Exchanges at MAPC Conference

          The Mid America Print Conference took place on October 5^th through the 8^th at Indiana University Southeast and the University of Louisville.  This conference exhibits many artists from different fields of printmaking such as Earl Valentine DeWald, and Qian Zhao. This conference is to bring old techniques into the “new” world of technology.  This gives artists a chance to come together and make professional art while collaborating with each other. At this conference there were demonstrations, exhibitions, panels, keynote speakers, and outside events to really bring the artist together.

            Attending the MAPC, visitors were able to experience the work firsthand, which is more valuable then seeing the work in a photograph. There is a better understanding of the processes that is used rather then just reading about the process, you are able to see more detail in the prints then you can through a photograph. For example; I had the opportunity to watch two gentlemen use a process called screen-printing. In this process they took photos they gathered from newspapers and security footage and take stills and print them. I didn’t realize that you could get such photorealistic prints from a screen print using another photo. They altered the already made image to make it their own. After experiencing this process viewers gain a new appreciation for the practice and an appreciation for each process in printmaking.

            One set of featured works was the mezzotint exchange. The artists involved in this exchange are apart of the mezzotint society. Mezzotint is an intaglio process in the printmaking world. This process allows different tones to be created without using line techniques.  In this body of work there are many beautiful pieces such as Cumulus Clouds #6, (2013) by Earl Valentine DeWald. This piece stood out from the rest due to the great use of light and contrast, which is caused by the mezzotint. It does not display an overuse of these elements. The print looks photorealistic, almost like you could reach out and touch the cloud. There is a sense of depth to this piece due to the contrast created, feels as though a storm could be rolling in. In the artist statement it states that DeWald uses a newfound technique of burnishing that he will continue to use throughout his pieces. The negative space at the top of the image is beautiful; it allows a nice break and allows your eyes to rest. While that is a beneficial aspect, some people do not enjoy this. Some would rather be able to constantly let their eye travel through the piece. Other then the negative space, this piece is outstanding and is a real attention grabber with a great use of light and contrast.

Qin Zhao, The Wheels Go Round and Round, 22/22, 2016.

            Another piece that stood out to me was one from the “experience” exchange--Qian Zhao’s The Wheels Go Round and Round, 22/22, (2016). Zhao moved to the United States from China. He creates work based off of the things that he has learned and experienced while here in the U.S, and also political views from his home and from the states. This piece is not only executed well by technique but also conceptually.  It is interesting to see what others think about our country. This piece seems to speak about the current issues that are occurring at the moment in society.  All of the riots, and outrage that is around us, everything seems to circle back to the same issues as before. In this print a tank points directly at the panda, this makes the feeling more intense, it feels as though there is helplessness because the panda is outnumbered in size and in equipment. Zhao’s print context could be taken many different ways, which is one thing that works for it.  One negative element is the open context of the piece. Unless you know reasoning or what kind of work Zhao does, it can be difficult to understand this piece.  

            The overall feeling of the conference was inviting, experimental, and just plain fun. You had the opportunity to experience artist’s work from around the world alongside student artworks.  I enjoyed the work as a whole since there are many different aspects of printmaking. It was interesting and eye opening to learn about the many techniques that can be utilized within the traditional way and the “new” way. MAPC changed how I view printmaking and made me realize that it relates to more mediums then I thought it did. I never would have known that it was a close medium to photography and drawing. As stated before, this experience brought all these artists together for us to learn and advance in this art form.