Friday, January 17, 2014

Ice Breaker


Winter is here. The flowers are sleeping, and the storm clouds pour out snow. Temperatures below forty degrees have settled in to calm our New Year's cheer; and, the indoors are the places we escape to for our great adventures. This season of ice and freezing rain has compelled artists, at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, to come from out of their introversion, to bring the heat of themselves together, and share tidings of comfort and joy with one another. New to the space are studio interns, Janet Ibrahim and Lew Is Ckool. To break the ice, they thought to make a game of introducing themselves.


(The following is a true transcription of events.)

Lew Is Ckool: Hey Janet! There is a game that I like to play to get to know my students better. It’s called Would You Rather. Have you heard of it?

Janet Ibrahim:  Yeah. I’ve heard of it.

Lew: Would you like to play? 

Janet: Sure. Sounds like fun. Share with me the rules and we can play a few rounds.

L: I’ll present you with two options in the form of the question “would you rather...” You’re allowed to choice one, and only one. It would nice if you could explain why…it’ll make for interesting conversation. I’ll answer the questions you present to me, and in turn you can answer the question I present to you.

J: I got it.

L: Ok. Would you rather have no hair or no teeth?

J: Lol… I would rather have no hair. My teeth are dear to me. I can easily wear a wig to cover my head.

L: The same is true for me. I think eating would be difficult with no teeth. And I might look as nice as Mike (Jordan) if my head were bald :)

J:Would you rather be stuck as an old person or an infant?

L: I would rather be stuck as old person. I’d rather a life full of memories than a life with none at all.

J: I think I’d prefer the experience of an infant. That way everything is new and wondrous.

L: Would you rather have a lot of money and no friends, or friends and no money?

J: I’d rather have friends and no money. We need each other, and if my friends are truly friend they’ll help me out in my time of need.

L: I like that. I agree.

L: It’s nice to meet you Janet Ibrahim :)

J: it’s nice to meet you too Lew Is Ckool.



* Janet Ibrahim
Janet is from Fredrick, MD and she really likes trying new things and exploring the arts. Janet is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she studies Art and Education. Her hobbies (and interests) included crochet, knit theory, and listening to Beyonce.

#Lew Is Ckool.
It’s true. He is a poem…a myth…a constellation of ideas made to pull together the dual/complimentary aspects of the cosmos. He is a philosophical system.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Winter and Spring Workshops at Pyramid Atlantic

Pyramid Atlantic's winter and spring workshops are now up on our website. Please take a look!


We have a few great visiting instructors for the spring:

-Marianne Dages is teaching a letterpress workshop, Chance and Experimentation on the Vandercook, on May 3. Marianne is an artist who makes books, drawings, and prints. A skilled letterpress printer and bookbinder, her work combines traditional letterpress techniques with hand-drawn and photographic imagery to create a personal and idiosyncratic dictionary of symbols and preoccupations. She studied book arts, papermaking, and letterpress for two years at Penland School of Crafts as a Core Fellow and was the Letterpress Studio Coordinator of The Common Press, University of Pennsylvania from 2011-13. Marianne currently works as an artist and educator and runs Huldra Press studio in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia. 
Please check out the above "Letterpress" link for more information on Marianne's workshop. 

-Lee Newman is teaching a monotype workshop on April 3 and 10. Lee holds BFA and MFA degrees from American University where he taught painting, drawing, and printmaking for eight years. A Fulbright Scholar, he spent a year in Vienna, Austria before returning to Washington to found the Washington Studio School. His paintings and prints are in a number of permanent collections including the National Gallery of Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Please check out the following link for more information on Lee's workshop: http://www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org/art_programs/register/printmaking.html#printmaking

-Saaraliisa Yliato returns to teach her popular Shifu paper thread workshop on May 24. Saaraliisa is a textile and paper artist who has traveled extensively on four continents, including an apprenticeship with a master papermaker in Japan. Since returning to the U.S. in 2007 she has been working out of her own studio in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. For more information on Saaraliisa's class please see the above "Papermaking" link.

Feel free to email smcdermott@pyramid-atlantic.org with any questions. 

Best wishes and happy new year from Pyramid Atlantic!

Friday, December 6, 2013

10 Gift Ideas from Pyramid Atlantic Art Center

     In December, words like introspection, preparation, holidays, and buckling down for winter come to mind. As you shop and get used to the idea of drones today, consider that if you purchase something cozy from Pyramid Atlantic, you also help support our mission to bring art to the people. And since we think that's a great idea for artists and for the world, we thought we'd list our top ten. Are you ready? Here are our very best:

1.
Letterpress calendar: Updated every year with new art by our volunteers, support this ongoing project chronicling our artists' printmaking. Click on Letterpress calendar for more information and to purchase the calendar via our paypal button. $35.00.

2.
The Bite Me book: a whimsical cookbook by our volunteers. This hand bound creation contains appetizer and main dish recipes, or "bite me firsts" and "bite me laters." Click on Bite Me for more details and to purchase the cookbook via our paypal button. $55.00.

3.

Much better for a clean escape than that little tree in your last snowball fight, our 2012 book arts fair commemorative apron (now a collector's item) will keep messes off your clothes while you work. Click on apron for more details and to purchase this item via our paypal button. $20.00.

4.
Use our gift card instead of cash to pay for classes, studio rentals, one-on-one tutorials, and memberships. Put $300.00 on the card we'll add $50.00 more for free! Email our director Jose Dominguez at jdominguez@pyramid-atlantic.org to buy yours.

5.
Our prints are by artists in residence. Click on prints for more details. To purchase them, email Jose Dominguez at jdominguez@pyramid-atlantic.org.

6.
There are several membership possibilities at Pyramid Atlantic. A basic membership gives you discounts on studio time, workshops, and gallery rentals; access to members only activities; and other perks. Click on membership for more details and to purchase yours via paypal. Starting at $40.00.

7.
Looking for some extra guidance from a mentor or just savor tutorials when it comes to art? Consider our One-on-one workshop: For information on private tutorials, click on one-on-one and email your interest to hello@pyramid-atlantic.org. $150.00 for a 3-hour session.

8.
Most of our friends start out by taking classes here. Click on classes to see a complete listing, and to register and pay for yours via paypal. Starting at $120.00.

9.
T-shirt: The Pyramid Atlantic t-shirt is not just any t-shirt. Come on, everybody's doing it. To purchase, come by Pyramid Atlantic and any of our staff will be happy to assist you. We accept cash, check, and credit card. $20.00.

10.
Our holiday pulp and paper mill package is a pound of pulp and three hours of studio time. Though not a hybrid car, you may feel like you're driving one when you get such absurdly excellent paper making mileage. To purchase, see any staff member or email Gretchen Schermerhorn at gschermerhorn@pyramid-atlantic.org. $100.00.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Letterpress Calendar is Here!


The time is now to get your copy of Pyramid Atlantic's coveted Letterpress Calendar. This limited edition collaboration, now in its 5th year, features gorgeous original designs and the tactile feel found from letterpress printing. Makes a unique and thoughtful gift, with the added bonus of supporting Pyramid's programs.

2014 Pyramid Atlantic Letterpress Calendar

  • 4.25" x 11", printed on Pyramid Atlantic's Vandercook Presses on 100% cotton paper
  • Each month is designed and printed by a different artist
  • $35 each plus shipping, purchase here.
  • Or purchase in person at 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring MD
  • All proceeds go directly to Pyramid Atlantic's programs
  • More information and photos here.




Friday, November 22, 2013

Look at that Lockup!


Our studios will be brimming with activities at tonite's Make + Take, including the letterpress antique type packed poster and screen printed "Pie Lady" paper bags. Tickets are available online, or at the door.

The Letterpress Lockup
Easy-as-pie screenprinted bags


MAKE + TAKE
Friday, Nov. 22, 2014
6:00 - 9:00 pm

Admission: $10
Children under 12: $5
Eventbrite Tickets
8230 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring MD 20910

Cozy up and join us for a festive evening of art activities such as screenprinting, letterpress printing, book binding, and more! Peruse and purchase a variety of handmade gifts, like our famous annual letterpress printed calendar, handmade books and prints. To get you even more in the spirit, spicy cocktails and savory treats will be on hand. Kids are welcome, and we will have an activity planned just for them.


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Make + Take Fun!


Buy your ticket now! Friday, November 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. is our next Make + Take experience. Come for a chance to explore screenprinting, letterpress binding, book binding, and more! No prior experience is necessary, just your creative interest.

Children are encouraged to attend, and children under 12 are half price! There will be special activities for them, also.

To avoid the line and help us get started on time (and the line can get awfully cold this time of year!) register in advance on our website or at eventbrite.

This is an excellent chance to get started on your holiday gift making and buying. We'll have our annual letterpress calendar, handmade books, and prints available for sale. Zesty cocktails and sweets are included in the price of admission, which is only $10.00 for adults.

But most of all come out and have some fun, because it's time to get into the holiday spirit. We hope to see you there!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

BIG GLOVE

Glory be, those are some BIG GLOVES. Helene Baribeau's installation steals the show Autumn Colors, now on view in Takoma Park. Helene created the large sheets of handmade paper for her pieces at Pyramid during her 2012 keyholder residency.  She then hand carved each insect, and printed the dots on one of our large presses. Handprinting the bugs and sewing the gloves together were done in her home studio. Helene recently moved back to Colorado, but promises to visit often. At least to take off the gloves. Congratulations, Helene!

Helene Baribeau at the opening of Autumn Colors



















Autumn Colors
November 8 – January 5 2014
The Galleries at The Takoma Park Community Center
7500 Maple Ave
Takoma Park, MD