Spudnik Press Cooperative is excited to kick off the new year with new staff! Susannah Papish has joined the Spudnik Press team as Program Director. As an artist, a curator, and an educator, Susannah brings an abundance of experience to our organization. Please be sure to say hello the next time you visit our studio!

Our staff decided to put together a little interview to help our community get to know her:

Angee: What excites you the most about joining the Spudnik Press Cooperative family?

Susannah: Working with artists and creative people everyday!  I think of this position as part collaboration, part interaction and lots of generative thinking.

Tara: Can you talk about a specific instance when you have been significantly affected, influenced, changed by a work of art?

Jess: If you could sit down to dinner with any artist in the world – alive or not – who would it be and why?

Susannah: Tough one, but I must say Louise Bourgeois.  Why–I love the way her work takes on so many different forms and how she brings in psychological content.  For me personally, I would love to talk to her about being a woman working hard in the art world during an even more male-dominated period and juggling parenthood along with being an artist.  Her deep experience with her work and all kinds of artists is endlessly interesting to me.

Mike: If you didn’t work in the arts, what other career/job could you see yourself pursuing?

Susannah: A librarian!  I love research and libraries.  I was actually set to attend a MLIS (masters in library and information sciences) program a couple of years ago, but I deferred for various reasons and then re-thought my career path.

Jess: Do you have pets? If so, can you introduce them to us? (We are pet people here at Spudnik)

I have four cats:  Eli, king of the castle, Panda, named for the black rings around her eyes, Poppy, a long hair tortoise who looks like she’s going burst into bloom, Margaret, “Margi” (hard g), sometimes called “Sister Margaret of Sorrows”  because she cries all the time and is mostly black with a little white like a nun’s habit.

Mike: Do you have any hobbies/What do you do in you free time (assuming you have any to begin with)?

Susannah: Ha, yeah not a lot of free time!  Outside of work, I run a contemporary project space called boundary.  It’s in my garage and we opened in June 2017.  We’ve shown local, national & international artists.  I also have my own studio practice as painter.  I am also a mom–which is not a hobby, but keeps me quite busy along with everything else!

Tara: What’s your desert island album? (Stranded on a desert island, one album for the rest of your life.)

In our efforts to make Spudnik Press increasingly accessible, we’ve made some changes to the authorization process to introduce new artists and makers to our organization and facilities. As always, anyone interested in simply checking out the space is welcome to stop in and take a look around during any of our business hours or open studio sessions.

If you are an experienced printer looking to use our facilities, we ask that you attend an Authorization Session.

Authorization sessions include:

• General Studio Tour
• Overview of our programs that provide ongoing support to artists and makers
• Discussion of prior printing experiences to determine if minimum requirements for authorization are met
• Brief operational and safety demonstration on equipment and processes specific to the needs of the attendees

Once authorized, artists can take advantage of Open Studio or other Studio Access Programs. Artists may stay and print immediately upon completion of authorization. However, we recommend getting authorized well in advance of any project deadlines.

NEW 2019 Authorization Schedule:

Mondays: 7:00pm sharp
Fridays: 1:00pm sharp

You are welcome to drop in for authorization sessions, but it’s helpful if you RSVP to let us know that you are coming and what process(es) you want to be authorized for. Just email info@spudnikpress.org or call 312-563-0302.

Letterpress Authorizations requires scheduling a hands-on printing session with a Teaching Artist. This 3-hour session costs $125. Email info@spudnikpress.org to schedule an authorization.This requirement can occasionally be waived by providing a reference who can speak to the qualifications of the printer.

Hope to see you soon!

Spudnik Press Cooperative seeks a highly organized, outgoing, and collaborative individual to balance program development, education, and administrative responsibilities. The Program Director will bring leadership and strategic vision to educational and public programs by managing the following programs: Membership Program, Residency Program, Fellowship Program, Exhibitions, Education and Youth Programs. For each of these programs, the Program Director will manage budgets, orchestrate all logistics from planning through execution, create marketing materials, staff and document events, lead assessment processes, set objectives and continually push these programs to better achieve our mission and serve our constituents. The organization has intentionally made pathways through these and other programs, so the ability to formulate, organize and monitor inter-connected projects is essential.

Activities with these program areas include but are not limited portfolio reviews, private off-site tours, panel discussions, youth workshops, classes and workshops for adults, exhibitions, artist talks, and art sales. In order to successfully manage these programs and activities, the Program Director should be prepared to develop partnerships with peer organizations, curate and install exhibitions, manage member and board committees, and supervise staff and interns. The Program Director will also personally mentor participants in our Fellowship program through leading a weekly professional development seminar.

Through the various programs managed by the Program Director, they will be tasked with expanding the scope and depth of our membership program, and working closely with members to expand the breadth of community participation and diversify our cooperative.

Additionally, all staff at Spudnik Press assist with general office management, serve on fundraising committees, assist with outreach events, and cultivate relationships with potential clients, partners, and donors. Staff contributes to special projects as needed, and are involved in the planning and execution of Strategic Plans.

This is a fast-paced job that requires impeccable organization, project management skills, teamwork, and executive decision-making. Our work is guided by a shared commitment to consistency and reliability, true dedication to our ever-growing community, and bringing creative and conceptual thinking to our work. Spudnik Press staff are expected to bring passion and integrity to their work by building meaningful relationships with the artists, makers, students, teachers, and supporters that are part of the Spudnik Press community.

This leadership position will collaborate and work closely with the Executive Director to execute Spudnik Press Cooperative’s mission to provide facilities and services to anyone who wishes to be creative through print.

Key Skills & Qualifications:

• Public programming experience, from ideation through execution and assessment
• Management experience, or has served in a leadership, supervisor, and/or mentor role
• Has professional experience working with non-profit organizations in an administrative capacity (3+ years preferred)
• Has professional experience working at a print-related studio or organization (preferred)
• Familiarity with and appreciation for fine art print making (required) with hands-on experience making prints (preferred)
• Proven commitment to visual arts and Chicago artists.
• Outgoing demeanor and strong communication skills
• Outstanding organizational skills
• Strong writing skills for both internal and external audiences through grant, proposal, or press release writing
• Experience creating and maintaining budgets
• Experience using a database
• Curatorial and exhibitions experience

Working Environment:

• Shared office within high-energy print making studio
• Staff consists of two full-time and three part-time employees
• This position typically requires 9am – 5pm Monday-Friday schedule with occasional nights and weekends.    
• Occasional remote work is acceptable

Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include three weeks paid time off, plus six paid holidays per year. Additionally, all staff receive waived tuition for all Spudnik Press classes, and unlimited access to all materials and equipment.

To Apply:

• Please send e-mail with cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to angee@spudnikpress.org.
• Application review will begin October 22.

Download the Program Director Job Description

Spudnik Press Cooperative is excited to debut many new 2018 Editions at EXPO Chicago (Navy Pier, September 27 – 30). Please visit booth #461 to see and learn about the many special projects we have completed with local and national artists throughout 2018.

Featured Artists:

Amanda Williams
Elijah Burhger
William J O’Brien
Faheem Majeed
Claire Ashley
Judith Brotman
Lilli Carré
Dana Carter
Jonathan Herrera
Richard Hull
Raeleen Kao
Chad Kouri
Judy Ledgerwood
Miller & Shellabarger
Paul Nudd
Steve Reinke
Kay Rosen
Alice Tippit
Orkideh Torabi
Brittney Leeanne Williams

EXPO Chicago will also be the first public viewing of New Printmaker Collection, a collaborative portfolio featuring Chicago Artist Coalition alumni, Benjamin Larose (Featured exhibition in CAC Booth #174), Roni Packer, and Caroline Liu.

In addition, our flat files will include select work from our Residency Program, publications, Ten x Ten collections, and additional Fine Art Editions by Jereon Nelemans, Edie Fake, David Leggett, and others.

EXPO Chicago Sneak Preview:

Brittney Leanne Williams
Untitled, 2018
Intaglio
12″ x 13″

Richard Hull
Spud, 2018
Sugarlift Aquatint
17″ x 20″

Elijah Burgher
Untitled, 2017
Unique Letterpress Pressure Print
23.5” x 18”

Judith Brotman
Life in Progress (Your favorite color is), 2018
Screenprint with blind debossment
11” x 11.75”

William J O’Brien
Untitled, 2018
6 layer screenprint
19″ x 22″

The New Printmaker Collection:

Coquille #1, Benjamin Larose
What if I don’t remember any of it?, Caroline Liu
Yellow, Again, Roni Packer

Learn more about EXPO Chicago

Our 2018 Annual Benefit: Bad Wedding is just around the corner and we are thrilled to present an art auction line-up like no other, with work by some of the most notable and rising artists of Chicago, including Spudnik Press’s very own members!

Congratulations to Julia Arredondo, Elke Claus, Ben Garbus, David Krzeminski, Lialia Kuchma, Carron Little, Dutes Miller, Yasaman Moussavi, Jill Ruzicka, Emily Shopp, Junli Song, and Tara Zanzig, whose artwork was selected by guest juror and esteemed colleague Oli Watt to be featured in the Member Section of our benefit. Member work selected for the auction on Saturday, October 20th will be professionally framed and photographed for inclusion in our online auction via Paddle8, to be released October 1st.

Don’t delay and purchase your tickets today!

The Annual Benefit Auction is our largest fundraiser of the year, which raises upwards of $20,000 to be invested in our studio and programs.  This year’s event, Bad Wedding, promises to be a light-hearted art party that incorporates campy adaptations of all the best matrimonial traditions. This carefully curated reception-style event will feature craft cocktails, live entertainment and exceptional art.

Spudnik Press Cooperative and the Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) is thrilled to announce the second year of their project “The New Printmakers Collection: A Collaboration between Spudnik Prints Cooperative and the Chicago Artists Coalition.” The program is designed to offer collectors a portfolio of prints by three artists on the rise. The artists invited to participate are new to printmaking, and all are former residents of CAC’s BOLT or HATCH programs, which offer solo and group exhibition’s, respectively. This year’s artists include Benjamin Larose (BOLT 2017-18), Caroline Liu (HATCH 2017-18), and Roni Packer (BOLT 2017-18).

“By working with artists whom are not accustomed to printmaking, we are able to develop fresh and unique prints while providing the featured artists the opportunity to work with a master printer to produce new work otherwise beyond their means. We have truly enjoyed finding inventive ways to capture the essential elements of an artist’s practice whose work is typically in media as disparate as photography, fiber arts, and installation,” said Angee Lennard, Founder and Director of Spudnik.

This program is generously supported by collector Browne Goodwin, who began his own collection by acquiring prints. “Prints are often very affordable, easy to store, and well-suited for hanging in a home – enabling more people to share the adventure of collecting the art of their time,” explained Goodwin.

Prints may be purchased individually or as a collection packaged with a colophon and an archival portfolio. Prints are each 11×15″ on archival cotton paper. Edition of 14. Prints will be available on CAC’s and Spudnik’s websites for a reduced price during the pre-sale, running September 6-26. After September 26, prints will be for sale at full price.

The Chicago Artists Coalition is a non-profit organization that supports contemporary Chicago artists and curators by offering residency programs, exhibitions, professional development and resources that enable them to live, work and thrive in the city. CAC is deeply committed to advancing the cause of art and its importance in Chicago’s culture and economy by cultivating a wide-reaching civic, philanthropic and public support network.

Spudnik Press Cooperative is excited to introduce the recipients of the 2018 Residency. This summer, we welcome Carris Adams, Holly Cahill, and artist couple Tom Christison and Anita Jung. Each residency will be modified to adapt to the interests and needs of the individual participants, while providing them with the artistic and financial support necessary to create new bodies of print-based artwork.

During their time spent with us, the four artists will partake in a variety of public programs and professional opportunities, as well as activate our space with different happenings during the Chicago Print Crawl on Sunday, June 24, 2018.

2018 Resident Artists

Carris Adams

Carris Adams is a visual artist whose practice visually investigates markers of “domesticated space”. The conceptually multi-layered works seek to inform and position viewers to recognize their assumptions, recall an experience and perhaps note how societal markers materialize in the landscape. Adams received her BFA from the University of Texas at Austin (2013) and her MFA from the University of Chicago (2015). Adams’s work has been exhibited at The Studio Museum in Harlem ( New York, NY) , The Logan Center Exhibitions at The University of Chicago (Chicago, IL), Produce Model Gallery (Chicago, IL) Tiger Strikes Asteroid Gallery (Chicago,IL) and The Courtyard Gallery at The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX).

Holly Cahill

Trained as a painter, Holly Cahill uses an exploration of materials and process to engage with ideas connected to choreography, landscape, hyper-dimensional phenomena, and architecture. Her work has been shown at Penn State University, DEMO Project, Chicago Artist Coalition, the David and Reva Logan Center for the Arts, D Gallery, The Franklin, the Hyde Park Art Center, and the Walter Philips Gallery in Banff Canada, among others. She received her BFA in painting from Syracuse University and an MFA from the University of Cincinnati. She has been an artist in residence at the Vermont Studio Center, 8550 Ohio, the Banff Centre, and Ox-Bow. Holly is an artist member of the newest branch of Tiger Strikes Asteroid in Chicago.

Tom Christison & Anita Jung

Tom Christison and Anita Jung are an artist couple who maintain separate studios and studio practices. Both artists explore an aesthetic and political practice that involves recycling and fragmentation. Their work comes from a dedicated practice of making in a world that seems to continuously be on the brink of self- destruction.

Tom Christison is a master of lithography and monotype processes, which he uses to create detailed fantastical prints about life cycles, passages of time, regeneration, and the food chain. Christison’s work may be found in numerous permanent collections including the Corcoran, Washington, DC, The National Museum of American Art, Washington, D.C., the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Dresden Academy of Fine Art, Kupferstichkabinett, Germany, Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris, India Habitat Center, New Delhi, India, among others. He has taught printmaking and drawing at McNeese State University in Louisiana, Ohio University, The University of Tennessee- Knoxville, Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the University of Iowa. He has also been part of the Master Printmaker in Residence Program at the Robert Blackburn Print Workshop in New York City and a resident at the Plain Museum of Art in Fargo, North Dakota. He maintains a private print workshop, Sandhill Press in Iowa City, Iowa, where his investigations into printmaking take place. Christison studied printmaking and drawing at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Arizona State University in Tempe, where he received an MFA in printmaking.

Anita Jung is a professor at the University of Iowa. She previously taught printmaking, drawing and installation courses at Illinois State University, Ohio University and University of Tennessee. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Arizona State University where she majored in painting and drawing. The Master of Fine Arts was awarded to her from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she worked with Bill Weegee as a printer at Off Jones Road and Tandem Press. Jung has also participated in the international IMPACT conferences in Poznan, Berlin and Tallinn. She was awarded a residency at the renowned Proyecto’ace atelier in Buenos Aires, Argentina, culminating in the exhibition Cuentos de Hadas (Fairytale). Her works of art have been exhibited throughout the United States in juried, invitational and solo exhibitions. Her art has been widely exhibited in juried, invitational and one-person exhibitions throughout the U.S. as well as India, Argentina, Iceland, Puerto Rico, China, England, Germany and Poland.

Image (left to right): Holly Cahill, Through the Eaves, 2013 (detail); Tom Christison, Turnbuckle, 2014-2015 (detail); Anita Jung, Jali Sunyata 27, 2017 (detail); Carris Adams, Bone No. 12 (Abassi), 2016 (detail).

Last June, Spudnik Press Cooperative entered our 10th year or programming. When we reached this milestone, we announced our goal of raising $65,000 from individuals and businesses by June 2018. We are already 80% to our goal and need your support to raise the final $12,833 by June 30, 2018.

Support the Campaign

Your donations are enabling:

• Free and low-cost professional development opportunities like portfolio reviews and off-site visits.

• Free and low-cost youth programs.

• Expanded opportunities for professional artists through our revamped Fellowship Program.

• Expanded Residency Program that brings accomplished artists to Chicago to produce prints, teach, and exhibit.

• A Reserve Fund to ensure stability and resiliency for years to come.

We are excited to introduce The Frame Shop, our newest business sponsor!

Their staff says “Every great artist needs an equally great support system behind them,” and that’s part of why they have committed to offering our members discounted framing services. The Frame Shop staff are seasoned designers and framing consultants who have decades of experience. Plus many are practicing artists that understand the challenges of finding the best way to present your artwork with a limited budget.

Many Thanks to The Frame Shop!

What does this mean for you? Anyone who becomes or renews their membership before 12/31/18 receives:

• Complimentary 5″ x 7″ frame
• One time “Buy one, get one” framing discount for all first-time customers of The Frame Shop
• 20% off all framing through 12/31/2018.

But wait, there is more! Join Spudnik Press today and your membership dues will support the tail end of our 10th Anniversary Campaign. This year-long fundraising effort is allowing our studio to expand our professional development opportunities and establish a reserve fund to ensure we are resilient for years to come.

Member or not, we encourage everyone to support The Frame Shop – a local businesses that is dedicating to supporting their community!

Join the Community! Become a Member!

This year, we are very excited to introduce a fun new summer event (drum roll) the Chicago Print Crawl! The Chicago Print Crawl is self-guided tour of printmaking production, publishing, exhibition and sales venues throughout the city of Chicago.

Sunday, June 24

12-6pm, 6-8pm after party

Naturally, Spudnik will rock our spot from the parking lot to the third floor with a food trucks, cold beverages, a member market, shop tours and print activities. Escape the heat at Low Res Studios at 6pm, when the member market turns after party!

Details to come, stay tuned!