Rachel E Heberling: Transmissions Through the Ether: SGC Milwaukee!!

Hello there! I have been traveling all over for all sorts of printmaking goodness since the last post. The first big story to cover is SGCI's Conference in Milwaukee- this is the largest print conference in the US- only the 3rd one I've been to so far (since Philly and DC- sorry to miss St Louis and New Orleans!) although I did quite enjoy the mid-sized MAPC in the fall. I was lucky to drive up with Andrea Knarr, print prof of Northern Kentucky U and her former student, Carola Bell, now at the Cincy Art Museum.

first thing is the registration table, as always- getting oriented after driving in late the night before

and after a rush job to the printer, I got propaganda out for Tiger Lily press and the Ohio print co-ops. Look- someone is reading it right now!

the vendor's fair- always a little crazy first thing

they even had a second room- here is Takach press

the first lecture I went to- Leslie Dill, Tom Sleigh, Paul Wong and Peter Kruty talk about their collaboration for the book, "If I had a Blueprint of History"

luckily I caught Peter Kruty's demo of how he printed the plates for Leslie

they were thick metal-backed photopolymer plates printed on a magnetic bed

we even got to look at an original Leslie Dill drawing! interesting how he had to translate her beautiful washes, charcoal marks and smudges through photo-based letterpress

and look- he even inked right on the bed!

next I saw Ed Bernstein's 'Painterly Print' demo with white soap ground

he creatively inks on a swiveling chair

the resulting print- very interesting textures

of course I had to peek at UMW's printshop- nice graining sink!

and organized chemicals

love the litho bowl racks!

later that night we had the Open Portfolio session. very different as it was at night on the first night and spread out on 3 different floors. in my past experience it's been during the day on a Saturday, all squished into a giant ballroom

I always love the work that comes from my alma mater, Kutztown University, PA. here is Andrea with some amazing prints!

Josh Dannin, also from KU, now at Ohio University and often writes for Printeresting

Kathryn Polk- from Memphis- really love her work!

here is my table- I have the last time slot till 10pm. sooo tired! but a lot of folks come up to talk to me about Tiger Lily and print co-ops, so that was wonderful. and yes, some good feedback on the work.

me at my table- thanks to Evan Summer!

Finally, we are on to day two- Friday! Admittedly I was a bit of an old lady and went to bed at a decent hour the first night. Now for another day full of lectures and demos.

here Dwight Pogue's cohort Skip Klepacki and Kate Conlon demo Century Plate lithography

then I skip over to watch the Crown Point Press demo- they tightly register a 5-color softground plate by Robert Bechtle

here they point at and explain the jig system

and another view of the print- I will be scratching my head, trying to figure out how to do this myself!

and now my friend Lauren Bennett, the print tech at Smith College, demos Dwight's Velvetint technique

the publisher's fair also went on in the same building- here is Cannonball press

Women's Studio Workshop- and there were many others! Carrier Pigeon was also a favorite, but alas, no pictures

here Evan gives the bus driver the what-for after a bit of a shuttle scandal

eventually we make it to the opening for SAGA (Society of American Graphic Artists)

finally- enjoying some microbrews!

next, after an interesting lift from an independent curator, we get to go to the Milwaukee Art Museum- here I reunite with former OSU classmate, Charlie Thompson- now at U of Missouri/ Mizzou