"Devotion to Craftsmanship Revealed in Each Cut, Gouge"

10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, December 29, 2010By DANIEL FOSTER and JILL JONES

Special to The Press-Enterprise
Artist Tim Musso reveals an intricate, magnificently detailed world in his woodcut and screenprint work.
He captures details in nature so precisely that we feel as if we are viewing the object itself held up to us in a magnified format so that we won't miss any bit of the delicious, extremely nuanced details. His devotion to craftsmanship is revealed in each cut, gouge and stroke, and in the more than 50 hours of work devoted to each piece.

"His affinity and passion for nature and the outdoors permeates his work.
Drawing from his experiences that challenge his mind and body, he creates beautifully organic pieces by taking the smallest details and enlarging them so that we can explore every facet. The physicality of each piece is mirrored by the level of thought that goes into them," said graphic designer Chhun Tang.

As an assistant art professor, Tim Musso teaches printmaking, graphic design and foundation design at La Sierra University in Riverside. As an assistant art professor, Tim Musso teaches printmaking, graphic design and foundation design at La Sierra University in Riverside.
The rocks, lichen, roots, branches and bark along Musso's 590-mile hike in Oregon has provided the basis for a full series of work.

"I took inspiration for this body of work while hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail over the span of five years. Removed from society and traversing the San Bernardino Sierra Nevada, and Cascade mountain ranges, I became acutely aware of the power of nature to survive in harsh conditions. Trees growing out of solid granite on a windy mountain pass at 10,000 feet, seem to invite one to contemplate this power," said Musso. "In this setting one cannot help but question our relationship to these tenacious life forms. To explore this relationship I have turned to investigating the ecological and botanical cycles that support the trees of this unique landscape. ... In the resulting multitude of prints, certain forms repeat and recycle, demonstrating the plurality and strength of the normally unseen cycles of life."

The resulting print work is amazingly complex and rich with detail. Much of the work is in black and white that heightens the contrast level. Several pieces are quite large, 29 by 41 inches, which also creates a greater impact.
"Printmaking can be an extremely versatile medium, and the individual printmaker truly develops a relationship with each piece through process, patience and practice.

Tim Musso's work combines creative spontaneity with intense dedication to process and craft in creating very extraordinary and beautiful prints that portray complexity and depth as seen in nature. Musso uses his knowledge of technology and traditional print processes in combination with his internal motivation as a visual artist, to create forms that we recognize, but can't necessarily identify, giving us a new vocabulary of visual form," said graphic designer Dana Herkelrath.

As an assistant art professor, Musso teaches printmaking, graphic design and foundation design at La Sierra University in Riverside.
He has exhibited in numerous group shows and has been a prolific designer fashioning posters and packaging materials for companies such as Doritos, Pepsico, Lays, Dannon, Disney, Los Angeles Opera and others.

He received both his BFA and MFA from California State University, Long Beach.
Musso's artwork will be exhibited in the La Sierra University Faculty Art Show in the Brandstater Art Gallery running from Jan. 24 through Feb.20, 2011. The opening reception event is on Monday, Feb. 14 from 6-8 p.m.

For more information about the Artist Spotlight, contact Daniel Foster, President/CEO at The Community Foundation at 951-684-4194 or DFoster@thecommunityfoundation.net

Final BBQ of the Semester

On the 17th, the printmakers at CSULB had planned to have a BBQ for the last day of the semester, but torrential rains would give one the impression that a BBQ could only be at the bottom of the list of possible activities. Undaunted by logic or weather, we had one anyway.

Barbara Kruger

Color Scheme Designer

http://colorschemedesigner.com/

Assistantships for Frogman's Summer Printmaking Workshop Available

This photo of my Relief Printing class from the summer of 2005 stands as concrete evidence of the joys of learning all things xylographical in beautiful Vermillion, South Dakota. (That's Christina Kaufmann, my lovely shop assistant, standing next to me in the blue T-shirt adorned with a white woodcut skull.) Truth be told, a panoply of printmaking classes are offered there, from notable practitioners in the field during the months of June and July. These classes can be transferred to work as credit towards your CSULB degree, but there is an extra fee that has to be paid to the University of South Dakota.

At any rate, an email notice popped into my 'puter this AM from Jeremy Menard who manages to well, manage the logistics of the beast. He wanted to let me know that the deadline to apply for an assistantship is less than one short week away!

Here's the skinny on the deal: Students must be enrolled for both weeks of classes to be eligible for an assistantship. Assistants will be needed in Vermillion, SD, from Wednesday, June 29, 2011 through Tuesday, July 19, 2011. Assistants will be responsible for set-up and tear-down of the workshops in addition to assisting the faculty. Frogman's will waive one week's fees ($675) and it will pay for assistants three week's stay in a single University dorm room ($369.60). Assistants are responsible for all of their own meals and travel. Applicants must register for a first choice and a second choice for each class session.

As for the part that made me groan - to apply, students must have two letters of recommendation. You must also send also five digital images (.jpg format) and a cover letter along with your registration form. Participants must be enrolled and deposits paid to qualify for Workshop Assistantships. Half of your deposit ($325) is due no later than November 15, 2010. The other half of your deposit ($325) is due no later than February 15, 2011. Assistants will not receive the popular "Early Bird" Discounts. Applications are due no later than November 15, 2010. A maximum of 12 assistantships are available and preference will be given to past participants.

For more information, go to www.frogmans.net or www.frogmans.net/Workshop.htm.

Feel free to contact Jeremy with any questions.

Jeremy Menard, Executive Director
Frogman's Print & Paper Workshops
105 North Third Street, PO Box 142
Beresford, SD 57004
(605) 763-5082 / (605) 310-6548 (Cell)
jeremy@frogmans.net
www.frogmans.net

Also – The deadline to apply for Frogman’s Graduate Student Scholarship is also approaching - December 15, 2010. Our own Tyler Ferreira won this honor last year and it included having a solo exhibition of his work.

Channeling Barbara Kruger, Part the First

An Art History 365 Student's Review of the Visiting Artist Lecture from 10/6/2010

Rob Swainston: AH 365 Lecture Review, 10/6/2010, CSULB University Theatre

Rob Swainston is a co-founder and master printer at the printmaking studio Prints of Darkness in New York City.

Swainston’s own work is largely based on improvisation and revolves around print media although he does not stick to the traditional limits of the media. He “expanded the matrix” to the field of sculpture and installation by creating three dimensional pieces mainly constructed out of paper with the addition of various other materials. Swainston also likes to recycle his artwork by combining old and new elements. For example his Till Tomorrow On was first conceived as a large print titled Triumphal Arch, inspired by the woodcut The Triumphal Arch of Maximilian by Albrecht Dürer. In each subsequent gallery display of Swainston’s work, he would change some detail so that the resulting piece never looked identical to the original form. Swainston also said that he likes to photograph his installations and then create collages incorporating prints and photographs.

Rob Swainston explained that he largely operates on chance which might be the reason why his work lacks content. Swainston also said that he feels more challenged to work on pieces that he does not like by constantly reworking them without getting too preoccupied with the final meaning. This approach in art making is interesting although the lack of meaning does not seem fitting for reinterpretation of Dürer’s work.

In his lecture, the artist also explained that when he runs out of inspiration he uses a formula that he learned from his teacher: Use something found, combine it with the piece of a previous project and an action word. He explained that his decisions are made along the way. In Swainston’s opinion , art means creating something for the viewer and not yourself and, in his opinion, this approach distinguishes art from hobby. I wonder what other artists think about this definition, but I personally disagree.

I think that Swainston’s work has a certain visual appeal although it is difficult to judge prints by viewing them on the screen. The scale of his artwork is certainly impressive, but it lacks content. Also, the installations do not have the same appeal when shown as photographs.

Image: Centennial, from 2009, Woodblock print on paper installation, 10' tall, length variable

Spider!

On October 29th, Camilla Taylor, one of the co-teachers for the print survey class wore a spider costume to teach. It greatly reduced any ability to be effectively stern.

Askua Ohsawa Lecture

The work in gouache above is title "Space Invaders (panel #3)," and measures 22 x 30", from this year. It will be part of the exhibition at the Richard Heller Gallery.

I feel as close as I ever do to being a proud parent! One of my former students, Askua Ohsawa is having a solo exhibition of her work at the Richard Heller Gallery, 2525 Michigan Avenue, B-5A, Santa Monica. The opening reception runs from 5 - 7PM on Sat., 10/16, & the show will be up until next month, 11/13. She wrote: " I will be showing one gigantic (approximately 2 feet X 50 feet) gouache-on-paper drawing. It took me 6 months to complete it, and I'm super-excited to see the whole thing put together for the first time." Me too! Asuka received her BFA in Printmaking at CSULB, and while I can't quite exactly recall the year, it seems (as ever) like just a winked moment ago. Where do the days go?

She has let her arm be twisted & has agreed to return to the scene of the crime (CSULB) to speak about her work and career trajectory. This will take place tomorrow, Friday, 10/15/2010, in building FA-4, room 311, at 10:45 AM. I urge you all to come and see her fabulous work (in the form of a slide show/Powerpoint Presentation ), and have the chance to speak to her about it.

A butterfly visits Honey T's monoprint.

Toulouse-Lautrec's Paris

This exhibition runs until 12/12/2010

Artist, aristocrat, and colorful chronicler of the Belle Époque, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901) was one of the greatest artists of the late nineteenth century. For the first time in 20 years, more than 100 works by Toulouse-Lautrec will be shown together at The San Diego Museum of Art.

Do take advantage of this rare opportunity to see these spectacular drawings, & lithographs.

The lithograph above is titled: "Ambassadeurs: Aristide Bruant," & was created in 1892. There is a catalogue ($30.00) that accompanies the exhibition.

The museum itself is located at 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

For further information call: (619) 232-7931

Internet Writing Assignment-Best Paper

Erynn Richardson

INTERNET WRITING ASSIGNMENT

-The Art Institute of Chicago-

After looking through The Art Institute of Chicago’s “Drawing and Prints” collection, I found Georges Seurat’s Seated Women with a Parasol (study for La Grande Jatte), black conte crayon on ivory laid paper, 1884-85 and Antonio Pollaiuolo’s Battle of the Naked Men, engraving, 1470-75, to be my two favorites.

Seurat’s piece is a rough, shadowy depiction of a women sitting, holding a parasol and wearing a hat. The outline of her large skirt fills the bottom of the piece. As suggested in the title, the drawing is a study for Seurat’s famous A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, 1884, and it as rendered in a similar fashion. However, Seated Women with a Parasol is monochromatic and appears rougher and smudged.

There is an eerie ghostly appearance to this piece. The figure’s head is turned away and left blank, leaving her mysterious. Shades of grey behind the women create an atmosphere suggesting a body of water and the smudged stippling throughout the drawing mimics a rough film grain, giving this drawing a slight photographic quality. The torso is built up to a rich velvety black, which stands out against the light background. The figure’s hand is rendered in such a way that is implies motion caught on film. While I don’t necessarily think this was Seurat’s intention I do find that it adds liveliness to his drawing.

Although it is beautiful it is also, simultaneously, unsettling, which is why I am so attracted to it. The image shifts back and forth from being a lovely black and white drawing of a woman by the lake to an ephemeral photograph of some ghostly apparition on a foggy shore.

The Pollaiuolo piece is my other favorite, namely because I find it amusing. (The title alone, Battle of the Naked Men, makes me smirk.) As the title suggests, this engraving depicts ten very naked men fighting. All the men are rendered with light grey hatching against darker grey and black hatching. All the hatching is done in a downward forty-five degree left to right motion.

This piece is also highly homoerotic: the two pairs of men in the foreground appear with one on top of the other. The man in the top most left corned is behind another man, penetrating him with an arrow. All the men are shown to be in their prime and in ideal physical condition. They all wield large swords, which are suggestive and phallic by nature.

Although all the figures are in motion, they appear stiff, as if they have been posed: holding themselves in staged action poses instead of actually fighting. Staggering the figures, one group in front of the other, creates depth. Space is implied, however, it still feels flat and crowded.

Of the two pieces Seurat’s is my favorite. The violence in Pollaiuolo’s piece is so embellished that I find it too frank to be interesting. Seurat’s piece, however, has a subtle ethereal quality that truly entices me. In my own body of work, I strive to create pieces that are beautiful and disturbing at the same time. Seurat’s piece, for me, emulates this duality, which is why I chose it as my favorite.

photo credit: The Art Institute of Chicago

Luminous Line - Contemporary Drawing in Metalpoint

This exhibition in Claremont California brings together the work of eleven contemporary artists (including our own Fran Siegal) who embrace a drawing technique that flourished during the High Renaissance and has recently experienced a rebirth among those who love the immediacy of drawing. Using a metal stylus or a small sliver of copper, brass, silver, platinum or gold, these artists apply metal directly to specially prepared papers. Their drawings are distinctive for the luminous traces of metal that add a telltale glimmer to the surface, due to the oxidation process of the metal. The image reproduced here is by Susan Schwalb, who recently began to introduce color into this medium with a traditionally limited color palette.

The exhibition closes on 10/17/2010, & the gallery is closed on Mon. & Tues. Weds. - Sun., it is open from 1 - 5 PM. Admission is free.

El Carnaval de las Calaveras

This Day of the Dead inspired exhibition will feature a group of artists working in a multitude of media, including printmaking. The honor of representing relief printmaking goes to the redoubtable Artemio Rodriguez, whose print is reproduced below. Work in the show will address themes of life, death, humor, celebration & family ties as a way of observing this rich cultural event. Opening Reception: 10/14 from 5 - 7 PM, with a gallery talk by the artists from 6 - 7 PM. The exhibition runs until 11/3, at the Fullerton College Art Gallery, 321 East Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, CA. For gallery hours & other pertinent info, call 714/992-7131.

Siqueiros and the Graphic Arts/Confronting Revolution

This lithograph from 1945, titled: Our Actual Image, might be small in scale at a modest 12 3/8 x 8 5/8", but certainly is mighty in visual power. The exhibition of Siqueiros' prints is on view until 10/27. For more information on gallery hours, please call 323/258-5050. José Vera Fine Arts is located at 2012 Colorado Blvd., in the Eagle Rock section of Los Angeles.

Scott Horsley: New Drawings

Artist Scott Horsley's unsettling drawings are on display at Bert Green Fine Art, 102 West 5th Street, Los Angeles until 10/30/2010. The phone number for further info is: 213/624-6212, & hours of operation are Weds. - Sat., from noon to 6:00 PM.

This recent (2010) graphite & ink drawing, titled: "Due to the Lack of Experienced Trumpeters" measures 19 x 24", & is included in the exhibition. Best of all, the artist is giving a lecture about his work on Sat., 10/30 at 4:00 PM.

The 2nd Annual LA Printers Fair

On Saturday, 9/25, from 9 to 5 PM, the 2nd Printers Fair will be held. The admission cost for students is $4.00. There will be a large number of vendors showcasing book arts & printmaking, including our own Lindsay Buchman. You can pre-purchase tickets at www.printmuseum.org. No food will be served but cold drinks will be available for sale.

THE INTERNATIONAL PRINTING MUSEUM 315 TORRANCE BLVD. CARSON, CA 90745

310-515-7166 PRINTMUSEUM.ORG/PRINTERSFAIR

Expanding the Matrix

Recent CSULB BFA printmaking graduate Brennan Wheeler is among 15 California artists represented in this exhibition at the Weingart Gallery. His art work in "Expanding the Matrix" features urban Los Angeles. Combining digital printing with silkscreen, his two prints use maps, a photo of people on a city street, and line drawings of pigeons from an old field notebook, among other elements. Brennan talked about his repeated use of the common pigeon. It's a bird that seems to thrive in urban environments, he said, and references "the inherent transient nature of Los Angeles."

Occidental's "Expanding the Matrix" printmaking exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekdays in the Weingart Gallery on the College campus, located at 1600 Campus Road, Los Angeles. Admission is free.

For a map and directions to the College, go to: http://www.oxy.edu/x119.xml

Exhibition Opportunity - CSULB

To scale this poster up (in order that you can actually read it) just click on the image. If all goes according to Hoyle, it should then blow-up to fill your screen. Fingers crossed.

Erynn Richardson has 12 mixed media etchings in this show at DAC Gallery.

The show runs through October 7th.

The gallery is also hosting a lecture

geared towards emerging artists on Saturday, September 25th.

Check out their website for details!

2010 Juried Exhibition

Downtown Art Center Gallery

828 S Main St, LA 90014

Featuring:

Jorge Albertella

William Hayner

Eunju Jang

Barbara Kolo

Linda Kunik

Jung ji Lee

Cecilia Rabaudi

Erynn Richardson

Debra Sokolow

Valter Varderesian

Mark Verrillo

Hojin Yun

www.dacgallery.com

info@dacgallery.com

213-627-7374

Hiroshige: Visons of Japan

This woodcut print, titled "Asakusa Ricefields and Torinomachi Festival," done in 1857 and from the series "100 Famous Views of Edo" is part of the exhibition of Hiroshige's prints now on view at the Norton Simon Museum of Art in Pasadena. I've always loved the complete self-suffiency of this plump bob-tailed white kitty, and like to imagine that he (or she...all cats are female, right?) owned the artist in question. The exhibition runs until 1/17/2011, & is free with your student ID card. The icing on the proverbial cake is that a podcast is available for the show, which you can download for free via itunes.
The Norton Simon is located at 411 West Colorado Blvd., 6262/449-6840. Closed on Tuesdays, M/W/Th/Sat & Sun, 12 - 6PM; F, 12 - 9PM.
Thank you Yu Hsiu for bringing this most excellent print show to my attention.

GIant robot mini show

Four Views from the MOLAA Permanent Collection

The images I've included are of Leopoldo Méndez cutting a linoleum block & his linocut titled: "The Calaveras' Symphony Concert," from 1934. His relief prints, along with prints by Pablo O'Higgins & José Clemente Orozco are part of the "4 Views" exhibition currently featured at MOLAA.

Another equally exciting part of the exhibition is titled: "Siqueiros: Sketches for the Mural Death to the Invader." Running concurrently is a video about the artist - "Siqueiros: A Muralist in Exile," and on 10/14 there will be an "Interlogue" discussion/lecture about the artist from 7:30 - 9:00 PM in the Museum's Charter Screen Room.

MOLAA is free on Sundays (sponsored by Target, so go if you wish) but closed on Mondays & Tuesdays. Otherwise, the hours are Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays - 11 - 5:00 PM, Thursdays - 11 - 9:00 PM. Closed on Turkey Day. $6.00 gets you in if you flash your student ID's & the address is 828 Alamitos Blvd., Long Beach.

If you qualify for work study & don't mind getting your hands dirty...

Edgar Degas' Birthday

Today in 1834, French Post-Impressionist Edgar Degas was born. The etching I include here is only the second soft-ground print he created, & is a portrait of his brother, Réné

De Gas (this being the original spelling of his family name, it's no wonder he altered it).

There is a connection to the sitter & freshness to the sensitivity of line that leads me to suspect that he drew directly (probably through washi) from life onto the grounded plate.

Made between the years of 1861-63, & is roughly 33 x 28" in size, large for an etching at that time. As there are only about 8 extant copies left today, this print, as one can imagine, is extremely valuable.

Roxanne's New Block

So, this is the block I'm whittling away at this summer...tedious, excessive & obsessive as all get out - just the way that suits me. The color that you can currently see is merely Sharpie highlighter, applied in order to better see the areas I've excised away. The hot pink color works the best, as the yellow & green is too close to the actual wood tone. The blue highlighter tends to be a tad too understated. The wood is a 24 x 36" sheet of Shina from McClains & the tools I'm using to carve are various veiners (also called V-gouges &/or parting tools) and U-gouges from Flexcut, along with my every trusty #11 X-Acto blade. The drawing (for the most part) was done with 9B woodless pencils, followed by a coating of fixitive & finally, Bullseye Shellac (spray can).

Initially, I thought of printing it as a reductive woodcut with lithographic "Sharpography" underneath it, but have since reconsidered that option. Now I'm leaning towards printing it 2x, so that the entire image (bleed edge) is 48 x 72" with an almost totally washed-out umber color underneath certain sections of it.

In my own head, the working title has been "Vertigo," but of course that overwhelmingly conjures up visions of Hitchcock (Alfred, not John). I didn't start out to make a work that in anyway related to my visual escapades, but the doubling, circularity & visual dizziness that vertigo induces are all encapsulated within the work. I think that it also shows the influence of Lee Bontecou's work from the 60's - those wonderful canvas & metal wall constructions that always seemed to me like the Delphic Oracle's prophetic maw.

Printmaking Studio @ Angel's Gate

This fabulous printmaking studio at Angel's Gate in San Pedro is available for rentals, on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. One needs to complete a one-time only training workshop with their Master printer before being allowed to use the shop, a reasonable request. The workshop training fee is $60.00 & the monthly rental fee is $100.00. Looks like they're set up for copper etching, & screen-printing, & I'd imagine one could print woodblocks. They do make mention of a litho press, but don't detail anything about stones, so I'm guessing one might have to use aluminum plates.
For more info, contact Dana Helwick, 310/519-0936 or dana@angelsgateart.org
RS

Santa Barbara Printmakers Exhibition

One of Samantha Jorgensen's etchings, and one of Luis Ramirez's woodcuts have been accepted at the Channing Peake Gallery in Santa Barabara!

The show opens Thursday June 3rd, 5-8 PM, and will be up until September 17. Come by if you are in the area!

Diane McLeod prints accepted into two competitions

Diane McLeod's Exuberant Kabuki, sugar lift aquatint, 12"x9" created 2010 has been accepted into the Irvine Fine Arts Competition, Printmaking & Book Arts Exhibition. Opening reception is Friday, June 18 from 5p.m. - 8 p.m. The show runs through July 31, 2010.

The second print in a recent competition is Tundra Myth, spit bite intaglio, 24"x28" also created in 2010. It has been accepted into the First Street Gallery National Juried Competition. Reception is June 26, 3-5p.m. The exhibition closes July 20. Address is 526 West 26th St., Ste. 915, New York, NY. if your summer plans take you that way.

FYI Art Supply Warehouse

Jackson Sez:
Heads up to all you printmakers! in case you'll be doing any printing over the break, here are the current prices on printing papers at the old ASW:

22x30 Rives BFK White $4.19
22x30 Rives BFK Colored(grey, tan, cream) $4.59

Stonehenge 22" x 30" Natural $2.31
Stonehenge 22" x 30" Pearl Grey $2.41
Stonehenge 22" x 30" Warm White $2.31
Stonehenge 22" x 30" White $2.31
Stonehenge 22" x 30" Black $3.16
Stonehenge 22" x 30" Cream $2.10
Stonehenge 26" x 40" White $3.60

keep in mind if you buy in bulk, you can save some jing
Quantity Discount
5 - 24 5% off
25 - 99 10% off
100 - 499 15% off
500+ 20% off

they also sell oilbased printing inks in small tubes from speedball and redbaron, as well as brayers, squeegees, screenprinting inks and 12xx silkscreen fabric by the foot.

anyway, the prices may change, so be sure to check out artsupplywarehouse.com, you can even special order it in advance so it doesnt go through the store (touched, dropped, drink-slipped-on-muffin-crumbly, etc) or you can just call (714)891-3626 and tell whoever picks up that you'd like to place a special order, it's super easy!

store hours:
m-f 930-8
sa&su 10-6
(714)891-3626

P.s I didn't get paid to post this, it's not an advertisement, but it's good to know

LACMA Exhibition

Lena Rabchevskaya
Etching 378





LACMA “Myths, Legends, and Cultural Renewal: Wagner Sources” Exhibition



German Folk Tales and Myths are the main subject of this exhibition. The Exhibition is based on the relationship between Wagner’s music and the inspiration he drew from German folklore. Works featured consist of lithographs , some etchings , woodblock printing and installation art. Most of the works have a realistic, sharp quality to them , some very erotic and some very violent. Definitely not the fairy tale images we are use to seeing in today's cinema.


The first piece I was drawn to was a series of etchings by Stefan Eggeler. The main characters are witches performing series of tasks in each of the etchings. Some are very erotic, depicting several female nudes. All of the etching have a certain energy to them, they are mostly dark and a little “ominous,” the use of light is very minimal , just enough to see what is happening in the scene. My favorite piece in this series was “The Departure” c.1921, this was a first piece in the series, depicting witches flying on the brooms over a city. I liked the feel of the piece, certain “wild” aspect to this etching, you can feel the witches are not following any rules and do as they please.


My very favorite piece of the exhibition was lithograph by Carl Otto Czeschka “Dream of the Falcons” c.1905.It was a beautiful lithograph printed in blue, black and gold on wove paper. The lithograph depicts a reclining female figure on one side of the page and two stunning falcons hovering over a cityscape on the other side. In person the colors are really brilliant and craftsmanship of the drawing is pristine. This piece really caught my eye, it just stood out among the rest. Also, it was one of the few pieces that could be recognized as a modern fairy tale image.

Elaine Carhartt linoleum cuts

Opening Reception - May 23, Sunday, from
2 - 5 PM.

1702 Lincoln Avenue, 626/298-6931, open Friday - Sunday, 1 - 5 & by appt., www.offrampgallery.com

Dirk Hagner's Exhibition Closes

Rivera and Rivera Gallery, 1100 South Hope Street, 310/713/1635

LACMA-Myths, Legends, and Cultural Renewal: by Julieann Spangler

This past weekend I went to Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I went to see the current exhibition "Myths, Legends, and Cultural Renewal: Wagner's Sources," that runs from April 15, 2010–August 16, 2010. I couldn’t take pictures in this exhibition. I liked the diversity of art that was in this show. There are lithographs by Emile Nole. I liked his postcards. Stefan Eggeler has B/W etchings, which remind me of the artist Aubrey Beardsley. There are some woodcuts by Ernst Barlach. Hans Groh’s woodcuts were very tragic. The images were of 2 or 3 men. Each man confronted the other close up with a sword. The men looked liked they had on masks of Greek gods. The next artist was Otto Schubert he had sketches. The image of a fox in a fable reminded me of Javier Beltran’s (from class) last piece. Achim Freyer, the Director and Designer of the LA Opera had work in this show as well. His stage costumes, as well as sketches and a sculpture-like installation piece are on view. This exhibition was very mythical, but I felt it also had a circus feel. I liked it very much. David Hockney was the last artist on the wall just before you left this small room. Hockney, a photographer and painter had some etchings on handmade paper. I didn’t know that he did this type of work. I was greatly surprised. His work was based on the Grimm fairy tales.

There were also silent film that were very interesting. Director Fritz Lang who created the film "Metropolis," had his 1924 film "Die Nibelungen," showing. The other film showing is "Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam," (1920).

Here’s what they showed. Check them out on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiUJUTIWUD4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VBm4P9GIJk&feature=related

It’s been a while since I’ve been to LACMA. I forgot how much wonderful art they have on display. Looking around I found many Picasso’s, Paul Klee, and a Kandinsky woodcut. I liked this woodcut. It’s called "School Red & Blue," and was made in 1939. I spent a couple hours in the Ahmanson building, which has all this great art. Before I left I decided to stop by the Japanese Art pavilion. I’m so glad I did. I don't know long this exhibition has been running, but there are some prints by Utagawa Hiroshige that will be on display until June 29th. They’re on the 3rd level in the west wing. Go if you have a chance. It was great seeing these approximately 60 prints. They were so beautiful. I stared at the colors. After seeing this process being demonstrated in class, I realize how difficult the process is. I had many favorites, but here are a couple pictures I took of my some favorites.

URGENT MESSAGE: Printmaking Facility Available

To the Southern California Printmaking Community: Patrick Merrill, master printmaker, curator, teacher and friend of the printmaking community is in the hospital dying of colon cancer. I am writing this as President of the Los Angeles Printmaking Society. It was Patrick's wish to donate his studio and all of its contents to our organization. However, we are not in a fiduciary or managerial position to accept this offer. If you are in a position to take over his studio located in Covina, CA for $800 a month, let me know. If you are or belong to a non-profit entity who would appreciate having this donated to your organization in his name, let me know this. This is an excellent opportunity for printmakers to come together to form a cooperative printmaking space convenient to Los Angeles and to several other areas. So, students and other printmakers, give this some thought. It's an excellent opportunity for you to have a place to print after graduation. I will attach the details of the studio. Please let me know of your interest and/or ideas. Thank you, Diane McLeod (562) 596-7986, (562) 786-9194 (cell) macdiart@Adelphia.net.

Description of Patrick Merrill Fine Art Studio, Covina, a fully equipped intaglio workshop: 1600 sq. ft., the spacious warehouse studio has doors that open on both ends for added ventilation. Types of Printing: intaglio, relief, collograph, monoprint, combo of all 4. Three presses: Ettan 22"x48" manual, Ettan 36"x72" manual, a Griffin 36"x60" electric plus a 1083 digital copier. Photo Facilities: darkroom, Beseler Model 23C enlarger and Minolta EP. Platemaking: 200 psi compressor and airbrush; aquatint: 24"x36" acid tank, fully exhausted. Other: Ettan 28"x36" hot plate; 36"x96" sink; 36"x112" metal topped work surface. 50 tray 40"x55'drying rack. Complete set of production rollers. Glass top workspaces include a 48"x72" mobile table; 48"x96" table and 3-30'c112" work surfaces. Copious storage space with print file drawers, an office space a bathroom. Free parking adjacent to the building. Rent for this space is $(00 monthly. What a wonderful opportunity for the right printmakers this is!

Archival suppliers

Hello All,

For those of you interested in purchasing archival sleeves to protect and preserve your prints, the following is a list of resources for archival suppliers:

University Products – www.universityproducts.com 1 800 628-1912

Gaylord.com - www.Gaylord.com 1 800 448-6160

Light Impressions – www.LightImpressionsDirect.com 1 800 828-6216

Metal Edge, Inc. – www.metaledgeinc.com 1800 862-2228

I would suggest using Light Impressions or University Products – but all companies carry similar products. Light Impressions has a product called “Ephemera Storage Bags” they are transparent polyethylene bags and come in a variety of sizes – usually in packages of 100 – prices are reasonable. However, delivery is sometimes slow.

I hope this information is useful.

Lucy Ruggirello

Now at the Getty Center - Printing in the Grand Manner

Prints made in France under the patronage of Louis XIV are being showcased at the Getty until 10/17/2010.
The works in this exhibition reproduce Le Brun's designs for paintings and tapestries in the Grand Manner, the genre in which a heroic protagonist engages in a morally significant action—a battle to be won, a victory to be celebrated, or a vice to be avoided. Le Brun oversaw the production of these unusually large engravings and etchings, some of which are almost two meters wide and composed of multiple printing plates. By disseminating these subjects in printed form, Le Brun presented to collectors and artists his mastery of the most complex type of art. The quality and size of these prints, in turn, allowed Le Brun to demonstrate his authority over the fine arts in France.

Address: 1200 Getty Center Drive, LA, CA - 310/440-7300
Free Admission (but parking is costly - take the Metro Rail instead).

Los Caprichos - Goya

Who knew that Forest Lawn had a museum? Now, not only can you pay your respects to the "King of Pop," but you can also view the work of another late great - Goya (although I can't imagine why they chose to put these etchings of whores, witches, devils & randy monks in a cemetery setting). Don't be confused...this is the franchise in Glendale, & the address is: 1712 South Glendale Avenue. The prints will be on view until 8/1/2010, Tues. - Sun., 10 - 5 PM. 1/800-204-3131, www.ForestLawn.com.

Wonder if there's a gift shop?

Apogee: Tyler, Rob, and Camilla

All the way over in Orange County, Tyler Ferreira, Rob Brown and Camilla Taylor have a show opening this Saturday. The address is 712 North Santiago Street, Santa Ana, CA and the phone number for hours and further information is - 714/542-1596


It's in Art from the Hive in Santa Ana.
Pluses: open bar, next to the Amtrak Station for easy getaway, LIVE! screenprinting on stuff

Anyhow, should you be so inclined, it would be nice if you stopped by

Myth, Legends, and Cultural Renewal

The image I chose to feature from this current exhibit is a lithograph titled: "Dream of Falcons," from 1905 by Austrian artist Carl Otto Czeschka. Forgive the wrinkle in the center, that was provided courtesy of the US mail service.

On view until August 16th, at the LA County Museum of Art, this exhibition includes work by Ernst Barlach, David Hockney & Anselm Kiefer. The exhibition explores how different artists have used Germanic myths and legends as source material for visual art - including the rather terrifying fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm.

Lecture at LACMA

On Wednesday, May 12th, Richard Meyer, a USC Art History Prof, will be giving a free lecture titled: "The Museum of Multiples." This will be a discussion centered on work by Warhol, Duchamp & Beuys. Starting at 1:00 PM, it will be held in LACMA's Brown Theater - 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA. Curiously, the museum lists Wednesday as a day it is closed to the public, so please call 323/857-6010 to make certain they are indeed open.

"The Goddess Exhibit"

This exhibition, in honor of Mother's Day, features screenprints by LA artists Patssi Valdez (her untitled image from 1989 is included here), the late Carlos Almaraz (who died in 1989), and George Yepes. The work is being shown in the ChimMaya Gallery, located @ 5283 East Beverly Blvd., LA (60 fwy, exit Atlantic & head south for 2 blocks). As always, call to check for gallery hours - 323/869-8881. There is also a show based around the theme of the pin-up, but I'm not certain that it contains any prints.