Hangashima 版画島
Hangashima is the name of my newly founded (2019) Master Printer and Special Projects creative endeavour. The name comes from the Japanese words for Printmaking, Hanga, 版画, and Island, Shima, 島. The idea for the name comes from the fact that I have often described the Printmaking studio at the University of Regina as an island of Printmaking, floating in the vast expanse of the Canadian plains. There is also the smallest nod to the title of Wes Anderson's 2018 film, Island of Dogs (Inu ke shima), in addition to the fact that I simply adore practicing writing the Japanese kanji character for Island, 島.
The Forty Project
In 2018, after 11 years at the University of Regina, and having watched every aspect of students' financial obligations rise (tuition, supplies, food, transportation, etc), I vowed to keep the Studio Print Fee at $40 per semester. This is no short order, given that I had never raised it since its inception in 2007. In order to give my students this one small break, in their otherwise expensive lives, I turned to Printmaking itself for the answer! The Forty Project was launched with my friend and colleague, artist Leesa Streifler filling the role of Artist, and me, as Collaborating Printer. I instructed her ever-so-briefly on copper etching, handed her some plates, and set her loose. The result was an edition of etchings (hard and softground, with aquatint) on BFK paper, with a detachable, letterpress-printed lead type calendar at the bottom. Once 2019 is up, each piece detaches to become an original, frame-able etching by Leesa. The project was an edition of 45 for $45, to keep the Print Fee at $40! It was a rousing success, and the entire edition was sold out. The 2019 edition (2020 calendar) will feature my friend, artist Zachari Logan.
In 2018, after 11 years at the University of Regina, and having watched every aspect of students' financial obligations rise (tuition, supplies, food, transportation, etc), I vowed to keep the Studio Print Fee at $40 per semester. This is no short order, given that I had never raised it since its inception in 2007. In order to give my students this one small break, in their otherwise expensive lives, I turned to Printmaking itself for the answer! The Forty Project was launched with my friend and colleague, artist Leesa Streifler filling the role of Artist, and me, as Collaborating Printer. I instructed her ever-so-briefly on copper etching, handed her some plates, and set her loose. The result was an edition of etchings (hard and softground, with aquatint) on BFK paper, with a detachable, letterpress-printed lead type calendar at the bottom. Once 2019 is up, each piece detaches to become an original, frame-able etching by Leesa. The project was an edition of 45 for $45, to keep the Print Fee at $40! It was a rousing success, and the entire edition was sold out. The 2019 edition (2020 calendar) will feature my friend, artist Zachari Logan.
Zachari Logan Projects 1 & 2
As a result of inviting Logan to participate as the guest artist for the next iteration of The Forty Project, and his extreme pleasure in experimenting with copper plates, we agreed to embark on a series of two editioned hardground etchings. A great deal of time was spent developing a blue ink that suited his work, as well as proofing the plates to get things just right, but the results are worth it! These works are being sent to Paul Petro in Toronto, and Julie Saul in New York. I am thrilled to have collaborated and printed Logan's first foray into Printmaking.
