Masters of Intaglio with a Touch of Jazz

The IEA was honored to host Michael Kempson, Nicky Crayson, Jenny Robinson, and Miranda Metcalf for two weeks spanning January and February 2017. The event, Masters of Intaglio with a Touch of Jazz, brought together an international assemblage of master print makers, a gallery director, and jazz singer for a residency filled with presentations and discussions, workshops, and a multi-media performance.

Michael, of Sydney, Australia, and Jenny, of Los Angeles, CA, are master printmakers with extensive experience with intaglio printmaking techniques. In addition to extensive time on their own work, branching out into laser-etched woodblock relief printing, both artists held public workshops to share their knowledge of intaglio printmaking and different methodologies they employ, and Michael held a public lecture to speak about his organization, Cicada Press, its founding, and its efforts to reach out to the Aboriginal communities and open up the facilities Cicada Press has to them, while also allowing for collaboration with the students at the University of New South Wales. Both Michael and Jenny currently have their work from their residencies on display, Michael’s show entitled Work and Play at Chung ya Feng Art Center in Beijing (website is in Chinese), and Jenny’s show entitled Constructs at the Davidson Galleries in Seattle, Washington.

MICHAEL KEMPSON & CICADA PRESS

Michael and Jenny's collection of laser etched wood blocks they produced and printed — Michael and Jenny’s collection of laser etched wood blocks they produced and printed

Everyone gathered around the offset press with Michael's image — Everyone gathered around the offset press with Michael’s image

(left to right) Michael Kempson, NYSCC professor of Printmaking Myles Calvert, and Nicky Crayson with photo polymer print by Nicky

Michael inking up one of his wood blocks

JENNY ROBINSON WORKSHOPS

Jenny held two workshops, one on creating inexpensive, non-toxic, dry point plates for intaglio printing, and another demonstrating her techniques for collé printmaking on fine Japanese and Chinese papers. Michael provided insights on how to produce multiple color intaglio prints with proper registration, allowing for CMYK processes which can be difficult to do for beginning print makers.

Jenny demonstrating the cutting techniques for the inexpensive dry point plates. This technique utilizes stiff paperboard and polyacrylic finish as a plate in lieu of more expensive ant toxic materials.

Completed non-toxic, inexpensive dry-point intaglio print

Jenny giving her demonstration on collé printing on Japanese and Chinese papers

A small scale demonstration of collé printing with fine papers

A larger scale demonstration of collé printing on Japanese and Chinese papers. NYSCC print technician Tim Pauszek assists Jenny with her demonstration

MIchael's demonstration on multiple plate registration for intaglio printing — MIchael’s demonstration on multiple plate registration for intaglio printing

Process for multiple plate printing. Along with a good registration sheet, the secret is to keep the paper firmly clamped under the rollers until all colors have been printed.

Jenny's plates for a nine plate intaglio print — Jenny’s plates for a nine plate intaglio print

Tim working with Jenny on polymer plate prints

Multi-block wood block print by Jenny Robinson

Joe and Jenny with a nearly complete multi-plate polymer plate print

MIRANDA METCALF GALLERISTS TALK

In addition to Jenny and Michael’s presentations and demonstrations, Nicky Crayson and Miranda Metcalf also presented held events throughout the period of the event. Miranda, the curator of contemporary prints at Davidson Galleries in Seattle, WA, hosted a talk, titled Being Prepared – What to do before Approaching Galleries, in which she spoke about what artists need to prepare before approaching galleries with artwork and how to present their work in a professional environment after leaving school. She also met with students individually to speak with them about their work and how they could make themselves more likely to successfully get gallery representation.

SNOWING IN THE BUSH, A MULTI-MEDIA PERFORMANCE

Nicky, a jazz singer from Sydney, Australia, collaborated with NYSCC Electronic Integrated Arts MFA students Matthew Underwood and Jesse Earle, along with musicians Daisy Wu and Ken Maracek to put on Snowing in the Bush, a multi-media performance which involved improvised musical performances between Nicky, Daisy, and Ken, and a final crescendo with Matthew and Jessica contributing with electronic instruments and processing the sound based on a score Matt put together. All of the while there were multiple monitors and projectors with video work by Matt which used images from Michael’s prints as a basis and was processed in real-time by the sound produced during the performance. This video work was displayed on monitors after the performance in the Harland Snodgrass Multi-Media Gallery.

(left to right) Daisy Wu, NYSCC professor of sonic art Andrew Deutsch, Nicky Crayson, and Matthew Underwood meeting in the sonic arts studio

Matthew showing Nicky some of the tools he would later use during the performance

Photo from the Snowing in the Bush performance

Video display of video work from Snowing in the Bush

MASTERS OF INTAGLIO – CONTEMPORARY PRINT PRACTICES PANEL DISCUSSION

To conclude the event, Michael, Nicky, Jenny, and Miranda were joined by New York State artist and recent IEA resident artist Cassandra Hooper for a presentation or their work and discussion on their working practices, inspirations, their residencies, and the world of contemporary print practice.