Other People's Prints 2023
In 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to co-curate a print-only exhibition titled, Other People’s Prints (O.P.P.), with my colleague and fellow artist, Claire Bond. This phenomenal experience allowed me to learn more about the process of bringing an exhibition from concept to completion. The primary aim of this show was to introduce our community to the diverse and expansive world of printmaking.
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To help achieve this, I designed a program that included artist statements, bios, and an overview of the processes used by each artist for the works on display. This resource helped guide visitors through the exhibition, enhancing their experience and understanding of the prints they were seeing.
Featured artists: Amanda DiLisi, Cameron J. Dedrick, Cynthia C. Petry, Dustin Brinkman, Ed Marthey, J. Leigh Garcia, Keith Dull, Mason Smith, Meryl Engler, and Trent Boatner.
O.P.P.’s goal was not only to showcase the artists’ work, but also to encourage our community to take printmaking classes at the Wayne Center for the Arts (WCA). This was especially important since we had just acquired and built our brand-spanking new printing press, Willard! That’s right, we are no longer destitute to just running our prints over with cars here. We now have a fully functioning Conrad C-25 printing press, and it’s a game changer for printing.
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To help celebrate this new addition to our printmaking program and engage with the public, we hosted a free printmaking event during the exhibition opening. Visitors had the opportunity to try their hand at printing by creating custom tote bags with Willard. This hands-on experience was a great way to connect the process with the artform and served as an accessible and exciting introduction to printmaking!
As a curator, I was responsible for a wide range of tasks to ensure the exhibition did not run amok. These included:
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Creating and distributing hand-printed posters
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Designing the program
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Printing promotional t-shirts and bags
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Assembling artist goodie bags (program, posters, and a name tag)
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Communicating and collaborating with artists
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Assisting with installation (creating labels, preparing walls, hanging art, etc.)
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Leading printmaking demonstrations during the opening event
Not only was Other People’s Prints a stellar, knock-your-socks-off exhibition, but was also a rewarding and educational experience. I’m proud to have been a pivotal role in this exhibition!
