Since 2003, Stefanie Dykes and Sandy and Erik Brunvand have been successsfully running Saltgrass Printmakers, an open access, non-profit studio and gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It all began with a common problem that many printmakers face; Stefanie and Sandy realized  that they would soon be graduating from school, and would be left without a place to print. Is this sounding familiar?

This month at the Southern Graphics Council Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, they'll be sharing their experiences and leading an open discussion on how to foster communication between non-profit and open-access print studios. 

The founders of Saltgrass Printmakers, Stefanie Dykes and Sandy Brunvand.

McClain's

Tell us about the panel/discussion you plan to host at SGC in March.

Saltgrass Printmakers

Our panel/event is called "Community Conversation: Non-Profit and Open-Access Printmaking Studios." This event is not designed to be a sit-and-listen panel, but a come-and-participate discussion about issues that all our organizations face. We'll facilitate the discussion, but everyone who attends will hopefully contribute. The overall goal of this event is to foster communication between non-profit and open-access print studios.

What this means is that after a quick introduction to explain where we're coming from, we hope to have a group discussion (or split into mini-groups) about issues related to our studios, and to get to know each other in the process. In particular, we suggest starting with the following three topics: "Fundraising and Keeping the Doors Open," "Building a Community of Printmakers in your Town," and "Cooperation and Collaboration Between Studios." We hope that out of these discussions will come information that we can archive on the web for all of us to share. Ultimately, this communication should also encourage new collaborations between studios.

The event takes place as part of the SGC conference in Kansas City on Thursday, March 22nd, from 4:00-5:30 at the Hyatt Hotel. If you are attending the conference and are associated with a similar type of print studio we hope you’ll come and participate!

To see prints and the rest of the interview, please click here.

NORI

Nori (rice paste) is very important in the Japanese style of printmaking. It works as a dispersing agent to give the ink body so it will spread evenly over the block. Ink without nori can look speckled when it is printed, often an unwanted effect, while ink with nori prints more uniformly. Traditionally, it is also used to paste the original drawing to the block. Nori can be used for chine collé, book repair, and everyday paper pasting jobs. It is water reversible, acid free, strong, will not stain and does not spoil.

In jars, nori tends to skin over if it is not used for long periods of time. To prevent this, before storage, level the paste in the jar with a spoon or your fingers. Add just enough water to cover the paste. It will last several months without skinning over. The next time you use the nori, pour out any water that is left and stir.

Recently, a customer living in a cold climate called us puzzled because she'd received a tub of nori that had frozen solid in transit. To remedy this, bring it into a room temperature environment. After it thaws, add a few drops of water and stir well. This will bring the nori back to normal working consistency.

THREE NEW BOOKS!

Traditional Techniques in Contemporary Chinese Printmaking

by David Barker

This book offers both a helpful introduction to the history and traditions of printmaking in China as well as a comprehensive guide to traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques. It includes detailed, illustrated instructions on single color and multiple color printmaking, plus stencil and dabbed printing. Fully illustrated with color photos and drawings. An indispensable reference for anyone interested in the Chinese version of relief printmaking.

Monoprinting
by Jackie Newell & Dee Whittington

In this book, the authors describe the basics of making monoprints.

Then they show how to push the boundaries with a wide variety of techniques, illustrating the unique possibilities of this painterly printmaking style. Illustrated with color photos and filled with monoprints by printmakers from around the world. This book is imported from Great Britain.

R2535, 128pp, soft cover, 9.5" x 6", $29.95

Japanese Popular Prints
by Rebecca Salter

This fascinating cultural history focuses on the craftsmen and the visual culture of Japan as it moved from the Edo period into the early 20th century. Although most of these woodblock printed items were inexpensive, they reflect the skill and visual sophistication of the artists, carvers and printers involved. Full of ideas, it is a unique book to study and enjoy again and again.

R2523, 208pp, soft cover, 9.75" x 7.75", $34.00

SGC Conference 2007

McClain's will be taking part in the vendor fair and doing Moku Hanga printing demonstrations at the Southern Graphics Council Conference. It takes place from March 22 - 24th, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. We hope to see you there!