s3e67 on being artist and curator with Amy N. Worthen
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
Release Date: 11/05/2024
s3e85 printing vintage semiconductors with artist Deb Puretz
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of Platemark, Deb Puretz, an IT professional and artist, discusses her journey into the art world and navigating it as an outlier. Deb, originally from California and now based in South Carolina, shares her experiences of making connections, leveraging business skills, and adapting to new technologies in art. She talks about her early career in Hong Kong, the pivotal moments in her art practice, and working with semiconductors to create unique prints. Deb emphasizes the importance of connections, perseverance, and aiding fellow artists. She also touches on the evolving...
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s3e84 printing in plaster with artist Jonathan Beaumont Thomas
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of Platemark, Ann talks with artist and teacher Jonathan Thomas who shares insights from his time at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), the printmaking program he chairs, and his personal studio in Baltimore. We take a deep dive into his exploration of printing in plaster, detailing the technical process, historical context, and the challenges it presents compared to traditional intaglio printmaking. We talk about his shift from multi-plate color works to black and white, emphasizing the joy and struggle of achieving precise visual results. We talk about his...
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s3e83 solarplate etching with Dan Welden
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of Platemark, Ann sits down with the legendary artist and printmaker Dan Welden. The artist is known for his pioneering work in solarplate etching, a revolutionary, chemical-free printmaking process. Welden recounts his experiences and collaborations with significant artists like Eric Fischl and Elaine and Willem de Kooning. He also delves into his personal creative struggles, preferences for classical music, and tales of his distinctive handmade house filled with artist tiles and unique craftsmanship. The episode is a compelling insight into Welden's artistic journey...
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s3e82 topology- and philosophy-imbued domestic scenes with Ellen Heck
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of Platemark, I talk with Ellen Heck about her artistic journey and work. We talk about the intricacies of printmaking techniques, Ellen's various portrait series, and the conceptual ideas behind her work. Ellen shares her journey from studying philosophy at Brown, to printmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and finally working at the Kala Art Institute in Berkeley. They also explore topics like the influence of Mary Cassatt, the use of color wheels in organizing compositions, and Ellen's fascination with topology in her artwork. Our insightful conversation...
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s3e81 building and fixing presses with Mike Stark
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of the Platemark, I interview Mike Stark, the co-founder and owner of Stark Press Company. The New Jersey-based company, run by Mike and his brother Tom, builds new presses, services old presses, and aids in moving them. They often collaborate with Perry Tymeson, a legendary press repairman. Mike shares insights into designing new presses, managing a small business, and balancing creative work. We talk about studying print media at SAIC in Chicago and establishing Stark Press. We talk about his experiences in moving heavy presses, sometimes in challenging conditions, and the...
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s3e80 melding printing and publishing with curatorial work with Mae Shore
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of Platemark, I talk with Mae Shore, a collaborative printer and owner of Shore Publishing in Tuxedo Park, New York. Mae shares her experiences working at Pace Editions with notable artists like Jim Dine and Chuck Close. She discusses the history and evolution of her gallery and print shop, which she established to merge her love for printmaking and curating exhibitions. Mae touches upon specific projects, such as her collaborations with artists like Amy Bennett, Kamrooz Aram, and Katia Santibañez and James Siena, detailing the unique processes and challenges in creating...
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s3e79 contemporary Japanese prints with Michael Verne
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of Platemark, I talk with Michael Verne, the owner of the Verne Collection in Cleveland, Ohio. Mike's gallery specializes in contemporary Japanese art and works by American artists residing in Japan. We talk about the challenges and rewards of running a small gallery amid larger competitors, and the importance of finding and promoting new artists. Mike shares insights about his journey in the art world, from his childhood surrounded by art to becoming a successful gallerist without a formal art education. He recounts various personal anecdotes, including his experiences at art...
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s3e78 electronic arts in printmaking with Myles Calvert
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode of Platemark, Myles Calvert, a printmaker and professor, shares his extensive journey from growing up in Ontario, Canada, to studying and working in the UK, and eventually returning to Alfred University in New York, to become director of the Institute of Electronic Arts. Myles discusses his experiences working at prestigious galleries in London, giving up a tenure-track position, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. He delves into his role as the Director of IEA at Alfred, including the intricacies of managing residencies, the use of technology in printmaking, and...
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s3e77 documenting the printmaking ecosystem with Susan Goldman
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this interview with the director and founder of Lily Press and the Printmaking Legacy Project, Susan Goldman shares her passion for printmaking and documentary film making. Susan discusses her journey from discovering printmaking at Indiana University, Bloomington, to founding Lily Press and creating impactful documentaries like Midwest Matrix. She highlights her educational experiences, mentors, and the vibrant printmaking community she's built over time. Goldman also delves into her personal work, her love for screenprinting, and the balance of managing a studio while collaborating with...
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s3e76 the print studio as sanctuary with Bryan Raymundo
Platemark: Prints and the Printmaking Ecosystem
In this episode, Ann talks with Bryan Raymundo, owner of the Black Fragment Press. They discuss their meeting at the Mid America Print Council conference and Bryan’s background, from growing up in Mexico and Kansas to his love for Black Sabbath and printmaking. Bryan reveals his journey into art, inspired by comforting his sick grandmother with drawings, and his challenges in balancing his family’s immigrant expectations with his artistic aspirations. They delve deeply into his evolving art practice, the importance of mentors like Marco Hernandez and Jason Scuilla, and his passion for...
info_outlineIn s3e67 of Platemark, I talk with Amy Namowitz Worthen, a distinguished engraver and curator, about her lifelong journey in printmaking. Influenced early by her artist mother, she pursued art education at Smith College and the University of Iowa, honing her artistic skills under Leonard Baskin and Mauricio Lasansky. Amy's career is marked by multi-faceted contributions to printmaking, including prestigious curatorial positions at Des Moines Art Center, along with helping to establish its Print Club. Her work bridges historical and contemporary practices, with publications and collaborations spanning across the globe, notably in Venice. Personal experiences, including significant tragedies, deeply influenced her art, shaping unique series and projects. Amy's legacy is celebrated through her continued involvement in the art community and her influential prints, which are showcased and valued internationally.
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Link to Hayter film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUIM9ZiMqzw
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Leonard Baskin (American, 1922–2000). Man of Peace, 1952. Woodcut. Image: 59 5/8 x 30 7/8 in. (151.5 x 78.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Amy N. Worthen at the Scuola Internazionale de Grafica di Venezia, 1989. Courtesy of the Artist.
View from Amy N. Worthen’s Venice apartment. Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). My Wisteria 25, 2023. India ink on Seichosen Tosa Kozo paper. 55 x 29 ½ in. Olson Larsen Gallery, Des Moines.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). My Wisteria, Venice: Summer Shadows and Sunlight. View from my terrace looking towards Palazzo Zane Collalto, Ponte sant’Agostin, and Palazzo Morosini degli Spezieri (W. japonica floribunda macrobotrys), 2022/2023. India ink on Seichosen Tosa Kozo paper. 55 x 29 ½ in. Olson Larsen Gallery, Des Moines.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). My Wisteria,Venice: Last year’s seed pods, budding and flowering racemes, a falling blossom, terrace view towards Ponte sant’Agostin (W. japonica floribunda macrobotrys), 2023. India ink and watercolor. 30 x 22 in. Olson Larsen Gallery, Des Moines.
Jacques Bellange (French, c. 1575–1616). Pietà, 1615. Etching with stippling and engraving. Sheet (trimmed): 12 3/16 × 7 13/16 in. (31 × 19.8 cm). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Giorgio Morandi (Italian, 1890–1964). Natura morta a grandi segni, 1931. Etching. Plate: 9 5/8 x 12 1/2 in. (24.4 x 31.8 cm.); sheet: 15 1/8 x 20 in. (38.4 x 50.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Strumenti d’Incisione (Engraving Tools), 1995. Engraving, roulette, and mezzotint. Plate: 7 3/8 x 6 in. (18.9 x 15.6 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen in her home studio, Des Moines. Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). The Law Library, from the series Real and Imagined Aspects of the Iowa State Capitol, 1977. Etching. Plate: 17 ½ x 14 ½ in. (44.5 x 36.8 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Terrace Hill with Peacock, 2008. Engraving. Plate: 13 7/8 x 16 ½ in. (35 x 42 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Sotoportego Pisano, from the series Sotoporteghi Veneziani, 1994. Engraving. 9 x 7 7/8 in. (22.7 x 20 cm.). Olson Larsen Gallery, Des Moines.
Antonio del Pollaiuolo (Italian, 1431/32–1498). Battle of the Nudes, 1470s–80s. Engraving. Sheet: 42.4 x 60.9 cm. (16 11/16 x 24 in.); plate: 42 x 60.4 cm. (16 9/16 x 23 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). House in Ruins, 1986. Engraving. Plate: 16 ¾ x 13 7/8 in. (42.5 x 35.3 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). House of Emblems, 1988. Engraving, roulette, and mezzotint. Plate: 24 x 18 in. (61 x 45.7 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Vanitas, 1987. Engraving. Plate: 14 ¾ x 11 7/8 in. (37 x 30.4 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). A Sphinx Fountain, 1971. Engraving. Plate: 14 1/8 x 12 ½ in. (36 x 31.7 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Melancolia II, 1973. Engraving. Plate: 8 1/8 x 14 7/8 in. (20.5 x 38 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). The Supreme Court, from the series Real and Imagined Aspects of the Iowa State Capitol, 1977. Engraving and etching. Plate: 13 7/8 x 16 ¾ in. (35.2 x 42.5 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). An Iowa Valentine, 1990. Engraving with hand coloring. Plate: 6 7/8 x 5 in. (17.5 x 12.7 cm.). Olson Larsen Gallery, Des Moines.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Iowa Alphabet, 1990. 25 engravings with watercolor. Overall: 19 7/8 x 15 in. (50.1 x 38.1 cm.). Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Iowa Alphabet: VOTE, 2020. Engraving printed in blue. Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Iowa Alphabet: VOTE, 2020. Engraving printed in blue with watercolor. Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen (American, born 1946). Billboard with Iowa Alphabet: VOTE, 2020. Courtesy of the Artist.
Get-Out-The-Vote postcards featuring Amy N. Worthen’s Iowa Alphabet: VOTE, 2020. Courtesy of the Artist.
Amy N. Worthen speaks in front of her Wisteria drawings at Olson Larsen Gallery, Des Moines, 2023. Courtesy of the Artist.
