Organisers say a new festival called Printopia will celebrate traditional and contemporary print.
Set down for May 7-8, Printopia will appeal to all kinds of “print junkies”, according to festival director Ina Arraoui . She says, “Whether you are a creator, collector or simply an admirer of handmade prints, this is for you. Printopia is Auckland’s inaugural festival of original print, celebrating traditional and contemporary printmaking processes.”
The festival takes place at the Corban Estate Arts Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson. She says, “Over the two days, you can catch an exciting line up of live printmaking demonstrations, artist talks, a print fair, and workshops. You can meet the printers and artists, learn about the process, try it yourself, and buy some original prints.
“The festival will feature some of the best established and emerging print artists in
the country with an outstanding array of techniques to inspire visitors.”
See the full programme of both free and ticketed events
Tips and tricks
Festival goers can experience a range of print related activities, open to the public. In the chill out zone, visitors can connect with old and new print friends while sampling Jamaican food from the Gracefully Jerked food truck.
Ina says, “You can see print demos and discover tips and tricks of traditional methods such as paper marbling from master printer John Pusateri of Auckland Print Studio and the best tissue paper to use for chine collè with Alexis Neal, a regular tutor at Brown School of Art. Or you can learn how to transform your used milk cartons into beautiful Tetrapak prints with Auckland artist Anita Mudaliar. From Wellington, Tim Li will give the audience an insight into Gyotaku – the traditional Japanese art of printing directly from fish species. Also, you can see how two different artists approach screen-printing with Toni Mosley from Auckland and Paora Tiatoa from Matakana Island in Tauranga.
“You can have a go at pulling a squeegee, rolling a brayer, and inking up a plate or two in our free Print Lab. This is where you’ll have the opportunity to print your own calico patch, tote bag or bookmark to take away with you. These live printing events will be led by master letterpress machinist Graham Judd of Inkiana Press in Auckland; screen-print legend Thomas Lynch of Artisan Screen Prints in Levin; and woodblock artist Hamish Oakley-Browne, director of Te Kowhai Print Studio in Whangarei.”
Talks and prints for sale
She continues, “During the Print Talks, visitors can meet some of the artists, learn about their approach to printmaking techniques and ask questions. Kicking off the talks, print expert Warwick Brown will give a brief history of printmaking, describing the different types of prints, and discussing major New Zealand printmakers from the 1930s onwards. He’ll conclude by speculating on the future of printmaking in the digital age.”
At the Print Fair, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase original hand-made
prints directly from artists, galleries and print studios from across the country. Prints will be priced accessibly between $50 – $500.
Requests for courses
The Printopia Festival is Ina’s brainchild. The printmaker and curator studied printmaking in Florence, Italy. After returning home in 2020, she started researching the local printmaking community, publishing interviews with artists and print studios on her website to create an online resource and open archive.
Through her interviews, she found a lack of understanding and gallery representation of print media. There are currently no fully equipped open access print studios in Auckland, meaning printmakers have to work in isolation in home studios or in small groups, scattered across the city. For new graduates, the only options to continue in the field of printmaking are to set up their own studio or move abroad.
She says, “Since the Covid-19 pandemic, it appears that people have been more engaged
with starting or developing an arts practice. Interestingly, all printmaking courses
on offer in Auckland since April 2020 have sold out and there have been many
requests at community art centres across Auckland to offer specialised printmaking
courses, both short and long term.
“Seeing this need gave birth to the idea of Printopia, which will provide a physical
space where the wider community, including art students, educators, galleries, and
museums can have the opportunity to learn about contemporary printmaking in
Aotearoa. By bringing together the printmaking community, the aim is to shine a
light on the range and calibre of work that is being produced and its potential for
collaboration, innovation and fostering a sense of community.”
Centre for printmaking
She looks forward to the celebration of traditional and contemporary print. She concludes, “Printopia is a step towards our vision of Auckland becoming one of the leading centres for printmaking in the Asia-Pacific and globally, with a thriving contemporary printmaking scene that inspires research and innovation in the field.”
What: Printopia
Where: Corban Estate Arts Centre, Henderson, Auckland
When: May 7-8, 2022
Contact: Ina Arraoui, Phone 027 347 0943, email ina@printopia.nz
