This spring has been busy. I am still rebounding from a few quiet years around covid and caregiving, but now I am grateful to have work in several shows and to be participating in some talks and classes. More information always on my website www.aprilvollmer.comRecorded Talk from April 29
I was especially pleased to be invited to participate in a panel Print Room Culture: Thwarting Expectation and Edition at the Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation with a slide talk “Prints and Community on the Lower East Side 1986 to 2004.” I recorded a twenty minute video of my portion for my Youtube channel here.
May 2- July 13, 2025, Walla Walla, Washington
Exhibition Reception May 2 from 5:30-7:30
Watermarks, works from the Mokuhanga Project Space residency, opens at Foundry Vineyards Gallery, 1111 Abadie St., Walla Walla. The exhibition showcases prints made by artists who have taken part in residencies since summer 2023, 12 artists in five separate 10-day residencies, with more to come. Co-directors are Keiko Hara and Lynn Sealey. I was in residence during January 2024 and have three works in the show.
April 29 – May 6, 2025, Iga, Japan
Light Art Exhibition 11, organized by Tomoko Amaki Abe at an old Samurai school from the Edo period, featuring artists’ works from Japan and abroad. Grateful to be included with three mokuhanga/digital prints in this beautiful installation. Tomoko will give a short talk with the film “Breaking Glass” directed by Jessica Levin and Alexander Krause. More information about the location and artists here.
Saturday, May 31, 1 – 4pm, Red Hook Brooklyn
Demonstration: EXPLORING MOKUHANGA in the Kentler Flatfiles
Contributors: April Vollmer, Cameron Bailey, Patty Hudak & Florence Neal
Location: Kentler International Drawing Space, 353 Van Brunt St. Brooklyn, NY 11231
Admission: $25 suggested donation
Come discover the ancient Japanese woodblock technique of mokuhanga at Kentler! Artist contributors will introduce the process and tools, perform demonstrations, and discuss contemporary mokuhanga prints from the Kentler Flatfiles. Artworks by international artists will be available for sale, along with books by organizer April Vollmer. A short reception will follow the event.
June 21 and 22, 2025
Class: Lower East Side Printshop Mokuhanga2-Day Weekend Workshop, 10am – 4pm
Fee: $425 including all materials (blocks, paper and the loan of tools) and 12 hours of studio time
This class is an introduction to traditional Japanese woodblock printing for contemporary artists. Each person will cut and print an edition of color prints to learn about this non-toxic technique. Mokuhanga provides precise registration and great control over color and a connection to an important chapter in the history of printmaking. We will cut blocks during the first half of class and print during the second half. Each class will begin with a discussion of a different aspect of Japanese woodblock. (FYI: Takuji Hamanaka will follow with a six week mokuhanga class in August.)
Sending my warmest regards to all.