“This a travelling exhibition with a selection of art prints making their way around the country,” says Teressa Matthews from the Gisborne Printmakers Group.
“It is a way of showcasing printmaking in New Zealand,” says Jean Johnston printmaker and founding member of the Gisborne group.
“By seeing the work on display it gives our local printmakers encouragement to exhibit their work. Three members from our group including Teressa have work in the touring exhibition,” she says.
“It’s also a great opportunity for the public to see printmakers in action and we advertise our courses for beginners at the event too.”
Jean is the author of a book about the 45 years of printmaking in Lysnar House Studios which features a detailed history of the group and includes examples of their work over the years.
The Print Council Aotearoa New Zealand is an organisation that was established over 20 years ago. It is comprised of many experienced printmakers from throughout New Zealand. There are also members from Europe and the Pacific. The exhibitions are varied and showcase the diversity of print on paper.
Known as PCANZ, it is a member-run, national, non-profit making organisation that promotes fine art printmaking. Through workshops, exhibitions, collaborations and exchanges between members, national and international associations, they foster a greater appreciation of printmaking among their members and the wider community.
The Small Print is a regular PCANZ exhibition, always popular, and has been going for the past decade. It is a touring exhibition covering both North and South Islands and is open to all members to exhibit.
Prints are handmade art pieces. The traditional techniques such as etching, mezzotint, monoprint, woodcut, linocut, aquatint and chine colle are used alongside many non-traditional exciting and creative processes to make vibrant high-quality prints.
The Small Print exhibition is at Lysnar House Studios this Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am-3.30pm
