Call for Art Donations

Spudnik Press invites our creative community to support our upcoming year-end fundraiser through art donations. 

Donated pieces will be displayed for sale at the Annex gallery wall during an art showcase happening in December 2023.

Artwork Details

• 2-dimensional artwork, measuring 6×9 inches
• Can be made with any medium (drawing, painting, screenprint, etc.)
• Art will be displayed unframed
• Please sign your artwork on the back (artists will remain anonymous until sold)
• All art donations will have the same selling price during the event
• Unsold pieces will stay with Spudnik Press to be showcased and sold onsite or in future events

Important Dates

• Mail-in deadline for art donations: please bring your art donations to the post office by November 27, 2023
• Drop-off deadline for art donations: December 4, 2023
• You may bring your art donations to the studio from Monday-Thursday from 10am to 10pm, and Friday-Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
• You can sign-up to volunteer to help us set-up the gallery wall on December 6, 2023 by sending an email to info@spudnikpress.org
• Fundraising Event: December 8, 2023 (Friday)

Your Art Matters

Your art contributions will help keep Spudnik Press open and accessible to all who want to be creative through printmaking and beyond.

Every donation that we gather, in-kind or monetary, sustains our goal of offering affordable and diverse classes, providing more creative opportunities, and fostering a vibrant and inclusive community.

This is your donation’s impact. Thank you for your support!

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in Spudnik Press’s history.

As we continue to evolve and grow, we are delighted to introduce Spudnik’s new visual branding, which includes a fresh logo, a vibrant color palette, and a contemporary typeface, all designed to reflect our continued commitment to diversity, accessibility, and the art of printmaking and beyond.

Along with embracing a new visual identity, we are also sharing our updated mission statement, crafted with the help of our community.

Taking inspiration from a stack of paper and a speech bubble, we created a more simplified voice for Spudnik Press.

A Fresh New Look:

Our visual branding has been refreshed to better represent who we are and what we stand for. Inspired by the conversations and collaborations about art that brew within and outside the Spudnik Press studio, our new logo is a symbol of creativity, camaraderie, and the power of printmaking. The shapes symbolize a stack of paper, our common ground in art-creation, and a dialogue bubble — staying true to Spudnik’s core of being a welcoming and approachable environment.

Distinctive Color Palette and Typeface:

We believe that art has the power to bridge gaps and bring people from all walks of life together. Our new color palette is a reflection of this belief, with a bolder and expanded blend of colors that celebrate the beauty of our differences. Our choice of typeface is clean, modern, and highly legible, ensuring that our communications are accessible to all. It reflects our commitment to transparency, clarity, and effective storytelling.

New typefaces were selected to reflect the new visual identity of Spudnik and to build stronger communication.

The designer for our rebranding project is Teaching Artist Riesling Dong. Riesling is a book artist and graphic designer who has been teaching Risography and Letterpress classes at Spudnik Press.

Brand Personality: Spudnik is creative, supportive, and knowledgeable.

Brand Voice: Spudnik’s brand voice is encouraging and approachable.

It has always been embedded in Spudnik’s mission to build a stronger and more inclusive community using the democratic and empowering medium of printmaking. Moving forward, we aim to continue this beyond printmaking. With the help of a dedicated committee of staff and board members, and insightful community feedback that were present at the beginning and tail-end of the process, we have a renewed mission statement that reflects what Spudnik Press does for the printmakers and beyond.  Our renewed commitment to this mission is unwavering:

Spudnik Press is a community of artists and makers engaged with the art of print.

Through collaboration, education, and access to professional equipment, Spudnik creates an environment that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds into the studio.

Grounded in printmaking’s history of social impact, Spudnik is committed to accessibility, equity, anti-racist ideals, and advocating for positive change.

Our new mission statement reflects our dedication to fostering creativity, championing diverse perspectives, and using art as a force for positive change in our community. Whether you’re an artist, a supporter, or someone seeking artistic inspiration, we invite you to join us in this exciting journey.

The logo has multiple lockups that were defined for different scenarios, to accommodate a wide range of usage.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to our incredible community for your continued support as Spudnik went through challenges and organizational transitions. We also anticipate questions from you and our next step is to put together an FAQ addendum to this post for additional information relevant to our rebrand and mission statement update.

Stay tuned for more updates, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved!

With gratitude,

Yang Pulongbarit-Cuevo

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Programs at Spudnik Press are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Builder’s Initiative.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Please note that the studio is NOT furnished with shelving and furniture.

Status:

Available October 1, 2023

Rent:

Amenities:

Everyone’s safety is important to us. Participation in this program requires being onsite at Spudnik Press Cooperative and that per our Covid-19 Policy, all artists accepted into the program will be required to provide staff with proof of vaccination. Where possible, we will make reasonable accommodations for artists with a medical or religious exemption.

Please note that the studio is NOT furnished with shelving and furniture.

Status:

Available October 1, 2023

Rent:

Amenities:

Everyone’s safety is important to us. Participation in this program requires being onsite at Spudnik Press Cooperative and that per our Covid-19 Policy, all artists accepted into the program will be required to provide staff with proof of vaccination. Where possible, we will make reasonable accommodations for artists with a medical or religious exemption.

Spudnik Press is currently accepting applications for 2023-2024 Teaching Artists in our studio. They will lead *core curriculum classes as well as special topic courses at our studio. We are prioritizing the following topics: Letterpress, Relief & Monoprinting, and Book Arts, but welcome applications for all of our disciplines. 

Teaching Artists will fulfill *core educational offerings at Spudnik Press through teaching introductory and advanced classes, private lessons, and have the opportunity to develop unique classes or workshops that build upon their personal artistic practice. 

Teaching Artists will accrue experience in teaching varied groups and build on their personal art practice through their full access to Spudnik Press facilities, where they can also be collaborative and make lasting connections within our community.

*Core classes have existing syllabuses available and Teaching Artists are welcome to execute them as-written or propose modifications.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Enthusiastic about printmaking and co learning 
• Minimum one (1) year teaching experience preferred
• Familiarity with Google Workspace applications
• Located in the Chicago metropolitan area with reliable transportation to and from our studio, located at 1821 W Hubbard
• Able to commit a minimum of 12 hours per month  
• Experience developing and implementing a structured and responsive class curriculum
• Self driven, independent work ethic in various printmaking skill sets 
• Reliable and committed communicator 

COMPENSATION

• $160 for a one-day workshop (includes 3 hours class time, half-hour prep time, and 1 hour of curriculum building)
• $595 for a 4-week class (includes 3 hours class time and half-hour prep time per session, plus 3 hours of curriculum building)
• $1155 for an 8-week class (includes 3 hours class time and half-hour prep time per session, plus 5 hours of curriculum building)

First time teachers at Spudnik will be additionally paid $35/hr for a 3-hour class & studio orientation. Returning teachers teaching a new course will be additionally paid $35/hr for a 2-hour class orientation. For classes that do not require curriculum building, teacher will be paid the same $35/hr rate.

PHYSICAL WORK & ENVIRONMENT

Spudnik Press is located in the West Hubbard Lofts at 1821 W Hubbard St, Suite 302 and is wheelchair accessible. Please review our accessibility notice here. We have several printmaking studios which include; Screenprinting, Risography, Letterpress, Relief & Monoprinting, and Intaglio.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Application Fee: None; Free to apply
• Deadline To Apply:  8/21/23
• Info Session: another Virtual Info Session will be announced soon
• Final Notification: 9/22-29/23
• Onboarding: October 2023 
• Classes Begin: November 2023
• Duration: 12 months

APPLICATION

Submit your cover letter, CV, portfolio with an image list, and an example of a previously taught printmaking syllabus to info [@] spudnikpress [dot] org with subject line ‘Teaching Artist Application | 2023-2024 Term’. All application materials should be submitted as one PDF.

Portfolio should consist of 5-7 images:  Images must not exceed 1MB each. Work should include print-based work and work from the last three years. Please provide title, medium, year of completion, and dimensions for each work in your Image List.

Spudnik Press will not replicate or share your submitted syllabus with the broader public as it remains your intellectual property.

Deadline for applications is EXTENDED until September 12, 2023 at 11:59pm.

For inquiries, you may email us at info@spudnikpress.org.

—————————————–

This Teaching Opportunity is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

This project is partially supported by a Chicago Arts Recovery Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

Come join a dynamic arts organization located in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago!

We are looking for a part time Business Manager to manage the business side of our enterprise. This person would be responsible for much of the day to day business operations for our small nonprofit, working closely with the Board of Directors. The Business Manager will be responsible for cash flow, daily financial resources, accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, payroll, purchasing, cash management, general ledger, collections, taxes, and conducting an annual audit. In addition, this position may assist the staff in arranging classes and other events.

Position Type: Part-time
Position Location: Hybrid
Office Address: 1821 W Hubbard St, Suite 302
Hours: 25-30 hours per week
Schedule: flexible
Pay: $25-30/hr based on experience
Reports to: Board of Directors

Spudnik Press is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Chicago, Illinois. Focused on the art & craft of printmaking, Spudnik provides local artists with affordable access to studio facilities, equipment, and professional development opportunities. Open studio hours, residency & fellowship programs, exhibitions, and other initiatives are offered to foster community, encourage collaboration, and serve our diverse network of creatives.

Spudnik Press Cooperative does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Spudnik Press is focusing on operational issues and working projects in July and August. This means that our classes will resume in September. We encourage everyone who is eager to begin their printmaking journey using our accessible facilities to book for Private Lessons during this pause. Our Open Studio is also available to those who have already taken printmaking classes and would like to continue printing at our shop.

This is meaningful to current staff as past organizational transitions were not able to provide employees a chance to pause and recalibrate, as we continued to fill in gaps, expand our roles and responsibilities, and figure things out. With this pause, we are working on more classes, programs, and other activities to strengthen the organization. We feel nothing but excitement and positivity about our current and upcoming efforts for the Press and its community. Thank you for your continued support and we always appreciate your enthusiasm in our class offerings!

Spudnik Press is continuously seeking new Board Members and we encourage members of our community to consider supporting our mission by joining our Board of Directors. 

The Spudnik Press Board of Directors is a team of volunteers working behind the scenes to ensure our organization is resilient, mission-driven, and advocating day-in-day-out for artists and the arts. Board Members provide long-range leadership, governance, and oversight for the organization. 

Members of our board work collaboratively with each other and the staff of Spudnik Press to support the mission of our organization and any challenges that arise during their tenure. Board Members serve two-year terms and are eligible for reappointment for additional terms. Board meetings are typically held in the evening, every month, with additional meetings called as needed. Priorities for the coming year focus on our current leadership transition and working closely with staff to ensure that the organization is accessible, diverse, inclusive, and equitable. 

There are dedicated seats for Spudnik members with waived annual dues. To be eligible for these seats, Spudnik members must have at least two years of membership with the organization, and these years do not need to be consecutive. Membership must be active at the time of application.

At this moment, we are accepting applications for general and member seats. Please send your resume and a letter of inquiry to boardofdirectors@spudnikpress.org.

With great appreciation and respect for the community of Spudnik Press Cooperative, I am announcing my resignation as Executive Director. 

Engaging with our community and working to restore organizational trust has been a top priority since I began in this role. In a time when our membership would be understandably wary, I was surprised by the speed and willingness of our members to share their experiences, both joyous and painful, at the Press. I quickly understood this to be indicative of a larger need to be heard by organizational leadership, and worked to make myself readily available to our community, both current and past. 

Spudnik has experienced a challenging few years and, while many of these challenges predate my arrival, the impact on the community continues to reverberate through how we operate and function as an organization today. Through my conversations with members and as I came to understand our operational infrastructure, the true nature of Spudnik’s organizational status became apparent. I urge our community to read the recent statement from the Board of Directors, detailing some of the structural concerns we share for the organization, as well as the hope of working towards a truly cooperative organizational model. 

While the challenges ahead are daunting, I am confident in the collective abilities of our current Board of Directors to move forward in close collaboration with our membership. I firmly believe that each Board member holds the humility, compassion, and commitment that is needed to support our community through this next phase. 

As outlined in the Board of Directors statement, the Board will be holding a community meeting on Wednesday, November 2nd at 6:30pm. I implore you all to attend, whether you are a current member, former staff, or studio user of years past. This is a critical moment for the Spudnik community to determine how to move forward together. To allow the Board to best prepare for this meeting, RSVPs are required. 

Though the duration of my leadership at Spudnik is coming to a close far sooner than I ever expected or hoped, the generosity of our community has left a significant impression. I’m thankful to so many of you, not only for your support and the impactful conversations we’ve shared, but for the laughs and print-nerdiness we’ve indulged in together. 

With deep gratitude and appreciation, 

Sara Emerson
Executive Director

With gratitude and respect for her work and efforts the Board of Directors announces the resignation of Sara Emerson as Executive Director of Spudnik Press Cooperative effective October 31, 2022. In this transition the Board, as it looks forward, has realized that the systems Spudnik was built upon are unsustainable in their current model. The amount of work asked of our Director and our staff is not equitable and perpetuates foundational inequalities that we are not willing to stand by. Sara inherited an organization in crisis and was not properly informed about the expectations and obstacles to her and the organization’s success. These are fundamental things that need to be addressed for the future stability of Spudnik. In addition, two members of the Board, Hellen Coleman and Holly Ekwejunor-Etchie have also resigned their positions. 

At the time of Sara’s hire, the Board did not have the capacity or institutional knowledge to provide adequate support to properly address the challenges we face as an organization. The board had had only three members, two of which had nonmianal experience and were engaged in a difficult transition. Sara relocated for this position, unaware of the extent of the collective trauma our community had experienced. She was unprepared and under supported in taking on the significant challenge of restabilizing our organization financially, administratively, and in spirit. 

The need for change and restructuring is imperative. We must acknowledge the significant challenges ahead, as well as the time, commitment, and collaboration that making these changes will require. For Sara, we know the lack of resources and support has been especially frustrating, as much of her own work as an artist and professional has been centered in expanding equity, access, and inclusivity within printmaking. Sara has shared that her departure is profoundly upsetting on a personal level; getting to know the Spudnik community has been a great privilege, and she is deeply grateful to our members for their kindness, patience, and insight in these past months. 

We have reached a moment of critical reflection. We need to work with our staff, members, community, and friends to redefine ourselves and the way we work together and move forward. Reviewing our financial situation and our organizational structure, it has become clear that it is impossible for the Press to exist as it has. This is an exciting and difficult time of transition. By choosing to completely reassess ourselves we are opening our organization to being remade as a more caring, transparent, communal, and equitable space to create and support printmaking. 

We recognize that it is our fundamental structure and operation based in hierarchical organizational principles that have put us in this situation. To mitigate and counteract the inequalities within our current system we will not move with the Board at the forefront alone, but rather invite our community to come together and work with us side by side. Together we can imagine and create a better future that affirms our values to build a press where everyone feels welcome, supported, and inspired by one another. This will not be easy and will require help from everyone who cares and believes in Spudnik, but we are hopeful that we will meet this challenge with the full force and innovation of our community. 

We will hold a community meeting on Wednesday, November 2nd at 6:30pm to begin discussing the current challenges and some options we have been considering for the future of Spudnik. A large portion of the meeting will be dedicated to answering questions and collectively imagining how we move forward together.  This meeting is open to all who are or have felt like a part of the Spudnik community, not just those who are current members of the Press. Moreover, the Board will need help moving forward, so if there are those who considered joining the Board in the past, we urge you to consider that again. To attend our community meeting, we are requesting RSVPs:

RSVP TO OUR COMMUNITY MEETING BY CLICKING HERE 

This is not intended to limit participation in any way, rather to help us prepare the studio beforehand. While our meeting will be held at Spudnik, we will do our best to provide a virtual component for those who can not attend in person. 

If you have initial concerns or questions you would like answered during the meeting or beforehand, please direct them toward comments@spudnikpress.org. Please refrain from sending messages via Instagram or other modes, these channels go to staff members and we do not want this situation to put more work on their desks. The Board of Directors will respond as quickly as possible to all inquiries. 

Amira Hegazy, Dutes Miller, and Chris Perzan
The Board of Directors 

Link to Sara’s public resignation letter

This week marks an exciting shift for Spudnik: Our next Executive Director, Sara Emerson, has arrived in Chicago and is eager to begin meeting Chicago’s artistic community. We are enjoying a brief overlap period, and I can confidently say that we share a deep love for the art and craft of printmaking and a dedication to expanding its equity, accessibility, viability, and vibrance. 

The initial stages of this transition have heightened anxiety, and brought concerns about equity, transparency, and organizational culture to the forefront. Sara understands that as a member-based organization, community participation is essential for moving forward and I am excited about her early commitment to member engagement. Monthly membership meetings are scheduled through the summer with agendas determined by member input. These meetings will culminate in Spudnik’s Annual Member Meeting in August where members can cast their ballots for any artists and supporters nominated to join the board of directors. 

Spudnik has experienced continual growth and expansion since the 2007 grand opening in my humble apartment. Now firmly in its teenage years, the next phase of growth may be less about scale and more about focusing who  Spudnik is, what Spudnik does, and how Spudnik operates. Change and transitions are rarely easy. There remains a tremendous amount of work ahead to repair division, interrogate how privilege and inaccessibility show up in the organization, and rebuild finances and staff.

I hope that my departure as the founding executive director signals that the organization has matured into a reliable resource with a strong network of artists, supporters, and programs. It is now ready to be guided by the next generation of artists. As I leave my staff leadership position, I look forward to supporting Spudnik as a community member.

Looking back over the past 15 years, I am incredibly proud of the organization that I founded. I’ve made my share of mistakes as well and I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and apologize for any harm and hurt I’ve caused.

Spudnik has been looked to as an inspiration for many community print spaces across the country, and has helped shape the next generation of printmakers. This accomplishment is the direct result of an incredible network of current and past staff, teaching artists, volunteers, and board members contributing above and beyond. I am so grateful for everyone’s support. 

With deep appreciation of everyone within the Spudnik community,

Angee Lennard
Founding Director of Spudnik Press Cooperative

Spudnik Press is excited to announce the appointment of Sara Emerson as the organization’s incoming executive director. Sara Emerson will lead a new era of community engagement and inclusiveness for Spudnik Press. Holding a BA in Printmaking and Social Practice of the Arts from Bennington College, Emerson comes to Spudnik with a strong background of collaborative printmaking, arts programming, financial operations, and managerial positions across higher education institutions throughout the US. Sara Emerson joins Spudnik from Williams College, a liberal arts college in Massachusetts, with graduate programs in the history of art and a track record of ambitious goals encompassing sustainability; diversity, equity and inclusion; and accountability and transparency. As Williams College’ Studio Manager, Emerson provided broad leadership and managed day-to-day operations of the printmaking facilities.

“On behalf of the board, we are excited about the creative perspective, plus management, and programmatic experience in the printmaking arts that Sara will bring to the position as Executive Director. We are delighted to have attracted someone of Sara Emerson’s talent, enthusiasm and accomplishment. She brings all the key skills that Spudnik needs to be successful at this stage in its history,” says board member and chair of the search committee Hellen Colman.

As Emerson begins her leadership at Spudnik, she looks forward to continuing work with community partners, and developing new collaborations and programs that explore the range and diversity of our community.

Welcome, Sara!