I met artist Maude White at Grit N Glory on NYC’s Lower East Side at an opening reception for Carrier Pigeon Magazine. Her medium is cut paper. She illustrated “The Girl Who was Struck by Lightning,” a quite peculiar short story by Chris Stanton. If there is a literary genre called Backwoods Surreal Noir, this storyContinue reading “The Lady Loves to Cut: Maude White”
Category Archives: printmaking
North Carolina’s Monster Man
Bill Fick wrote the book on printmaking. Actually, he co-wrote the book, with Beth Grabowski, Printmaking: A Complete Guide to Materials & Processes. He is a part of the group known as the Outlaw Printmakers. Bill Fick draws monsters. He is a nice guy. I met him one rainy night at the Atomic Cowboy barContinue reading “North Carolina’s Monster Man”
César Chávez: Drawing on Clay, Printing with Glass
Our 2011 visiting artist César Chávez of Oaxaca, Mexico left a great impression on Kutztown University. He also left a number of plates. Ceramics Prof Jim Chaney formed a half-dozen red clay plates, then iced them with a coat of white slip, or diluted clay. He invited César to the ceramics studio to draw. Prof Chaney speaksContinue reading “César Chávez: Drawing on Clay, Printing with Glass”
Moku Hanga, Not a Coffee: Lessons in Japanese printmaking
April Vollmer recently taught a two-day Moku Hanga workshop at the Printmaking Center of New Jersey. KU Prof Elaine Cunfer and I took the class along with five other students. I know a bit about Japanese prints, but had never tried my hand at the traditional Moku Hanga woodblock printing technique. April, a great teacher andContinue reading “Moku Hanga, Not a Coffee: Lessons in Japanese printmaking”
Will Ruocco & the Secrets of Gig Posters
There are illustrators and presses everywhere. I was in Worthington, Ohio, just north of Columbus, one recent weekend. There was a big street fair going on. A sandwich board announced “Open House at Igloo Letterpress.” I have been to Worthington many times and never knew there was a press there. Will Ruocco was minding hisContinue reading “Will Ruocco & the Secrets of Gig Posters”
Russ Spitkovsky: The Pigeon Has Landed
Russ Spitkovsky makes things happen. He came to Kutztown as one of the 9 artists in the 2012 Print Invitational at the Miller Gallery. The founder of the cutting edge art magazine Carrier Pigeon hung artwork from the latest issue at the Eckhaus Gallery on Main St. He circled back this week as a visiting artistContinue reading “Russ Spitkovsky: The Pigeon Has Landed”
St. Patrick & His Miracles & Me
Patrick McCloskey was born in Killycolman, County Donegal, Ireland. He was my grandfather. He immigrated to the US around 1915. His family in Ireland called him “Paddy the Yank.” He celebrated his birthday on St. Patrick’s Day. My middle name is Patrick, after him. There are many Pat McCloskeys. I’ve got a wife named Patt,Continue reading “St. Patrick & His Miracles & Me”
Once and Future Prints
Illustrators rejoice over the resurgence of interest in prints. Some illustrators are also fine printmakers. Some printmakers are illustrators. Above is a print by an artist who manages to live in both worlds, Frances Jetter. We will see her artwork in Kutztown soon. Kutztown University’s Invitational Print Exhibition opens Thurs., Sept. 6. Professor Evan SummerContinue reading “Once and Future Prints”
KU Print Show travels to Oaxaca, Mexico
Good news from Mexico! Our shipment of 28 prints arrived safely in Oaxaca, Mexico from Kutztown, PA. The self-portraits in a wide variety of media (including woodblock, etching, serigraphy, and lithography) will be exhibited at Benito Juarez University in the month of July. The prints are by Kutztown University faculty, students, alumni, and friends. Sending printsContinue reading “KU Print Show travels to Oaxaca, Mexico”
Elizabeth Catlett 1915-2012
Elizabeth Catlett died last week. She was an African-American artist and member of the Taller Grafica Popular, the famed Mexico City printmaking collective. Her Mexico City friends included Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The U.S. obituaries generally referred to Ms. Catlett as a sculptor. In fact, the NY Times headline is Elizabeth Catlett, Sculptor With Eye on SocialContinue reading “Elizabeth Catlett 1915-2012”
Illustration Concentration 