INKED! Contemporary Northwest Letterpress

INKED!
Contemporary Northwest Letterpress
September 7 – October 13, 2012 • 23 Sandy Gallery

Since the inception of the "Printing Revolution" in the middle of the 15th century, letterpress has spread information and ideas through the fine craft of the printed page. Johannes Gutenberg's mechanical moveable type system truly transformed the world, ushering in the modern era and ultimately, our information age. While letterpress has traditionally fallen under the realm of commercial printing, contemporary artists of the past 20 years have increasingly pushed boundaries and eschewed convention to bring letterpress into the world of fine arts. Their experiments in form and material have yielded stunning results.

The Pacific Northwest is a hotbed of "hot metal" type. In Portland, Oregon, community members can study and hone their craft with workshops, demonstrations, and lectures hosted by local organizations such as the Independent Publishing Resource Center, which offers workshops and equipment for the creation of independently published media and art; Em-Space, a cooperative printing and book arts workspace; C.C. Stern Type Foundry, a working museum of vintage type casting equipment; and the Oregon College of Art and Craft, offering community education classes as part of their renowned book arts program. Groups such as these foster inspiration and creativity, keeping the region’s letterpress community growing and thriving.

INKED! is an invitational exhibition featuring new works by established and emerging letterpress artists who are currently working in the Pacific Northwest. Participating artists explore innovative techniques in familiar forms—such as artist books and broadsides—as well as unexpected manifestations, including sculpture and installation.

INKED! Is accompanied by a full-color print catalog.

Co-curated by artist Erin Mickelson and Laura Russell, owner of 23 Sandy Gallery, INKED! includes the work of the following artists:

Abra Ancliffe, Portland, OR | Mare Blocker, McCall, ID | Kathryn Bradshaw, Portland, OR | Inge Bruggeman, Portland, OR | Clare Carpenter, Portland, OR | Jenny Craig, Seattle, WA | Rachel Fish, Portland, OR | Rebecca Gilbert, Portland, OR | Larissa Hammond, Portland, OR | Lisa Hasegawa, Seattle, WA | Diane Jacobs, Portland, OR | Erin Mickelson, Portland, OR | Chandler O'Leary, Tacoma, WA | Lark Preyapongpisan, Seattle, WA | Jules Remedios Faye, Sedro Woolley, WA | Rory Sparks, Portland, OR | Jessica Spring, Tacoma, WA | Barb Tetenbaum, Portland, OR | Sandy Tilcock, Eugene, OR | Elsi Vassdal Ellis, Bellingham, WA