe's work here

Digital Exhibition: Textures

Jenny Gover Curates Zea Mays' First Online Show from the Flat File

Why put on a digital exhibition of textural prints? It may seem counterintuitive because texture is closely associated with tactility and we are far removed from the physical prints when we view them online. We cannot touch them, change our angle of view, or even get close to them as we might in a gallery. But from layered text to embossed surfaces and collage, the prints chosen for this exhibition transcend the screen’s barrier. Some have obvious physical texture while others show contrast between smooth and textured surfaces or build up layers of ink to create a dense, visual texture. As a group they push printmaking beyond two dimensions.
Jenny Gover, curator

See the show here
View the entire Flat File Project here

Are you a printmaker or print studio who wants to join us at Print Fair North?

Print Fair North, working in conjunction with Zea Mays Printmaking and supported by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council, will provide a venue for printmakers and print studios to showcase and sell work to the public.

Individual artists as well as area printmaking studios and groups are invited to participate.

For details and application to participate download the PDF

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 15, 2015
Individual Artists: $125 per table
Groups, Studios, Businesses: $200 per table

Questions? Contact PFN15 Committee member Adrienne Figus at robotslovedinosaurs@yahoo.com

Nancy Haver is a new member of the Boston Printmakers.

Cynthia Guild is having an exhibit Three by Four at Jesse Edwards Gallery, Block Island RI, June 25-July 7th, and also at Harmon Gallery, Wellfleet, MA. July 4- July17th.

Frank and Francine Trearchis Ozereko were both accepted for a residency at UCross Center for the Arts in Wyoming from November 1 - December 4th. This is the second time Frank had a month long residency at UCross, but it is the first time that Frank and Francine are participating in a residency together. Frank will continue to work on monotypes and Francine will be using mixed media to fabricate her ceramic imagery. They also will work on some projects together.

Erika Radich is showing prints as a part of the BRIDGE Inspirations from the Nashua River and Fitch’s Bridge Project at the Owen Smith Shuman Art Gallery in the Groton Public Library, Groton, MA. The exhibit opens June 10 and continues until August 22, 2015. There is an artist reception Tuesday, June 23, 6:30 - 8:30.

Elizabeth J. Saccà is one of 17 artists whose work comprises ONEKWÉN:TARA KANÉHTSOTE – the red post (a sign of war) Art Exhibit Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Occupation of Kanehsatà:ke & Kahnawà:ke, August 1-12, 2015. Rotiwenakehte/Aronhiateke School, 407 St. Michel, Kanehsatà:ke Mohawk Territory, Canada. A webinar will be held on the Golf Course July 11th, 2015. This is a partnership between Konitnonhstats, Kanehsatà:ke Language & Cultural Center and Kahnawà:ke Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa. Sponsors are Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Canadian Friends Service Committee.

Liz Chalfin's print Another Day, p.1 will travel to Venice this summer with The Future: The Los Angeles Printmaking Society International Exchange Exhibition. The show includes 30 prints by members of LAPS and will be on veiw during the Venice Biennale July 28th to August 15th, 2015 at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy.
Liz's new print, From the Ashes is featured at AL MUTANABBI STREET STARTS HERE, Hampshire College Gallery, Hampshire College Library, Amherst, MA, June 18 to September 30, 2015.
Liz's etching On the Midway is included in Look AgainThe Art Complex Museum Duxbury, MA, May 17 - September 6, 2015.

Anita Hunt's intaglio print, Void, Hole, Island, reflection III, will travel to Venice this summer with the The Future: The Los Angeles Printmaking Society International Exchange Exhibition. The show, which includes 30 pieces by current LAPS members, was selected by Stas Olofsky, an artist representing the city of Los Angeles in this year's Venice Biennale. The exhibit will be on display July 28 - August 15 at the Scuola Internazionle di Graphica Gallery, Venice, Italy.
Anita has a new drypoint print included in Look Again: AMC Collection Inspires the Boston Printmakers, on display at the Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA through September 6.
Anita is pleased to announce that her etching, Lodge III, is included in the Tokyo International Mini-Print Triennial 2015. The exhibit will be on display at Tama Art University Gallery in Tokyo, September 26 - November 8 and on the website. After the exhibit, the prints become part of the Tama Art University's permanent print collection.
She will also participate in the upcoming SAGA Centennial National Exhibition at the Art Students League in New York. Show dates are October 22 - November 6, 2015, with an Opening Reception on October 22, 6-8pm.

VII Splitgraphic 2015 is accepting entries, deadline July 1st. Application here

ARTspace of Chatham, Ontario is accepting entries for their third biennial International Print Exchange and Community Arts Initiative. Deadline July 20th. Submission form here

The Awagami International Miniature Print Exhibition is accepting entries of works on washi paper for 2015. Deadline July 31st. Application here

The Northampton Arts Council is accepting entries for its 2015 Biennial at the Hosmer Gallery. Deadline August 1st. Enter here

The Augusta Savage Gallery in the UMass Fine Arts Center is accepting entries for I Breathe With You. Deadline August 1st. Submit here

The Jogja International Miniprint Biennale (JIMB) in Jakarta, Indonesia is accepting submissions for its 2015 exhibition. Deadline August 15th. (Participation guidelines may be found beginning on page 11 of the prospectus).

The Manhattan Graphics Center is accepting entries for 2015 New York International Miniature Print. Deadline September 1st.

Art at Wharepuke (New Zealand) is accepting applications for its 4th Biennial International Open Print Show. Deadline September 30th. Application here

Karri Lee is organizing an exhibition at Gallery 526 in Collinsville, CT. Email chapman.karri@gmail.com for more information.

This month we're highlighting member artist Erika Radich's website, found here

You can find a full directory of links to member and faculty websites here.

News about the changing landscape of printmaking and improvements concerning safety and toxicity are always welcome. Please submit letters, updates, or ideas to sally.clegg@gmail.com