Special Post: Masters of Multiplicity

Richard Estes, D Train, 1988

That's a screenprint? These words repeated as I scampered around Multiplicity the printmaking tour de force now on view at Smithsonian's American Art Museum. Plucked from their permanent collection, the grand exhibition includes many stellar examples of screenprinting. Richard Estes' D Train (above) is a mind boggling masterpiece. Color counting was futile—as was trying to imagine how the print was engineered—so I succumbed to taking in the classic New York scene, pre 9-11.

Favorite artist and erstwhile graphic designer Barbara Kruger (top row, below) combines found lithograph photography with her trademark typeface Futura Bold in Untitled (We will no longer be seen and not heard). "Using sign language, gestures and words to create and contradict meaning, [Kruger] employs language to question cultural stereotypes." Ocean Surface (middle row) by Latvian born Vija Celmins provides a brilliant example of achieving subtle tonal variation in the binary world of screenprinting. A close look reveals the many gradual grey plates that build the illusion of gradation. Ross Bleckner's Just Because #2 (bottom row) shatters the stereotype of flat color screen prints. By printing with translucent inks and glossy iridescent overlays, his biomorphic shapes pulse with luminosity. I often ask: which artists are pushing the boundaries of screenprinting? The multiple choice is mostly here.  — Marty Ittner

Top to bottom: Barbara Kruger, Vija Celmins and Ross Bleckner

Multiplicity

1st floor West, American Art Museum

8th & F Sts. NW, Washington, DC
November 11, 2011 – March 11, 2012

See more: slideshows, programs and related content

Believe it or Not

Kismet: Christin Ripley on the aptly named street next to Pyramid.

Micah Beard rearranges the squeegees.

Of the many artists who pass through Pyramid, Christin Ripley seemed destined to return. Seen in the studio working on her pet projects (from hand rolling bright yellow paper yarn to casting thick pulp paper) Ripley brims with ideas. Her keen observation did not stop with her work. She saw the need for a better squeegee storage solution and conceived, designed and built our new wooden rack that hangs over the sink, installed with a little help from Digital Associate Franc Rosario. We look forward to seeing her screen printing projects that are in the works. Big thanks for the awesome squeegee rack!

Emanating Excellence: Sarah McDermott

Sarah McDermott has just finished her residency, during which she made paper and screenprinted hand drawn images for her book The Orchard. We were struck by the unusual color and visual combinations and her flawless printing. She spoke with us as she finished up her printing.


SS: How did you find us?

SM: From being involved in book arts for several years and having heard about your biennial Book Arts Fair. 

I loved working at Pyramid. It was great to be able to combine working in multiple studios — in book and paper media as well as in printmaking. Equally important was the positive and supportive "vibe" of the space: the particular culture that has been created of collaboration, flexibility, and trust. I also felt like there was an encouragement to experiment which really helped me make work that I am excited about and proud of. Furthermore, I like how Pyramid combines an emphasis on community arts with having some very specialized equipment and residency programs. It's an interesting mix that undoubtedly impacted my own project.

SS: Tell us about your amazing screenprinted book in progress.

SM: My project is a series of screenprints on handmade paper that will ultimately be part of a book in an edition of 20. I was working off of a prose piece by my friend and collaborator Joanna Ruocco entitled The Orchard. I chose this piece out of a larger manuscript that I have been privileged to be able to work with. The text is about a group of women, and their trip into and out of an orchard and a more mysterious force called the "eminence," with an emphasis on their interconnectedness by their breath. I became interested in telling a narrative via the movement of visualized breath and in trying to work with something as potentially intangible as "eminence." (continues below)

I will be letterpress printing the text when I go back to New York City. I have a basic mock-up of the whole book, so I know roughly what to do. But I have also purposely been keeping this project a little loose, having felt that the way I have been working — which involves extensive pre-planning to bring together all the elements of a book — was getting a little stale for me. I'll probably go back to that, but for this book I wanted to give myself the freedom to focus on the 2-D with just enough structure to allow for continuing creativity as it becomes a book object. We'll see how it turns out!

As far as marketing the book, I'll probably sell some through Vamp and Tramp (the book dealers I work with) and probably sell some on my own (through Kidney Press). I also made a set of prints that will exist just as prints that I may sell individually so people wouldn't have to buy the whole book. 

SS: And finally, whose work inspires you, or you think is pushing the boundaries of printing?

SM: Some people that work in screenprint who I look to for inspiration are Cybele Collins (I particularly like this body of work), Liz Zanis, Christian DeFilippo who I think doesn't actually screenprint but whose work is very print-like, and the whole Providence, RI posse of screenprinters whose work I am not super in touch with these days but would include such luminaries as Jungil Hong, and Brian Chippendale. 

SS: It's been delightful to see the work progress. Send us photos when the book is bound, and best of luck!

Screenprint Greetings!

Becca and Marty assist 2 of the over 500 people at the popular event.

Crystal Polis holds her screenprinted card.

This month's "MAKE + TAKE" event brought out many first time screenprinters. Over 500 guests streamed through the studios—each had a hands-on project to make and take. Screenprinting offered a 2-color vintage inspired reindeer postcard, printed on French Poptone "Snocone" paper (coincidentally the same sheet as the 2012 Letterpress Calendar covers). Photos by Anqixue Xue.

Anqixue Xue and Marty at the teal station.

Walk on Warhol

"Daily News," c. 1967, screenprint on paper

Run, don't walk to Headlines, the Andy Warhol exhibition now on view at the National Gallery of Art. Warhol's fascination with the news, celebrity and tabloid headlines is the central theme of the show, but there is much more to see for fans of screenprinting. The artist consistently and adeptly pushes the boundaries of the medium. He printed on crumpled mylar, in gigantic proportions and in unexpected and delicious color combinations, as seen in the "Daily News" promotional poster image.
The show is up until January 2, 2012.

Print portfolio cover, an exquisitely simple design of 2 hits of silver on white book cloth.

A self portrait starts the show.

MAKE + TAKE: A DIY Evening of Cocktails and Creativity

When: Sat., Dec. 3
Time: 6 pm to 9 pm
Where: Pyramid Atlantic, 8230 Georgia Avenue
Cost: $10 (Only $5 for Pyramid Atlantic Members)
Admission includes a print, two drink tickets and admission to all the studios.

MAKE
a monotype print for your "secret santa"
paper garlands to "deck the halls" & Furoshiki japanese gift wrapping cloth
2 color holiday postcards in the screenprinting studio
2 color wrapping paper in the letterpress studio
Ornaments from old book pages in our book bindery
 
TAKE them home and impress your friends and family with your art skills!Purchase gifts created by Pyramid Atlantic artists including: our3rd annual Letterpress calendar;
"Drink Me," our recipe book containing 13 linoleum block prints & 13 winter beverages recipes; and
our Pyramid Atlantic sketchbook (8"x 9.5") packed with handmade paper!

Tis The Season To Celebrate Your Inner Artisan!

Save the Date: 12/3 "Sampler" Evening

Laura's tools and set up for the sketchbooks

Laura Kinnenberg shows off a handmade paper screenprinted sketchbook, which will be one of the many offerings at Pyramid's "Sampler" evening on December 3rd, from 6-9 pm. The event will have a gift theme, with many handcrafted and printed goodies for sale, as well as live hands-on demonstrations. Each area of the studio—papermaking, letterpress, book bindery, printshop, and of course, screenprinting will offer attendees the chance to try every discipline and take home their creation, guaranteed to come in handy for the holidays.