Cool Videos (for printy nerds like me)

Found these and wanted to share. The first is a bookbinding video, including printing of the etching plates for the book pages and pulling of handmade paper for the covers. Lovely letterpress printing, on the bench sewing, case binding, ... shivers! The second is a 4 minute litho printing, from graining the stone to printing the edition. It's like litho on speed. Say no to drugs, say yes to printmaking!

Chain me to the press!

Printed some woodcuts this past Saturday on a litho press. Works well, not as much deep embossment cause there are no blankets to cushion and press the paper down into the carving of the wood. But it makes a nice impression and I was happy.

I love this Takach...



Here are some preliminary "underprints." I work in layers, monoprinting from a woodcut, varying the colors with each print...



And using stencils to block out some areas to further vary each print...



And some more "underprints." They are kinda like underpaintings: just a beginning layer to work on top of, to offer a background texture which will then be added upon by a middle ground of layers and a final printed layer.



But don't ask me what will happen next. My printing is like Iron Chef: I have an ingredient but I have no idea what will be added to the mix until it's done!

Connecting with The Art Connection

When I moved out of my studio back on January, I had a number of works that I loved but also wanted to find a good home too. I had always been interested in donating work to the Art Connection but kept putting it off until Tova Speter came to my studio and said "So Jenny..." Perfect timing! I handed off the art work to her, delayed the paperwork for months (shame on me) and finally got my work registered with their organization.

The Art Connection is a non-profit organization that connects artists and other non-profits. Artists who have art to donate, organizations who have a need for donated art to liven up their spaces, a perfect match. As artists, we often have so much work that sits around that it is a great opportunity to share our work with those in need. At no cost to the artist or the non-profit.

So far my work has been placed at the Massasoit Community College, The Dimock Center and the Lowell Community Health Center. I am very pleased that my work will be placed in public spaces to be viewed and appreciated by many people from varied communities.

Learn more about the Art Connection at www.theartconnection.org

Checking out Damian Ortega at the ICA with Jlee

So yesterday was Columbus Day (even though he didn't discover sh*t, but don't get me started...) and with no work and no daycare, Jlee and I set out make our own discoveries. First we headed to the ICA to check out the Damian Ortega exhibition Do It Yourself. Immediately Jlee was drawn to it, eyes wide open and pointing "Mommy look! What's that?"



He was instantly drawn to the spinning barrels of "False Movement (Stability and Economic Growth)," 1999. We both enjoyed Ortega's use of common items (chairs, dressers, tortilla chips, rolled pennies...) broken down and reconfigured to create monumental sculptures hinged on tension and balance. Even still objects had movement, as objects were tied together precariously, expectantly, on the edge of their own tipping point.





Then we checked out his mini videos "Nine Types of Terrain," 2007, of bricks laid out like dominoes and set in action. Jlee enjoyed watching all nine films... over and over... So proud that after starting him off early with gallery visits, he now appreciates contemporary conceptual art.

After also going to the duck pond and to the Museum of Science, Jlee and I later followed up our ICA adventure with an activity at home of stacking and creating our own balance sculptures and cause-and-effect actions using blocks, chairs, books, cans, plastic cups, cereal boxes, etc.