How to Turn a plan ole bathroom into a fabulous living space.

Who would have thought that one day a bathroom, with minimal facilities and plain white washed walls would be transformed from a place to spend only a few minutes, to a room where you can spend the night or just take a nap or just hang out.
That was the inspiration that Deborah M. Carroll Anzinger and Richard Lyew devised to build the new "Inhabit" space at Pyramid Art Center this month.
Funny story how they got together. It all started in high school in Jamaica, but after many years, and old friend saw Richard in the airport and later told Deborah, who is a painter that works in large format, about spotting Richard. Deborah tracked Richard down and convinced him that he needed to collaborate with her to do a project. Richard is working as a architect in Rosslyn, so it was a piece of cake for him to help Deborah with designing this great space where visiting artists could spend time while they are creating Art. We all know that once you get involved in a project the minutes turn into hours, which turn into days. You lose all track of time and then realize that many hours have gone by and you haven't even had a chance to take 5 minutes to rest and relax.
The project was sort of like, a reality show where you only have a certain amount of money to transform one room into the Taj Mahal. Richard devised a blank board hanging on the wall where you might hang your work to dry, to a drop down cot that is supported by two tables that turn into storage containers. The space is so diverse, a cabinet that you might think might be someplace to house the rolls of tissue, is actually a unit that can house your paintings or supplies or even your toothbrush. Go figure.
The room continues to have the white washed look, but open the doors and cabinets and you will see that they are all painted vibrant colors to give that bathroom type feel to making you feel like you are a guest at the Mariott or Hilton. "Ahh, Room Service, can you send me a tray of cheese and a bottle of your best.................................... Check it out, but knock first.

Baby it's cold outside!

Brrrr!
Pyramid Atlantic will be closed from December 19-January 2.
Enjoy your holidays and see you in 2011!

A Visit from Charles Cohan

Charlie Cohan has been working fast and furiously this past week on an art commission for the Raleigh-Durham airport. I say fast because he had nine [125 lb. glass] panels to print during his week here. I say furiously because I've never seen Charlie work any other way. Annie Albagli, one of our teaching artists-in-residence, has been assisting him.

It's fun having him back, as the last time he was here was in 2008, when he taught a workshop and had a exhibition upstairs. He will be with us for a few more days-so stop in, say hello, and see his very cool prints.

More Than Words Show

MORE THAN WORDS:
When: On December 15th 2010 from 3:30 to 4:30
Where: At Silver Spring International School
Come and see the art work of the Art club at Silver Spring International School.
As part of the teaching- in- residence program, Trisha Gupta and Annie Albagli have been teaching an afterschool printmaking program.
"This semester we have been focusing on linocuts and negative and positive space. It is really great that the students have access to printmaking. When I was a student I did not even know what printmaking was. Printmaking really improves craft, encourages patience, and is so important to understanding reductive carving techniques. These skills really are valuable and help kids understand art better."
The more than words program is a breach from the page, when teaching traditional poetry. It allows kids to learn and read about poetry while working on art. After reading The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, students talked about emotions and to evoke thoughts using visual imagery. These ideas evolved, and the kids have created work based off of their own experieneces. Come and see the show and support the kids.

On a gold road to finding Paradise an interview with Anne Albagli

AN INTERVIEW OF PARADISE: A collaborative site specific installation with artist, Joshua Goode, featured at the 11th Biennial Print and Book Conference. This installation featured 'Paradise' by Anne Albagli and "Lost" by Joshua Goode. Over ten unique monotyped prints of flora hung in an 8ft high geodesic dome, with soil and rocks layered at the bottom. Harpist, Devorah Schiff, played excerpts of the music she plays to patients in hospitals throughout the exhibition.

What type of dome did you build and why was the dome construction important?


For the installation, Paradise Lost, I built an 8ft high Geodesic dome. For this installation it was important that the dome was sturdy, could support my prints, and support the wear and tear of viewers going through the dome. It was also important that the dome could be transportable and fabricated in a minimal amount of time. After much research and building several moquettes, I figured that building a geodesic dome from Acrylic rods would be the best for this installation both visually and practically.


How did you create your prints?


All of the prints hung in the dome were unique monotyped prints created on the etching press (in Pyramid's beautiful etching studio!). Before printing I created these silhouetted images of flora from acetate. Once these were created I soaked my paper, mixed up the colors I wanted, inked up the shapes, and sent it all through the press multiple times. The fun part of this was the spontaneity and experimentation of what occurred with each print. Some of the fun things discovered during the process: printing the ghosts of the forms helped create depth, the colors and shadows made when shapes overlapped, and the new textures created within a confined shape when mineral spirits were added.


I know that your piece had an auditory element with a harpist. Why did you want an instrumentalist?


It was not so much that I wanted an instrumentalist, as that the harp was exactly the instrument the installation needed. The installation, Paradise Lost, (simply by the title) already comes with many narratives and religious connotations associated with it, as does the harp. Many different religions have various associations with the harp and I wanted these associations to be alluded to in the installation. However, Devora Schiff plays the harp for a different reason. She plays to patients in the hospital and it has proven that the harp has many healing benefits see: http://bedsideharp.com/index.php/harp_therapy/ (the group she is a part of). I thought this was an interesting component especially as it related to the other dome.


Describe the relationship between the paradise domes.

When Joshua Goode and I decided to do this installation, we pretty much decided to create heaven and hell, while drawing from personal and more universal narratives... and Paradise Lost was the result. While there was much planning done individually for this installation, there were some great surprises that occurred once it was installed- for example hearing the harp music travel into Josh's dome gave it a whole other feeling and created a different relationship as you traveled between the domes.


Describe the role of the gold road.

In creating "paradise" I thought about how I wanted the viewer to interact with the piece - was it enough for them to just see the prints? to hear the music? to smell the soil laid on the ground? I decided I needed them to help the piece evolve, that their presence pushed the piece forward and gave it purpose. When we enter sacred spaces there are often rituals performed there. I thought it was interesting to force the viewer to literally see the installation from another perspective and to reflect on their own life in relation to the installation. I also thought the sort of bowing motion created when viewers wrote on the gold road was an important part of the piece.

Whistle while you work in a cool Pyramid Atlantic apron!

These artistic Aprons, designed by Pyramid Screenprinting and Letterpress regular, Sarah Hanks, will surely be a big hit with your artist, obsessively clean, or foodie friends.
Made of durable and water resistant fabric, these aprons are ready for layers of ink. We have them in tan or white (shown), and at $20, you can get one in both colors!
Stop by the studio to purchase yours. Or, if you would like us to ship one to you, contact Gretchen at gschermerhorn@pyramid-atlantic.org, for arrangements.

Down and Dirty in the Dark Room

Executive Director Jose Dominguez is not afraid to roll up his sleeves to get the job done. The sometimes scary screenprint dark room recently received a new industrial power washer, tabletop....and a mop-up. Thanks, Jose!

New Work by Resident Artist Aziza Gibson-Hunter

Check out Aziza Gibson-Hunter's great progress with her work this fall. Inspired by the landscapes of Japanese artist Chuta Kimura, Aziza has been working hard making her own paper and creating bold, powerful landscapes full of depth. Check them out here.

Smiles at Screenprint Society

The first and third Thursday evenings find Pyramid humming, especially in the screenprinting studio. We love the camaraderie and collaboration that happens with the ever changing roster of printers.

Sock it to me! Pyramid Atlantic Letterpress Blog!

Our Letterpress Associates, Julia, Melanie, and Leslie, have recently created a new blog devoted to all of the great letterpress action that goes on here.
Check it out!