[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Monday, 21 September 1998 Volume 04 : Number 288 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Cucamongie@aol.com Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 09:45:46 EDT Subject: [Baren 1738] Teaching Woodblock to Children Hi folks - I've really been enjoying the posts on the value of teaching printmaking. I have done paper making and painting with children in schools, and am interested at some point to also teach some printmaking. I do have a question regarding teaching woodblock specifically. How do you guide the class to minimize the danger aspect of the cutting tools (danger of the children either cutting themselves or each other). I have primarily taught in public schools, and the classes can be quite large and quite wild at times, which doesn't really pose a problem with something like paper-making, but I'm a bit concerned, especially with very young kids, about using sharp tools. I would appreciate any tips, as I think this medium is such an exciting one, and I'm sure once kids get the hang of it, they must have such a great time with it -- Thanks-- Sarah Hauser ------------------------------ From: April Vollmer/John Yamaguchi Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 10:53:00 -0400 Subject: [Baren 1739] The Importance of Printmaking Thank you, Kim, thank you Andrea, too...for putting into words some concepts I find hard to explain to people myself. I have been teaching a few hanga workshops recently, and it is very useful to have some concrete thoughts on a subject I feel strongly about, but find hard to describe. An entry in the encyclopedia would be very useful! April Vollmer ------------------------------ From: kim and paul Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 15:18:31 -0800 Subject: [Baren 1740] Holy Toledo...... This is Kim...... WOOOOOOOOOOW Whew! What a response. Thanks everyone. My mind is racing...... Mary: Your post was the most compact, concise and thoughtful I have read yet. Thank you sincerely. Your statements helped me clarify my own thoughts on teaching printmaking, and most importantly, that printmaking is indeed meaningful and useful. Don: I, too, discovered printmaking in college and had the same discoveries, as an artist. Thanks for sharing. James: Your references to printmaking history are appreciated, and I realize the importance of looking back in order to look forward. However, children today learn more on computers than ever and I wonder what effect this will have on "good handcraft", say, a few decades from now. David: Thanks for your description of using four plywood blocks and lining up kids to print! I will be teaching a two-week printmaking class to kids, beginning Sept. 28. OK with you if I borrow your great idea for my classes? Ray: I like your ideas, but I question corporate financial aid. I think many artists consider this the "badlands" of arts funding because of agendas with strings attatched. However, I do agree that printmaking is, at times, expensive -- the most costly item being the press. BUT, woodblock prints can be hand-pulled, water-based inks are improving and non-toxic printmaking techniquess lower costs of prep and cleanup even more. So, maybe schools can afford printmaking in their curriculums. Also, thanks for your second post with personal views and especially the welcomes. I think my post - my first, at that! -- really opened up a can of worms!!! Dean: Thanks for reminding me about German woodcuts and Walter Benjamin. I read in Emigre magazine recently an aritcle about the definition of "folk art" and how it is always changing to fit the times. Your other thoughts reflect Mary's on some levels. All appreciated. April: Info about next year's Southern Graphics Council conference: title: "The Printmaker Takes a Stand" --- date: March 1999 (forgot exact dates, will get back to you), 5 days. place: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. For more info, contact Bill Fisher wfisher@mailer.fsu.edu. I attended the 1996 conference in West Virginia and enjoyed it. Being around so many printmakers at once, and seeing their work, really energized me. Also, thanks to Gayle for her post, and thanks to Bill Richie, who has been communicating with me one-way, on my email. Bill, I still have a buzz over your comparison of printmaking to music, storytelling and weaving, instead the usual drawing and painting. Once again, WOW!!!!! I am happily overwhelmed............ ------------------------------ From: Daniel Kelly Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 11:51:47 +0000 Subject: [Baren 1741] Home away from home Baren members, Please wait a day on the address: www.vower.or.jp/~daniel/ I made an effort to repair the three images last night before bed..... But blew it I'll be better twomorrow. D ------------------------------ From: Jean Eger Date: Sun, 20 Sep 1998 21:01:09 -0700 Subject: [Baren 1742] Re: Baren Digest V4 #287 Bill Fisher of Southern Graphics Council gave woodblock.com a nice plug. It's at http://www.utc.edu/~utcsgc/Fisher.html I think teaching printmaking is meaningful because printmaking is not just an art form: it's also an important medium for communication because it usually involves multiples. I think of printmakers as the communicators of the art world. A printmaking teacher enables his or her students to communicate with numerous people through visual means. The fact that printmaking involves now-obsolete forms of mass communication gives it a significant history as a political tool as well as an artistic expression. Prints have unique aesthetic qualities that paintings and sculpture do not have. The combination of ink with quality paper provides a sensuality that can be well understood by both the seasoned printmaker and the beginning student. Each printmaking medium has it's own inherent aesthetic strengths that aid even the beginning student to produce quality art work. Studying the boldness of screenprinted posters, the sensitivity of a Rembrandt etching, and the compositional skill and elegance of the Japanese woodblock print increases the wide range of human experience that can be communicated by the printmaker. Jean ------------------------------ [Baren 1743] Post duplicated in error ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:58:20 +0900 Subject: [Baren 1744] Links A couple of link and update notes ... I got an email message the other day from the owner of a website at: http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/fm/fm.html This is a collection of books and information on the well known printer Frans Masereel. Included on the web site are complete reproductions of two of his 'print books' : Die Stadt (1925) http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/fm/st.html and Landschaften und Stimmungen (1929) http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/fm/lus.html *** On our own ground, Bill Ritchie has been busy pounding his keyboard, and a few of his responses to the general business questions that were posted last week are now up in the Encyclopedia. http://www.woodblock.com/encyclopedia/updates.html *** As I write this, the trees in the parking lot outside the window are lashing back and forth, and I guess it's typhoon time ... I just had a look at the satellite map on the 'net and it shows this gigantic circular 'thing' heading right for us. Maybe Dave Stones down there in the country won't be getting much sleep tonight ... Dave B. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V4 #288 ***************************