Printmaking @ The Sidney Nolan Trust
 

Steamroller Prints, 17-21 August 2011

The Sidney Nolan Trust invites interest from artist-printmakers in this exciting public and performance art event.  We need lots of active printmakers to run this, some of whom will make their own large-scale plates in advance.

We have borrowed the name "Steamroller Prints" from an annual event sponsored by the San Francisco Centre for the Book (www.sfcb.org/html/roadworks.html).  We are grateful for their consent.

The Event

  • We will use a 3-ton construction roller like that illustrated.  Delightful ‘though it would be to use a traditional steamroller, technical considerations rule this out (to cope with the camber of highways, steamrollers had split front rollers, which would leave a line down the middle of prints.  Modern construction rollers arrive on a trailer and thus can have continuous wide rollers.)

  • This will be a public occasion with other attractions, including sculpture display.  Members of the public will be invited to join in the fun of large-scale prints as spectators and by making their own "foot-square" relief plates at workshop sessions held over the weekend. These plates will then be printed using the steamroller.

Artist’s Brief

  • Participation: Artists whose proposals to make plates in advance are accepted will participate fully in the steamroller prints event.  Please expect to attend the practice weekend, 2-3 July and the five days of the event, 17-21 August. Let us know when applying whether there are specific days you cannot make.

  • Printing plates: there is no maximum print size but think about the practical issues of finding an affordable printing matrix and suitable paper.  The Trust will have rolls of Japanese 52gsm Kozo printing paper for printmakers to buy (at about £7 a metre, 97cm wide).  Popular printing matrices in the past have been plywood and MDF (easily available as 8ft x 4 ft sheets) and cork but participants can choose lino or other materials.  Please talk to our printmaking tutor, Mike Clements, if you have questions about this or other technical issues (MikeClements@sidneynolantrust.org or 01544 328492).

  • Expressions of Interest/Proposals: These should cover the following points and be sent as soon as possible, to Anthony Plant, The Sidney Nolan Trust, The Rodd, Presteigne LD8 2L

  • Please outline briefly (50 words) your printmaking experience

  • What is the artistic idea of your proposed plate? (e.g. "giant footprints leading up the wall of a barn" – see below.)  Please provide sketches, etc.

  • What would be your proposed material & plate-making method? (linocut, plywood cut by hand, MDF cut with power tools, etc.)

  • What would be the size of your plate?

  • Are you able to attend the practice weekend, 2-3 July?  Are there any of the five days of the event itself, 17-21 August, that you cannot make?

  • Can you assist in running the "foot-square" workshop sessions for members of the visiting public on one of the two public days, 20 & 21 August?

  • If you not already a member of the Trust’s printmaking group, do you wish to join?

General Brief

  • Manpower requirements: manoeuvring large, heavy printing plates and unwieldy printing paper requires at least four printmakers, even better with more.  Fortunately, we find that printmakers enjoy working together.

  • Public printmaking events: members of the public will be present over the weekend 20 & 21 August.  All participants who wish to will get a chance to print in public over this weekend.

  • Printmaking workshops: we’ll need printmakers with experience of running workshops to run the "foot-square" workshop sessions for members of the visiting public.  These sessions will take place on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 August.  Those who volunteered in 2009 had enormous fun and helped visitors make some great prints.

  • Materials: Artist participating in this project will have free of charge access to the Trust’s print studio and to the supplies in it. These include both oil-based and water-washable relief inks. The Sidney Nolan Trust will support and assist artists who wish to approach local builders’ merchants for sponsorship with 8ft x 4ft ply, MDF, etc. boards.

  • Display: Completed prints will be displayed for visitors to view.  The Trust will facilitate and assist artists’ sales.

 

Please remember that you can be fully involved as a printmaker even if you do not wish to make a large-scale plate in advance.  Just tell us your availability during the five days 17-21 August 2011 and if you can help run the “Foot Square” workshops.

Background

The Sidney Nolan Trust is an arts-based charity at The Rodd, near Presteigne in the Border Marches. The Trust has a printmaking studio and an active group of some tens of users.  Members of this printmakers group pay a modest annual subscription (currently £30) and a small daily charge (£5) for studio use.  The Trust runs a programme of printmaking workshops from May to October www.sidneynolantrust.org.uk/PrintmakersGroup2011.htm. Members are invited to exhibit at the Trust’s annual printmaking exhibition during Herefordshire Art Week (h.Art, 10 – 18 September 2011) and on other special occasions.  The Trust also has sculpture and book arts programmes and supports young musicians. There is an annual exhibition of Sidney Nolan’s work (19 – 29 August 2011).