April Vollmer

Upcoming, current and past exhibitions.

100 Works on Paper benefit preview is here!

 

April Vollmer, Run-on, 2015

 

November 7 – December 14, 2014

NEW YORK MOKUHANGA

New York Mokuhanga at Kentler

Water-based Woodblock Prints
Curator: Florence Neal

Photos of the exhibition and printing demonstration are here.

Artists: Takuji Hamanaka, Ursula Schneider, Yasu Shibata, April Vollmer

 

 

Past Exhibitions:

February 19 to April 18, 2014
Abstract American Mokuhanga, Sheehan Gallery, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
co-curated by Keiko Hara & Akira Takemoto

May 20 to August 16, 2014
Artists’ reception: Saturday, May 10 2:00 to 4:00 pm 
Ste(a)m: Art, Science and Technology, at Arts Westchester, White Plains, NY
curated by Patricia Miranda

BENEFIT EXHIBITIONS
Across the Generations: A Benefit Auction for the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation   
Kentler International Drawing Center: 100 Works on Paper Benefit  

LECTURE and DEMONSTRATION

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Sakura Matsuri, Cherry Blossom Festival

Sunday, April 27 from 1:30 to 2:15  Main Auditorium

Welcome spring at the Botanic Garden, enjoy the spring flowers, the Japanese arts and crafts, and listen to a lecture about Japanese woodblock.

Since 1998 these yearly demonstrations have been an opportunity for the public to gain an understanding of the technical skill that goes into traditional Japanese printing, mokuhanga. It is a water-based woodblock method printed by hand, moku means wood, and hanga can be roughly translated as printmaking. It is the technique that was used to make the famous ukiy0-e “prints of the floating world.” Developed during the Edo period (1603-1868), this woodblock technique was used to print everything from books to advertisements, including the prints of Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro. The artists supplied the drawings and a group of expert craftsmen, organized by a publisher, cut the blocks and printed the color blocks one at a time to create these wonderful Japanese prints.

For more information visit the Garden’s website here.

Delirious Birds and Bees, 2007, 26 x 26 inches mokuhanga woodblock

2011-04-30-SakuraBBG

GLIMPSE Printmaking Exhibition, with Debra Pearlman
ROCK SPRINGS — The Western Wyoming Community College Art Gallery will present Glimpse, the varied work of two printmakers, April Vollmer and Debra Pearlman, March 8 through April 25.

Friday, March 8, 2013 through Thursday, April 25, 2013
Western Wyoming Community College Art Gallery
2500 College Drive
Rock Springs, Wyoming

Southern Graphics Council International Conference

March 20-23, 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hosted by: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and Peck School of the Arts (PSOA)

Portfolio Exhibition:

Material Muse: Japanese paper inspiring print

organized by Sigrid Blohm, the Japanese Paper Place

The twelve artists included in this portfolio each work differently, but all have decided to use Japanese paper because its unique characteristics enhance their own prints in some way. In choosing to print on washi – paper made by many caring hands – each artist’s work becomes a merging of creative processes, those of printmaker and papermaker, and the results are richer for it.

Elizabeth D’Agostino, Brian Curling, Catherine Farish, Karen Kunc, Kristen Martincic, Emma Nishimura, Deb Oden, Loree Ovens, Liz Parkinson, Julia Prime, April Vollmer, Erik Waterkotte

 

Grabado y Edición is a bi-lingual Spanish/English review of new ideas in printmaking. This month’s edition includes my article on the history of mokuhanga, Japanese woodblock printing. It begins with an historical overview of the use of the technique from ukioyo-e prints of the 18th Century through the sosaku individualist printmakers of the early 20th Century and ends with a discussion of the wide range of international contemporary artists who recognize the technique for its flexibility. It is illustrated with woodblock prints by Katie Baldwin, Mike Lyon, Michael Schneider, and myself.

For a pdf of this seven page article: Renaissance

To subscribe to this excellent journal visit:  Subscribe to Grabado y Edición

 

My article, Mokuhanga International, has been published in Art in Print. The article is a review of the current state of mokuhanga, Japanese woodblock technique,  in contemporary art outside Japan. It includes a brief overview of the history starting with the famous Edo period ukiy0-e prints, through the eclipse of the technique during the 20th century, and then the current renewal of interest in the technique for creative artists.

A PDF of the article can be seen here:  ArtinPrintVol2MokuhangaInternationalArticle

The updated version is on line at:  Art In Print Mokuhanga International on line

Please support this informative journal of the print world by subscribing, on line or in print, at: Art In Print on line Subscription

 

The International Art Assembly in Visegrad, Republika Srpska, is distinctive for including a group of international printmakers. The residency, held each August, is one of main cultural events for the Visegrad region. A group of established printmakers from around the world are invited for this program to work in a variety of techniques and to demonstrate their approaches to one another and the general public. This printmaking workshop has become a wide-reaching opportunity to exchange ideas and to has grown into a significant contribution to the artistic, cultural and educational stimulation of the region, as it popularizes media and ideas that are new to this part of the world. Local television stations and newspapers record the process through film and interviews that are intended to heighten public awareness. The efforts of the printmakers are deeply appreciated by the people of the region.

In addition to the workshop events, an exhibition of works made during the Assembly is presented in October in the City Gallery, Visegrad, along with a full-color catalogue of participants, their work, and a critical essay. Additional efforts have included traveling exhibitions in galleries in towns throughout Republika Serbska and Serbia and Montenegro.

I am grateful to the organizers for their invitation to Repubika Serpska, Bosnia, which faces such difficult environmental, political and religious issues after the ethnic wars of the 1990s. It was a thought provoking visit, made significant for me by the strong connections I made with my fellow printmakers.

 Photos from Visegrad

Printmaking Participants
Belgium: Dragana Franssen Bojić
Denmark: Inger Lise Rasmussen, Ann-Dorte Nielsen, Bodil Sohn
Serbia: Biljana Vukovic, Ivana Stankovic
USA: April Vollmer, Susan Provost-Dubois

Japan Print Association
Prints Tokyo 2012
International Print Exhibition Tokyo 2012
Cupola digital and woodblock print on washi
80th Anniversary Exhibition
at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
nominated by Yoshie Uchida
October 15 to 19, 2012

Prints Tokyo Website

UNCOVERED: Prints
Selections from the Kentler Flatfiles

CURATOR: Sallie Mize

ARTISTS:
Tomie Arai, Barbara Bondy, Hedwig Brouckaert, Ken Buhler
Andrea Callard, Beth Caspar, Philip Chen, Aaron Drew, Georg Ettl
Jessie Nebraska Gifford, Charles Hancock, John Himmelfarb, Leslie Kerby
Jiri Kornatovsky, Karen Kunc, Simon Lewandowski, Luce, Stephen Maine
Karen Helga Maurstig, Florence Neal, Debra Pearlman, Andra Samelson
Susan Schwalb, Robert Sestok, Kiki Smith, Christine Staehelin
Mary Ting, April Vollmer, Ruth Wetzel

 

 

 

 

June 8 – July 22, 2012

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, June 8, 6-8pm

March 14 to 17, 2012
New Orleans Conference

Southern Graphics Council International took place in New Orleans this year. I had work in “The Print Booked” exhibition, a show that included an amazing variety of artist books curated by artist Maddy Rosenberg from gallery artists who show at her gallery Central Booking in Brooklyn, NY.

I also had a woodblock print in John Dreisback’s Tangled Portfolio.

Tangled Portfolio, organized by Johntimothy Pizzuto and John Driesbach
Prints are all 15 x 15 inches, bleed edged
The theme of the conference is “Navigating Currents” this portfolio interprets the theme as navigating life.”

Website: sginternational.org

2012-SGC New Orleans Photos

 

 

 

Gallery Onetwentyeight
February 1 – 26, 2012
Opening Reception Thursday, February 2, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
128 Rivington Street, on New York’s lower east side, between Essex and Norfolk Streets
Gallery Onetwentyeight is one of the oldest galleries in the neighborhood, managed by artist Kazuko Miyamoto. The gallery shows a mix of international and local artists, and has provided space for many lower east side artists since the 1980’s when the neighborhood was much different.

Website: galleryonetwentyeight.org

Torso #5, 2011, 24 x 16, digital and silkscreen on washi mounted on wood panel
 
exhibition photos:

Onetwentyeight AV

International Focus: The First International Mokuhanga Conference, Kyoto, by April Vollmer, was published in the Fall 2011 edition of Graphic Impressions, the Newsletter of Southern Graphics Council International. The article reviews the various demonstrations, exhibitions and banquets at the conference, which took place in Kyoto and then at Tadao Ando’s Westin Conference Center on Awaji Island.

 
 
 

Photo is from the Jarfo exhibition of IMC Board Members at the conference.
Migration, digital and woodblock on washi, 32 x 26 inches

Link to article:
Graphic Impressions Fall 2011

Idaho State University
Transition Gallery at Pond Student Union
921 South 8th Avenue, Stop 8118, Pocatello, ID 83209
Works on Paper – Prints by April Vollmer
and artist books from NW Guild of Bookworkers
Reception: October 10 from 7:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m.
October 10 to November 11, 2011

“Inhale” Exhibition at Transition Gallery, Idaho State University

Robert Blackburn Printmaking Studio

323 West 39th Street
New York, NY 10018

Through NOV. 6, 2011
Opening reception: Friday, October 14, 2011, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Closing reception: Friday, November 4, 2011, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Blackburn 20/20 is an exhibition space operated by Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop. RBPMW 2011 Annual Member Show is an exhibition featuring the work of current RBPMW members showcasing a variety of fine art printmaking techniques: lithographs, etchings, woodcuts, artist books and digital prints.

June 7 to 12, 2011

First International Mokuhanga Conference, Japan
Exhibitions and Paper Presentations in Kyoto and Awaji, Japan
First International Mokuhanga Conference Website

The First International Mokuhanga Conference took place in Japan, June 7-12, 2011 in Kyoto and Awaji. The conference was a unique opportunity to meet artists from Japan and around the world who work with Japanese woodblock. This event was designed to generate a renewed interest in mokuhanga, preserving technical skills and bringing them into contemporary use. The conference brought together professional print artists, art educators and scholars in the field of woodblock printmaking to exchange current research information and experiences with Japanese traditional craftspeople including printmakers, tool makers, papermakers and other suppliers.

In addition to talks and demonstrations, the Mokuhanga Conference included an exhibition of the Board Members, an international mokuhanga exhibition, an artist’s print book exhibition, and a portfolio show. Other related events and woodblock print exhibitions in Kyoto during the conference are listed on the conference website.

More details of the conference are available at www.mokuhanga.jp

Illustration: Protector, 2005, 24 x 24 inch mokuhanga woodblock, created at the Nagasawa Art Park, Japan, exhibited at the Nagasawa Art Park exhibition at the Kyoto Art Center.

This is a link to my photographs documenting the conference exhibitions, demonstrations, talks and banquets.

2011-06 International Mokuhanga Conference

2011-06-29-Papermaking

July 19 – August 13, 2011
Ceres Gallery
547 West 27th Street
Suite 201
New York, NY 10001
212-947-6100
www.ceresgallery.org

 

 

 

 

 

Since February I have been at a residency at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, Colorado. This has been a wonderful opportunity to create new work in a beautiful place. The Ranch sponsors 14 artists ten-week residencies each winter, in ceramics, woodworking, digital art, painting and printmaking.  I am sharing the generous printmaking studio with artist Johanna Mueller. I have had the opportunity to work in the digital media studio, where I have made new digital prints on Gozen Japanese washi to print with woodblock. I have also taken advantage of their woodworking shop to create new work on panels. Photos of my work at the Ranch are posted here:

Anderson Ranch Residency

Photos of my first weeks at Anderson ranch are also documented in the Anderson Ranch Arts Center blog: Anderson Ranch Blog

Guanajuato 2010: woodblock prints by Carol Summers, Hugo Anaya, Karen Kunc and more from the Boston Printmakers collaborative workshop in Mexico
February 4 – March 26, 2011
Receptions: First Friday, February 4, 5:30-8pm
First Friday, March 4, 5:30-8pm
Demonstrations and talks to be scheduled
Laconia Gallery
433 Harrison Avenue
Boston MA 02118
For details contact curators: Candy Nartonis c.nartonis@verizon.net or Ky Ober kyrober@earthlink.net

Arnold Klein Gallery
32782 N. Woodward Avenue
Royal Oak, MI 48073
e-mail: kak@tir.com
website: Arnold Klein Gallery

December 3, 2010, we will open our final group show, which will hang till the middle of January. We have been honored to hang work by these and many other artists over the years. Please come and join us in celebrating the work and the friendship that we have shared. The reception will be from 6:00 – 8:00.

Artists:
Coco Bruner, Dick Cruger, Robert Edwards, Sara Frank, Tracy Gallup, Susan Gold, Carole Harris, Ann Hjelle, Bob Jacobson, Barrett Klein, Karen Klein, Karin Klue, Kip Kowalski, Ed Meese, Robert Mirek, Maceo Mitchell, Guillio Palone, Megan Parry, Catherine Peet, Elaine Redmond, Lynn Shaler, A.G. Smith, Nelson Smith, Dennis Summers, Donella Vogel, April Vollmer, Pat Wynne

The final event before we close will be on Valentine’s day, February 14, 2011, which is our 40th anniversary. On that evening we will have a special show. There will be valentines and refreshments. Please come and say a final farewell to the gallery.

NEW PRINTS 2010/Autumn, International Print Center New York

508 West 26th Street, Room 5A, NYC
October 21 to November 20, 2010
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 21, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
IPCNY Autumn Press Release

Illustrated Checklist available here.

A 10^th ANNIVERSARY EVENT!

International Print Center New York presents New Prints 2010/Autumn in its gallery at 508 West 26^th Street, Room 5A, between 10^th and 11^th Avenues in Chelsea. On view from October 21 – November 20, the show consists of forty-three pieces by forty-three emerging to established artists, selected from a pool of some 1,500 submissions. A reception with the artists will be held at IPCNY on Thursday, October 21, from 6-8 pm.

Please note that IPCNY has relocated to Room 5-A, 508 West 26th Street in Chelsea.

The Selections Committee for New Print 2010/Autumn included Jennifer McGregor, curator, Wave Hill; Katie Michel, The Grenfell Press, printer and collector;John Newman, artist; and Martina Yamin, paper conservator.

New Prints 2010/Autumn is the thirty-seventh presentation of IPCNY’s New Prints Program, a series ofjuried exhibitions organized by IPCNY four times each year, featuring prints made within the past twelve months by artists at all stages of their careers.  The Exhibition represents a cross-section of some of the most exceptional printmaking today while continuing IPCNY’s commitment to provide an ongoing exhibition venue for contemporary prints and a major source of information about artists working in the medium.

The complete artists’ list is as follows: Jebah Baum, Joell Baxter, Jarrod Beck, Anne Beresford, Håkan Berg, Derek Boshier, Lisa Bulawsky, Victoria Burge, Walter Buttrick, Onyedika Chuke, Ann Conner, Michael Dal Cerro, Bruce Davenport, Jr., Donna Diamond, Sara Eichner, Sara Farrell Okamura, Gary Groves, Kevin Haas, Takuji Hamanaka, Mary Hood, Anita S. Hunt, Isaiah King, Michael Loderstedt, Nichole Maury, Frederick Mershimer, Mitch Mitchell, Carol Montgomery, Sean P. Morrissey, James Mustin III, Lisa Nankivil, Alice O’Neill,  Ryan Parker, Sarah Plimpton, William Powhida, Ross Racine, Jimena NoemíRamos García, Scott Reeds, John-Mark Schlink, Shino Soma, Fulvio Tomasi, April Vollmer, Carolyn Webb, and Judy Youngblood.

Highlights of New Prints 2010/Autumn include: Jebah Baum’s Prime I / Blue Orb, a bold woodblock of graphic, circular forms in an overlapping pattern; Frederick Mershimer’s Moonlight, a masterful mezzotint that depicts the reflections of the moon over the ocean; Brewster, a nine-color reduction linoleum cut of a staring, blue-eyed creature, by Walter Buttrick; Bruce Davenport, Jr.’s Crusaders, a lithograph of a New Orleans junior high school marching band in formation; and an intricate mapping of constellations in Montana Night, made with photopolymer intaglio by Victoria Burge.

In addition to the many independent artists included in this show, the presses, publishers  and printshops represented are: Flowers Gallery, London; The Grenfell Press; Groveland Editions; Lower East Side Printshop; Print (vb.n.), London; Protophorm Press; Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop; and Streetside Editions.

An illustrated brochure with a curatorial essay by Katie Michel will accompany the Exhibition.

Printopolis Conference at Open Studio, Toronto
Mokuhanga, Beyond the Basics Exhibition and Demonstration
Presenters: Elizabeth Forrest and April Vollmer

Printopolis Event Photos

Demonstration – Mokuhanga: Beyond the Basics
This demonstration goes beyond the basics of mokuhanga and offers the unique perspectives of two experienced practitioners. Vollmer will demonstrate the use of kento registration notches cut directly in the block and how to repeatedly print multiple blocks to illustrate the process of creating an image that is larger and more complex than can be made from straightforward printing from a single set of blocks. Forrest will demonstrate pigment layering and bokashi—the blending of colours and values—recommending various approaches to overcome printing challenges, such as accurate registration and use of binders to permit crisp, separated colour superimposition. This demo is relevant to printmakers with some previous knowledge of mokuhanga.

Exhibition – Mokuhanga and Beyond
This is an exhibition of contemporary Mokuhanga, Japanese water-base woodblock printing, curated by Elizabeth Forrest and April Vollmer. The show features nine artists from Canada, the USA and Europe who use the technique to create personal prints. All have been profoundly influenced by the woodblock tradition of Japan, and many have studied there. Each artist incorporates essential elements of the technique, the precise cutting and registration, control of color, and printing on handmade Japanese washi, in the creation of new work. The show focuses on the way each artist uses the technique to further an individual vision, giving the tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking new vitality by creating challenging contemporary art that could be made in no other way.

The artists included are:

Jacomijn den Engelsen, Holland
Elizabeth Forrest, Canada
Daniel Heyman, USA
Dariuz Kaca, Poland
Mike Lyon, USA
Tuula Moilanen, Finland/Japan
Eva Pietzcker, Germany
April Vollmer, USA
Barbara Wybou, Canada