PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Emily Brown, An Early Thaw, lithograph
“There’s a mix of people here, some are younger or mid-career. Some of them have never made a print before, it’s their first print, and there’s a great mix of people.” PHILAGRAfiKA director and curator Cindi Ettinger said to DoN during the opening reception for Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, 333 South 20th Street.
DoN recalled PHILAGRAfiKA coming into existence while he studied at the University of the Arts in the early 21st Century. “Philagrafika was originally the Philadelphia Print Collaborative which was a consortium of all the different organizations in Philadelphia that were involved with print-making. And then it evolved to become Philagrafika which the goal was more about festivals, printmaking and how it could be used outside the box.”
“Now, after that major festival we’re kind of scaling back and starting over, reincarnating ourselves and we are having a lecture series and have events and projects in other cities and international. So, we’re getting started all over again, right now.” DoN inquired about the connection with the chic gallery near Rittenhouse Square and Cindi explained that a member of their board is friends with Jt Christensen, the designer behind the storefront gallery/design studio. “What’s nice about this is it’s very low key and we found that the best way you can reincarnate yourself is to start small and gradually get really, really good people together and have it be much more organic. Have it be an organic process, so that’s what we’re doing.”
PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Eric Avery, Paradise Lost, four color chiaroscuro print on Okawara paper.
Eric Avery‘s, Paradise Lost describes the fourteen major infections of Adam and Eve, diseases specific to humans. The technical virtuosity and exquisite information design is masterful, the narrative deep and disturbing, the presentation at once decorative and discrete. “Most of the major human infectious diseases, including some confined to humans and absent from animals, are “new” ones that arose only after the advent of agriculture.” Can you think of one major disease specific to you as a human being?
PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints @ studio:christensen, Judith Schaechter, Child Bride, two color linocut on Somerset paper.
DoN asked about the famed stained glass artist, Judith Schaechter‘s, affiliation with PHILAGRAfiKA? “She was involved in the first portfolio and you know, she was happy to do it.” There was a schedule conflict that evening as the artist unveiled her spectacular new windows at The Eastern State Penitentiary.
“PHILAGRAfiKA is developing a 2012 portfolio, we’re just getting the artists chosen and by the end of the month will be announced on the 31st. Philagrafika is alive and well.” said Cindi Ettinger, a master printer who worked with most of the artists in the exhibit, coordinating with major print firms and universities to bring the show to life.
PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Nami Yamamoto, Miniature Garden: Trace, pigmented over beaten bleached abaca with watermark.
PHILAGRAfiKA Invitational Portfolio Prints at studio:christensen, Jennifer Levonian, July in Philadelphia, digital print with dye cut.
May 31st, 6:00 pm at studio:christensen is a lecture entitled Natural Discourse, with Mary Ann Friel and Nami Yamamoto find out more how to register at the Philagrafika FaceBook Page.
Written and photographed by DoN
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