DAVID SEPULVEDA PHOTOS
With regard to the community of artists now showing at Christopher Martins State Street restaurant, exhibiting printmaker Evie Lindemann said that the printmaker defies the stereotype of the lone artist often working in isolation.
“Creative Arts Workshop [CAW] artists,” she said, “have moved beyond isolation, to collaboration.”
CAW printmaking department head Barbara Harder.
According to CAW instructor and department head Barbara Harder, one practical reason for the sense of community shared by the printmakers is that “not everyone can afford their own printing press.” The presses and equipment at the Audubon Street arts facility naturally draw the printmakers into close proximity offering opportunities to get inspired and learn from one another’s ideas in a team-like environment Harder noted.
Exhibiting artists present at a recent opening exhibit of 24 printmakers at Christopher Martins had another reason for the group’s camaraderie and collegial working environment: Harder’s teaching and highly supportive nature. Several described her as “mentor.”
Michael Zack, who exhibited two strong monotype relief prints, first met Harder when he was studying at Silvermine School of Art. He said he admired Harder’s work “from the beginning.” Three years ago, when he looking to push his work further, he began studying with Harder at CAW.
Michael Zack
The benefit of attending the artists’ reception is the added bonus of being able to meet and speak to the art makers directly. Their words, as in this show, sometimes reinforce one’s impressions drawn directly from the art, but can also offer unexpected insights not always apparent.
In his untitled monotype of an urban landscape with silhouetted figures, Zack offered these insights about his piece: “Several years ago I wanted to experiment by adding the figure to my work. To make it easier for myself I decided to make stencils from some of my photographs, mostly of people I know. In fact a number of them are of my husband. I arrange them in groupings where the individuals are in some way relating to each other. I also include some of my photographs in the form of paper lithography in some of my prints. In the case of the one in the show, it is a photograph of NYC that I took in the 1970’s. So there is a strong personal element in the prints in using images [both the cityscape and the people] from my past and present.”
Mary Lesser
“Home on Leave.” monotype, paper lithograph.
Harder said that virtually all of those exhibiting were one-time students with more than half of those students now working in their own studios or alternative spaces.“Now they’re the masters too,” she said of the advanced group of printmakers.
Evie Lindemann
“Dos Pajaritos,” mixed media.
Group exhibits can sometimes suffer from a lack of cohesion, or glaring disparities in ability level. But occasionally the variety of creative and artistic approaches to a particular medium presented in a group show format can be more instructive than distracting.
Luanne Kemp
“Flying Girl II and III, Intaglio.”
From intaglio to a wide variety of monotypes and mixed media, including some collage, visitors of at this show will see high-level printmaking and the myriad ways in which artists express themselves technically and conceptually.
Valerie Richardson
“Looking for Giants,” monotype.
Whether in a one-of-a-kind monotype, or an intaglio print requiring many more steps to resolution, a common thread in this show is the collective joy of process, and the elements of chance and surprise that are part of the printmaking process.
Maura Galante
“Encryption,” monotype, collage, relief.
Viewers may not glean the full richness of the works in an environment geared to fine dining. (The wall’s faux finish competes with the images on some level.) But the pairing of CAW with Christopher Martins, two New Haven institutions, will satisfy many appetites on a variety of levels.
As New Haven dives into one of its most expansive City Wide Open Studios (CWOS) ever, the CAW Printmakers exhibit will not be found on CWOS maps and itineraries. But many participating at the Christopher Martins show will be exhibiting for CWOS in their respective studios and workspaces. This show, which runs through Dec. 6, represents a good overview of some of New Haven’s finest printmakers and a great reason to pencil it in.
Wonderful opportunity provided by the Audubon Street arts facility for these printmakers to not only have a printing press available, but to also be afforded the space to work in tandem with each other. Nice play on words in the title, David - "Printmakers Make an Impression."