Keiko Murakami - Fairytales for the Paranoid

Keiko Murakami's exhibition opened on Saturday, 'Fairytales for the Paranoid'. Come and have a look at these beautiful and intrigueing etchings and relief prints; a mixture of Japanese imagery, European fairytales and perfect aquatint technique.

The exhibition continues until the 26th of May 2012, gallery opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm.

Keiko has also had work accepted into the 8th British International Mini Print Exhibition, a show that will travel all over the U.K. over the next year.

Congratulations Keiko!

Print Council of Australia 46th Annual General Meeting at the Firestation Print Studio

On Saturday 12th May the Firestation was host to the Print Council of Australia Inc. AGM. The meeting, introduced by FPS President Coralie Stow, was held in the community room and attended by many PCA members and friends, some committee members travelling from interstate.

Apart from afternoon tea, the PCA visitors were treated to a tour of the Firestation studios upstairs, as well as the gallery and workshop.

Earlier in the day FPS committee members and teachers Myra Kaufman and Margaret Manchee gave demonstrations in the workshop for the PCA visitors and the other members of the public drawn in by a chance to see what goes on behind the big red doors in Willis Street. Studio artists were also available to answer questions and explain the intricacies of fine art printmaking.

'The Artful Line' exhibition in the gallery includes work printed at the Firestation, with notes by each work explaining the techniques used.

Thank you to the Print Council management and committee for holding the 2012 AGM at the Firestation Print Studio, and their continued support for this organisation, and those like it around Australia.

Thank you to the FPS members who attended on the day, for making the PCA so welcome, and for showing them the great work done here, for both the art of printmaking and the community.

And here are a few more photos taken on Saturday!

FPS President Coralie Stow 

Akky Van Ogtrop, who was re-elected as President of the Print Council

Myra Kaufman and Margaret Manchee's shared studio and its visitors

Trudy Rice in her studio

Gwen Scott and Myra Kaufman visiting the studio of Bronwyn Rees

The exhibition in the gallery

Displays of printmaking materials were on show in the gallery and workshop

Deb Taylor, 'Yellow Box', collograph, monotype

Myra Kaufman explaining the techniques of printmaking

Margaret Manchee demonstrating inking up a copper plate

Margaret Manchee demonstrating printing

Letterpress Printing at the Firestation Print Studio

On Saturday 5th of May Allan Dabscheck, the FPS Letterpress teacher, conducted a demonstration/workshop of Letterpress typesetting and printing.

The Firestation has a fine collection of equipment in the community room, set up by Carolyn Fraser when she was the workshop manager. You may have seen the large press in the corner, and all the beautiful type. Allan gives classes and demonstrations for those wanting to learn more about it, and perhaps want to make use of it in their art practice.

Allan spoke about the birth of modern Letterpress printing and its dramatic affect on society, from the 15th Century invention by Johannes Gutenberg to the 21st Century resurgence of interest. He displayed the various tools of the trade used by typesetters and machinists over the centuries, and demonstrated the setting of type, preparation and printing. Many questions were asked by the interested attendees, pleased they had come along to learn from Allan's wealth of experience.

I've added some more photos of the beautiful machinery, and there certainly will be many more opportunities in the future to learn about Letterpress at the Firestation Print Studio. Keep an eye on the website for details, or please contact Edith in the office if you're interested.

Current Exhibition - 'All That Glitters' - The Firestation Print Studio Works With its Neighbours

The current exhibition in the Firestation Print Gallery is a beautiful and colourful affair. The gallery and workshop are filled with glorious puppets, prints, paper marbling, tin people, as well as some fantastically coloured and individualised shoes that you'd love to step out in.

All the works were created by clients of mecwacare, a local non-profit organisation that offers care and community programs for over 7000 people each week.

The City of Stonnington provided the grant to run a printmaking program, co-ordinated by Firestation artist and teacher Margaret Manchee, helped by many other member volunteers. The exhibition, which has been displayed with the usual style and finesse of our Gallery Curator Trudy Rice, includes the prints alongside other works the clients/artists created with the assistance of the wonderful staff at mecwacare.

This has been a fulfilling and enjoyable program for both groups, as was clearly evident from all the smiling faces at the official opening last week. The show was officially opened by the CE of mecwacare, Michele Lewis.

Thanks to the City of Stonnington, the clients and staff of mecwacare and the Firestation team.

Enjoy the photos, and if you can, please come and see this inspiring show (works are very affordable, and its for a good cause!).

Michele Lewis, the CE of mecwacare, opening the show

Congratulations everyone!

Rachael Ness - 'By the Sea'

Rachael Ness, 'Who's the Real Cowfish?', linocut

The current show in the Firestation Gallery is by artist-in-residence (and intrepid beachcomber) Rachael Ness. Rachael's love of the natural world is very evident in these beautifully subtle linocuts, etchings, collagraphs, drypoints, wood engravings and paintings. She's able to show her affection in lovely and intimately detailed prints of her collection of seaside treasures; shark eggs, sea urchins, sea tassels, as well as flowers, berries and gum nuts.

Rachael's confidence and ability in many different media is evident in this exhibition, a show that shouldn't be missed. She has many unframed prints wrapped and ready for sale too, and I noticed lots of people at the opening leaving with smiles on their faces and their own piece of Rachael Ness seaside treasure tucked under their arm.

Congratulations Rachael!

Rachael Ness, 'Gum nuts', wood engraving

And thanks to Rachael for showing us some of the source material,
including these Eucalyptus lehmannii specimens
(sorry, my photo of the amazing shark egg collection didn't work, you'll just have to go and see the show!)

Firestation Artists Have a Stall at Stonningtons 'Pets in the Park'

'My Dog', a linocut by Edith May

A few weeks ago a group of Firestation artists set up a stall at Stonnington Council's annual 'Pets in the Park' day. Similar to their ever popular 'Spring into Gardening' in that there are stalls available for local community groups to show what they do, and thus encourage more people to get involved.

The emphasis of 'Pets in the Park' is to encourage responsible pet ownership and to share the joys of pet companionship. What better way to show this than the adoring portraits of their animals exhibited by Firestation artists!

It was a very successful day. Many thanks to Trudy Rice, Rory Manchee, Gwen Scott, Jen Schroeder and Edith May for helping.

Here's a photo of the stall... and if I miss mentioning any artists, I apologise.
The two works leaning up against the boxes are linocuts by Gwen Scott, other works include those by Rachael Ness, Marisa Corral, Edith May, Margaret Manchee, and many more. (Please note that many of these unframed works are available for sale in the Firestation Gallery, contact Edith in the office for more information)

New Sarah Amos Workshop Announced for August 2012

The happy printmakers with Sarah,
last year during Impact 7 Month of Print

Sarah Amos will be visiting Australia again this year, and conducting a three day workshop at the Firestation in August. This time she'll be teaching Shaped Miniature Non-Toxic Printmaking and Collage.

To see Sarah's work in this style from her show at Flinders Lane Gallery in Melbourne last year click here.

Email or phone Edith in the office for more information, and to secure your place in what will be an invigorating, challenging and enjoyable three days. Spaces are limited, so be quick! (Office open Wednesday to Friday 11am to 5pm)

Here are some excerpts from Sarah's notes on the course content:

The inspiration for this class is taken from the 17th and 18th Century tradition of making Miniatures from all artistic techniques such as scrimshaw engravings, silhouette and oil portrait cameos, and gorgeous intimate small-scale prints. Using this age old technique of making images sing in micro scale is a fascinating project for any printmaking artist and is a must for printmakers who want to re-energize their printing practice. Plus it is so much fun, fun, fun.

I believe as an artist you should challenge yourself and your work constantly. You should explore both concepts of scale in stretching your work to mural capacity or shrinking your imagery to Faberge egg size prints, and embrace the wonderful power of shaped prints (ovals, circles, or odd shapes). Who knows were it will take you?

Artist’s books will also come into play within this class as the Miniature technique of running narrative marries well with the book concept. I will demonstrate Japanese bound accordion books using the French seam technique, or the hand made boxed artist book of individual sheets to tell your story.

Each artist can expect to make a small body of prints and at least one book.

As with all Sarah's workshops, a little printmaking experience would be helpful, but not essential. She is a wonderfully generous teacher and the three days will be jam packed with information and experience for you to easily transfer everything learned into your own individual art practice.

Article in IMPRINT Magazine

The current issue of IMPRINT magazine includes an article I wrote regarding the FPS / City of Stonnington Graduate Awards (page 7). The magazine is published quarterly by the Print Council of Australia Inc., and as mentioned before, is a must-have for Australian printmakers.

Past award winners were very generous with their time, as were the lecturers at the art schools. But thanks must also go to Coralie Stow for all her time and efforts in assisting with the research.

And on a side note, the cover features the work by Ann Starling, All's Right with the World, the amazing Silk Cut Award winning print of 2011.

Printmaking Awards, Competitions and Exchanges

If ever you lift the paper from your new lino block or etching plate, and catch your breath...think about entering the subsequent print in a competition or award show. There are many in Australia and internationally, specifically for prints or works on paper, for mini prints, artist books etc.

The Print Council of Australia Inc. is a wonderful source of information, through their quarterly IMPRINT magazine, and will even send out a more comprehensive printed list (check with them first about postage costs).

A lot of the hard work has been done for us by our fellow printmakers at Warringah Printmakers Studio, a community access studio in Sydney whose members had a wonderful display of their work at Impact 7 last year.

Follow the link to the list on their website, and scroll down after looking at their latest exhibition news, to see all the awards and competitions you can enter. The list is very comprehensive and looks to be updated regularly. There are links to the award websites and all the competitions are conveniently listed by month of submission.

If you want to get your work out there and share it without being judged, there are plenty of printmaking exchanges to be part of too. There's a terrific blog site in the U.S. devoted to exchanges, with lots of links and updates.


So what are you waiting for?

Lesley O'Gorman - Monash University Graduate Award Winner 2011

Lesley O'Gorman, 'Epegenetics', etching, linocut on marino wool and silk,

each 24x30cm

Lesley O'Gorman's show opened on Thursday night, Epigenetics - Legibility, Literacy, Visibility.

From Lesley's statement:

Not only our individual personal experiences, but also those experiences of our past generations shape the person that we become.


Questions arise about the influence of our past generations. Their experiences, behaviours and expectations are so different from our own technology-based world; it is difficult to imagine any similarities.


Representing through layers and fragments the legibility, literacy and visibility of a captured moment in time, an emotion or a memory.

The President of the FPS Committee of Management, Coralie Stow, opened the exhibition, the third of our Firestation / City of Stonnington Graduate Awards for 2011.

In these beautiful and subtle images, artist books and small sculptural works Lesley makes use of fine fabrics such as silk and wool as well as leather, wood and metals.

The exhibition is well worth a look.

Congratulations Lesley!

Lesley O'Gorman, 'Legibility I', detail, silk, paper and perspex

Rachel Joy at the Firestation Print Gallery - FundaMattel: If Barbie Wore a Burqua

Rachel Joy, linocut, 'Cheer the Team Burqua', 30x30cm

Rachel Joy's exhibition opened last night, her bold linocuts making bold statements about femininity:

'FundaMattel' tries to draw attention to a continuum of fundamentalism where Barbie and the burqua both represent extreme constructions of what it means to be female. The project aims to ask questions about these constructed female identities and uses humour as a way of exposing the farce. I hope people will consider where the true power lies in these constructions of femininity.
(from Rachel's Artist Statement)

Rachel is an established Melbourne printmaker and sculptor, working in linocuts, puppetry and public sculpture. Her puppets will be included in Opera Victoria's Master Peter's Puppet Show in August, which is based on an episode from Don Quixote. She recently participated in a residency at Courthouse Arts in Geelong which has resulted in her first public sculpture. Check out her website for more images and information... and come and see the show in the Firestation Gallery to experience what Rachel calls: "old school inky printmaking meets contemporary street art overlaid with a little black humour!"

Rachel Joy, linocut, 'Synchronised Swimming Burqua', 30x30cm

Jaime Powell - VCA Graduate Award Winner 2011

Jaime Powell, 'Connections', in the Firestation Print Gallery

The Firestation Print Studio / City of Stonnington Graduate Award VCA exhibition prize went to Jaime Powell. Her show opened last night and continues to the 11th of February. FPS Committee of Management President Coralie Stow gave a speech, congratulating Jaime, and thanking gallery curator Trudy Rice for her work curating the student shows.

Coralie opening the exhibition

Jaime has filled the end wall of the gallery with her beautiful calligraphic lithographs 'Connections', their subtleties evident only when viewed up close. The lithographs feature overlays of delicate calligraphic marks, the prints collected and arranged on the end wall, but equally entrancing as a single or double sheet.

The student shows give Firestation members and gallery visitors a chance to see the up-and-coming stars of the Melbourne printmaking scene, so come along to the gallery to see these beautiful prints.

Congratulations Jaime!

Connections

Firestation Print Gallery

2 Willis Street 

Armadale

until the 11th of February (gallery hours 11am to 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday)

   

(images - Jaime Powell, 'Connections', details)

So Begins Another Year of Wonderful Classes at the Firestation

Firestation teacher Marisa Corral with a happy student

It's February already and the Firestation programme is in full swing! There is an extensive range of classes on offer in the workshop - etching, aquatint, monoprinting, collagraph, bookbinding, linocut and much more. For more details on upcoming classes and workshops by visiting artists, have a look at the FPS website, which is regularly updated by our lovely workshop manager Edith.

Marisa Corral, an artist-in-residence at the Firestation who is currently studying for her Masters in Visual Arts at Monash University, recently ran a weekend workshop on collagraph and monoprinting. Students learnt to experiment with relief and intaglio techniques using cardboard as a base, and to combine these textural marks with the painterly qualities of monoprinting.

Marisa also runs regular etching and aquatint classes in the workshop (for beginners and more experienced printmakers), and is one of our many teachers who are happy to pass on their extensive knowledge of printmaking techniques.

More happy students

The Firestation classes aren't just restricted to printmaking. Visiting artists often share their skills in related fields as well. Experienced book artist and printmaker Joss Farmer-Bowers recently gave a bookbinding class where students learnt to make their own covered concertina book, as well as the techniques of pamphlet binding. All very useful for printmakers wanting to take their prints to another level.

Students learning bookbinding skills with Joss Farmer-Bowers

Firestation Artists Contribute to Save-A-Dog-Scheme Fundraiser

Gwen Scott, 'My Dog', linocut

Firestation artists recently contributed prints to the City of Stonnington charity fundraiser, held late last year. A local charity is chosen by the mayor and a fundraising dinner and auction is held. Last year the charity was 'Save-a-Dog-Scheme' and prints were donated by the Firestation and some of its artists to help raise the $17,572.

SADS is a local non-profit organisation that works to save the lives of cats and dogs, once their time has expired at the council pound. The charity does not receive any government funding and relies on donations for its continued existence.

The Firestation bought the print 'Red Door' by Margaret Manchee to donate to the event, as it features one of the iconic front doors to the workshop in Willis Street. The prints were part of a cache of over 200 items auctioned at the event.

The other contributing artists were:

Myra Kaufman

Trudy Rice

Marie Watt

Gwen Scott

Carmel O'Connor

Rachel Lennon

Beata Slifierz exhibiting in Poland

Beata with her work at the Royal Castle in Niepolomice, Poland

Firestation artist-in-residence Beata Slifierz has taken an exhibition of her print works to Poland. The first exhibition has just finished, at the Royal Castle in Niepolomice, and the second has just opened.

Her beautiful images, using much layering of both linocuts and etchings, evoke Polish folk patterns seen through the nostalgia of memory. Beata regularly exhibits in both solo and group shows at the Firestation, and last year was a finalist in the Silk Cut Award for Linocut Prints, exhibited at the Glen Eira City Council Gallery in Caulfield each September.

Beata was also a prize winner at last years Firestation Summer Salon exhibition, have a look at her image on the post about the show here, and another of her prints featured in a photo of our opening of the Portfolio exhibition last year, that's here.

So if you're in the area, have a look at Beata's exhibition...Congratulations Beata!

Polonia House

Cracow

22nd January to 17th March 2012

And to give you more of an idea of what her beautiful prints look like close up...here's Beata's print for our members' portfolio of last year 'The Print and Narrative'.

Beata Slifierz, 'Memory Carpet no. 6', 18x18cm, 2011