Lethbridge artists collective the Potemkin Collective are showing off the fruits of the new print making room at CASA and the ensuing print-making class at the Potemkin Gallery on the second floor of 411 3 Ave South, Nov. 30. The exhibition runs until the end of December.
“Before there were photocopiers, people made prints. It goes back to the Renaissance,” observed Brent Coulton, a Lethbridge artist who taught a print making class at CASA in their print making studio to eight local artists.
This show is not only a chance to show of their fruits of his labours, but is chance to show off the capabilities of the studio. There will also be submissions from the community of artists who weren’t in the class , but who still are interested in making prints. Most of the participants in the class, and therefore the show, were prominent and experienced members of the Lethbridge art community.
“Most people learn how to make prints in school, but then they move on,” said Potemkin Collective member and local artist Robert Bechtel, who is organizing this show.
Print making is different than photographic print making. Coulton said there are numerous different techniques to make prints.
Basically print making involves carving a drawing onto a block of copper, dipping it in an acid bath to solidify the image and using it to stamp out prints of the image. Other artistic styles can be used to complement basic print making techniques.
While most are monochromatic, colour can be added through a variety of techniques.
“A lot of people don’t know what it is, but it has been around for a long time,” Bechtel continued.
“ A lot of great artists like Picasso and Rembrandt were fantastic print makers,” Coulton continued.
Community members are invited to participate in the show. The deadline for submissions was Nov. 27.
Coulton will be starting another eight week class in the new year which will run from February through April.
The opening reception was at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Potemkin Gallery on the second floor of 411 3 Ave South.
The show runs until the end of December.