Author's Archive

08.03 2012

TONIGHT! FINDER – new work by Ryan Parker

Ryan Parker: Finder

August 3- August 25, 2012

Opening Reception: Friday, August 3rd 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Tonight is the opening reception of Ryan Parker’s latest work.

Here is a sneak peek of the installation. Come out and support your local artist!

07.30 2012

Finder: Ryan Parker – A studio visit.

Some sneak peek photos of the work Ryan Parker will show during his exhibit, FINDER, opening this Friday, August 3rd  6 – 10 p.m.  at Space 1026.

We visited Ryan at Second State Press, a member-based community print shop located in the Crane Arts Building.

The work shown above are copper plate etchings – one of the oldest methods of printmaking.

For those of you who are unacquainted with this technique ,here’s a short summary  to explain its tedious  process:

“In pure etching, a metal (usually copper, zinc or steel) plate is covered with a waxy ground which is resistant to acid. The artist then scratches off the ground with a pointed etching needle where he or she wants a line to appear in the finished piece, so exposing the bare metal…The plate is then dipped in a bath of acid. The acid “bites” into the metal, where it is exposed, leaving behind lines sunk into the plate. The remaining ground is then cleaned off the plate. The plate is inked all over, and then the ink wiped off the surface, leaving only the ink in the etched lines.

The plate is then put through a high-pressure printing press (shown above)  together with a sheet of paper (often moistened to soften it). The paper picks up the ink from the etched lines, making a print. The process can be repeated many times; typically several hundred impressions (copies) could be printed before the plate shows much sign of wear. The work on the plate can also be added to by repeating the whole process; this creates an etching which exists in more than one state.” (Source)

See you Friday!