Masters; programme of specialised workshops and artists’ talks by artists leading in the field of printmaking research

Abstract

Masters is a new programme of events to be hosted and facilitated by Artlab Contemporary Print Studios. Its aim is to explore and engage printmaking through practice led research.
The programme took place during April and May 2018. Three artists were selected and invited to give an artist talk followed by a one day or two day master class.
Each workshop event utilised in the unique way the extensive facilities of Artlab Contemporary Print Studios. The master class session was programmed to compliment and enhance the research activity currently being undertaken in the studios and was open to BA/MA students from a range of disciplines across school as well as to external professional practitioners and educators.
Practical sessions explored personal research methods, expanding knowledge of traditional print process while exploring new ways of making under the guidance of invited professional cross-disciplinary artists.
Bronwen Sleigh – was our first guest artist, she is a multi-disciplinary artist who takes inspiration from industrial architecture, unused and forgotten urban spaces, and environments at the edge of the city. Her work provokes an extended and considered dialogue with these spaces, which she transforms through the processes of her practice.
Through traditional etching and drawing processes she creates images and objects, which resonate with the energy of these inhuman lands. Sleigh’s work explores space rather than describing it, challenging perceptions of the ordinary by presenting it in an unfamiliar way.
The master class focused on the use of colour and two-plate etching. Participants learnt practical skills of how to register two etching plates using traditional soft ground as well as exploring and experiment with colour printing.
Emma Gregory was our second Master – Emma studied drawing and printmaking at Sir John Cass, Central School of Art and UCLan. Between 2003 and 2013 she taught printmaking in Liverpool and re-established the Bluecoat’s print studios and continues to teach across the UK. Emma’s work brings together the worlds of Fine Art, Bio Sciences and Museum Collections. In 2015 Emma was resident artist at Victoria Gallery and Museum in Liverpool working with the Museum collections and fine art curators. The new body of work created during this time then formed the starting point for a residency at the Grafisch Atelier Alkmaar where for 6 weeks Emma studied traditional stone Lithography and the art of drawing.
Emma’s talk and two-day Master class focused on research led practice through the act of drawing. Combining traditional stone lithography and collaborative drawing exercises participants explored concepts about: What makes an artist? What do collaborative projects bring to a practice (and how to afford them)? when do you have your best ideas? What roles might improvisation, fear and collaboration play in your research? How do you expand your mark-making lexicon to the point where it becomes the most versatile tool in your (research) kit? How do these techniques relate to 'contemporary drawing’?
Our final Master was David Armes – David is a graphic artist working with letterpress printing, language and geography and author of redplatepress.com
His work is frequently site-specific and considers how sense of space and place can be represented, considering his practice to be socially engaged using the equipment and spectacle of letterpress printing as both physical installation and production space.
David’s two-day master class taught practical skills in traditional letterpress as well as challenging ideas around mass production processes and the idea of the multiple to create contemporary unique paper works.