Here it is . . .

Work – Bed – Work – Bed – Work – Bed

I’m not complaining about having a job in a country ravaged by unemployment. I’m also beginning to realise that this heat isn’t going to last forever and in a month or so I’ll be ready to make peace again with Granada. There’s a cool breeze at the end of the tunnel.

However, I’m pissed off with my own lack of creativity at the moment. Despite the heat, the light is perfect for Pinhole Photography. I have plenty of ideas on that front but despite a few developed rolls of film and a few unfinished cameras, I’ve largely not taken full advantage of my time here so far.

It’s time for Captain Action to kick Captain Procrastination in the pants.

I’ve put my name down again this year for Hot Bed Press Printmakers Studio 20-20 print exchange. The deadline is in about a month. I have no access to printmaking facilities and almost no tools. It’s an opportunity to push my resourcefulness and kick into gear.

My idea is to try and do something creative every day until I have a finished print edition ready to post to Hot Bed via Cork Printmakers. It’s going to be a bit on the silly side. The daily work might contribute to the final piece or it may well be a case of flushing out all the crap first. I’m fairly sure the work itself will be in contrast to what I’ve already published here.

Here’s my first effort. A spill of water manipulated a little and photographed as it tried rapidly. Very bloody silly indeed.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COLLECTION

Here’s a short film featuring all the participants on the day.

Here’s a video of my own print outlining the process from it’s beginnings as a photograph to the final print.
Included is a stop-motion clip which documents the cutting in my home of the Lino Block.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS SHOWING MY PRINT BEING MADE ON THE DAY.

‘Impressions of Your City’ featuring all the work made on the day will run in Cork’s Opera House as part of their Spring 2011 program.

Impressions of Your City - Invite

On November 26th 2010 7 large scale linocuts were inked and printed in the old Sawmills in Copley Street in Cork City. An industrial 250 tonne road-roller was used in place of a traditional printing press.

Participants included; Brian Barry, Fiona Kelly, Sean Hanrahan and Peter McMorris from Cork Printmakers. Students from CIT Crawford College of Art and Scoil Stiofan Naofa.

The prints will be exhibited in Opera House until April as part of their Spring programme. It will be open to the public daily from 12 – 5.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS SHOWING MY PRINT BEING MADE ON THE DAY.

From the 'Irish Examiner'. Click to Enlarge.

Here are two cuttings from Cork’s ‘Evening Echo’ and ‘Irish Examiner’ newspapers from January 28th, 2010.

They’re publicising the forthcoming exhibition ‘Impressions of Your City’ that will begin in The Opera House on February 1st.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS SHOWING MY PRINT BEING MADE ON THE DAY.

It contains a picture of my lino block with a load more cutting to do! It incorrectly names me a 1st year student from CIT Crawford College of Art and Design. The event itself, which took place the following day was a great success. I’ll be doing a more extensive post documenting it very soon.

You can see all 120 pieces on a special Flickr page – http://www.flickr.com/photos/hot_bed_press/

My own piece is entitled ‘Keeping an Eye on the Moon’, and is a Pinhole Photo printed as a Photo Etching. The image was taken in Cobh, Co. Cork.

The exhibition presents some of the finest work from emerging and established contemporary artists in Ireland today, who work through the medium of printmaking. The show is a perfect opportunity to find a unique and lasting gift for someone special this Christmas. For those who wish to initiate or expand their art collection Cork Printmakers Christmas Showcase offers an excellent resource for contemporary art collectors.

Cork Printmakers is offering a 10% discount on exhibited work during Christmas Showcase.
Work is available both framed and unframed.

Opening hrs: Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 5pm;
Sat: 11am – 5pm;
Closed Sunday.

Contact: Cork Printmakers, Wandesford Quay, Clarke’s Bridge, Cork.
Tel: 021 432 2422
Email: info@corkprintmakers.ie
Web: www.corkprintmakers.ie

ROAD ROLLER PRINT EVENT
A project initiated by Cork Printmakers and taking place as part of Art Trail 10

11am – 5pm, Saturday 27 November 2010
Old Sawmills Site, Copley Street, Cork City.

Participants
Artist members of Cork Printmakers, Brian Barry, Sean Hanrahan, Fiona Kelly and Peter McMorris;
first year students from CIT Crawford College of Art and Design, and Access with Design students from Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa.

On the 27 November in the old Sawmills site on Copley Street, seven large-scale linoleum blocks up to 6ft x 3.3ft (180cm x 100cm) will be inked-up and printed manually using a 2.5 ton Industrial Road Roller.

Each inked-up linoleum block will be placed ground level on a flat surface, and paper (or cotton material) carefully placed on top. The Road Roller will then be driven over each block to impress its image onto the paper, providing the pressure of a traditional printing press. A major advantage when using a Road Roller instead of a printing press is that size becomes unlimited. The artist is limited only by the width of the Road Roller but in theory the length can be as long as the diesel runs out! The participating artists and students of art have based their subject matter on the theme Impressions of Your City.

The Road Roller Print Event will take place over a day, as each print, due to its size, will take up to 40 minutes to ink-up, roll and pull. During the event the artists will share their skills and ideas with members of the viewing public who will also be given the opportunity to make their own small linocut to be added to one large mosaic block for printing at the end of the day.

Relief printmaking has been described as the lesser of the printmaking techniques. The Road Roller Print Event aims to dispel this label. Relief print is the most direct and accessible form of printmaking.  It creates a strong impact, and when challenged creatively and innovatively, it produces work of great imagination and freshness.

The project is taking place in association with Art Trail 10 and has been funded by Cork City Council Arts Office Project Scheme.

I’ll be doing a life-size portrait of Cork legend Michael O’Regan who has been selling the Echo for 50 years on Patrick’s St. – BB