As you may have heard from our all-new Member Bulletin, Spudnik Press is now forming three new committees: Education, Outreach, and Exhibitions.

By having board members work closely with more of our members, we know we will be able to better serve our community. Please consider volunteering in this capacity. Below are the basic descriptions of the committees, including when they meet.

Dowload the full Committee Descriptions

Aren’t sure if you want to be on a committee or not? Talk in person to the committee chairs at our next Member Meeting (May 16, 8pm). Reach out to any of us with questions!

Education Committee

Committee Chair: Megan Klawitter
First Meeting: Wednesday, May 30th, 6:30pm at Spudnik Press
The education committee is responsible for supporting Spudnik Press Cooperative’s mission to unite professional artists with a diverse community of emerging artists, established artists, youth, and adults.

Outreach Committee

Committee Chair: Anya Davidson
First Meeting: Tuesday, June 5, 6:30pm at Pauly’s Pizza (1744 W Grand)
The outreach committee is responsible for increasing the visibility of Spudnik Press Cooperative, reaching new audiences, including printmakers, potential students, potential partnering organizations, potential publishing customers, and the general public.

Exhibitions Committee

Committee Chair: Alison Kleiman
First Meeting: Wednesday, June 6, 6:30pm at Spudnik Press
The exhibition committee will work closely with Spudnik Press staff to coordinate exhibition opportunities for Spudnik Press members.

Illustration & Play
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 6:30-9:30pm
This illustration class will lead students away from what and how they usually draw to explore new techniques and approaches to image generation. Students will get to play around with mark making, color, and a variety of materials like watercolor pencils, while being prompted to delve further into their imagination. More information & register here.

Over the past few weeks, Double Blind has been hard at work, here at Spudnik, screenprinting their Chicago Card Posters for Version Fest. Be sure to swing by through the month of May to check out their work and pick up a poster. (Rumor has it, actual decks of playing cards will be available soon!)

Multi-level Etching

begins April 24, 2012

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 9:00pm
Meets for 8 weeks
$170 ($144.50 for current members)

Learn the fine art of Intaglio Printmaking from one of the best printers in the city. This class will be led by Will Sturgis, who studied at SAIC, then spent 6 years printing at White Wings Press with Teresa James. He spent a year in the world of screenprinting with Jay Ryan at The Bird Machine. And after that he found himself working with Tony Fitzpatrick and Catherine Brooks (former Crown Point Press Master Printer) at Black Shamrock Press (Tony’s new printshop). It has been open for just over a year and Will says they have already produced over 60 multi-color etchings from four different bodies of work. And somehow, Will has been working on his own artwork too!

These are just a few reasons why you should take this class – even if you are already proficient at basic etching….

Read the full description and sign up today!

Better late than never, right? We would like to thank all of the chili chefs that participated in The Hashbrown this year, as well as our tamale chef, Kim Heiney! The fundraiser was a great success and everyone had a blast. Take a look at some of the images from the night and feel free to whip up your own batch of Spudnik vegetarian chili, made by Megan Klawitter, using the recipe below! And, of course, a big “THANKS” to all of our volunteers and donors, including Windy City Distribution & Jefferson Tap.

The 2012 Hashbrown Meat Chili Champion: The Printstitute at Harold Washington College

The 2012 Hashbrown Vegetarian Chili Champion: Chicago Printmakers Collaborative

Spudnik Press 2012 Verde Chili
2 cans navy beans
2 cans cannelini beans
1 package firm tofu – drained
2 anaheim peppers – diced
2 jalapeno peppers – seeded and diced
2 cloves garlic – minced
1 yellow onion – chopped
4 cups broth (a no-chikn’ stock works great)
1 can of green enchilada sauce – medium heat level
2 limes
1 tbsp cumin
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp old bay seasoning
bunch of cilantro
dairy free sour cream
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

For the sour cream, simply combine ½ cup chopped cilantro and the squeeze of 1 lime to 2 cups dairy free sour cream. You can always use less cilantro if you are not a fan. Set in the fridge to keep cold.

In a medium skillet, heat a little olive oil. Add 1 clove garlic and crumbled tofu. (keep the tofu in the freezer for 1 week; drain, and you have a nice chewy texture)
add your old bay seasoning and just cook until browned a little. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a stock pot add 1 tbsp olive oil, onion and the other clove of garlic. Cook until the onion begins to “sweat”. Add your peppers, cumin and cayenne. Cook for approximately 5-7 minutes. You can now add your broth and beans. Let this cook for about 20-25 minutes.

Corn chips while the chili is cooking, set your deep fryer temp to 375 degrees. Slice your white corn tortillas into triangles. Fry a few at a time until slightly browned. add sea salt when finished and set aside to cool. Do as many as you would like, but be sure to not let them pile up on each other until they are cooled off a bit.

Once the broth has reduced a bit you can add your enchilada sauce, tofu and 1 tbsp chopped cilantro. add salt and pepper to taste. cook for another 10-15 minutes.

For a final step, add 1 tbsp of freshly squeezed lime.

Garnish with sour cream and a little more cilantro.

Laura Pearson, of TimeOut Chicago, visited Expo 72 and reviewed the current exhibition, Pulled Pressed Printed, celebrating Chicago printmakers and printshops. Check it out here and be sure to go by and take a look for yourself!

Interested in being the next Artist in Residence at Spudnik Press? The application deadline for our Summer residency is March 30, 2012. Click here for more information and to download the application!

Adventure School: Comics Intensive

Organized by Anne Elizabeth Moore

Held at Read/Write Library & Spudnik Press
June 4 to June 15, 2012

Top and emerging ladylike drawers will spend two full weeks, from 10 to 6 p.m. every day, creating and publishing a collaborative comics anthology based on research of gender, race, and economics in the comics industry.

Spudnik Press couldn’t be more excited to support such a unique format for collaboration and learning. Students will work with each other, visiting artists, and cultural producers to create a new publication that will be printed here at Spudnik Press!

Application forms (and a lot more information) are available here, now!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012
6:30 – 9:00pm
1821 W. Hubbard, Suite 302

Printmaking can be steeped in arcane processes and cumbersome equipment which can be quite alluring, yet prohibitive. So we’ve decided to dedicate the night to printmaking that is easy, cheap, and satisfying. We’ll have multiple projects set up around the studio and students can move around to different projects as they like. We’ll talk about how these processes can be used for professional projects as well as in a classroom full of energetic young people.

We would like to extend a special invitation to CPS teachers. We are currently evaluating and developing our program for youth in the city, and would like your opinion on what we can do to support and augment what happens in school. We would like to connect with teachers interested in field trips, in-school workshops, and partnering to provide after-school opportunities for their students.

Community workshops are an opportunity to get to meet the artists at Spudnik Press, preview what an upcoming class might be like, be exposed to new processes, and simply learn techniques and tips from professional artists to incorporate into your projects, what ever they may be. Workshops are hands-on, all ages (students under 16 should be accompanied by an adult), and for all experience levels.

The class fee is $10, or pay what you can. Fees are waived for students who are unable to afford this charge to ensure that the Chicago community has access to artistic projects, regardless of income. Registration is required to ensure we have the right amount of materials on hand.

Please e-mail brandy@spudnikpress.com to have us save a seat!

A few weeks ago, Stephen Pearlman and Mark Townes came to Spudnik. We provided a few hours of screenprinting lessons, and they whipped up an edition of 10 prints as part of Tonight The Angels Box Set, a very well put together collection of singles that Haberdashery released through out 2011. Nice documentation too!

Spudnik Press Cooperative is excited to host its first juried exhibition for MAPC members. Through hosting this exhibition, we strive to introduce Chicago printers, students, and artists utilizing Spudnik Press to national artists creating exceptional work in the field of printmedia.


CALL FOR ENTRIES
A contribution furnishes something towards a result. “Contributory” is a juried show dissecting the parts that create the whole, the chain of events that leads to a result, good works that build communities, and the symbiotic nature of a contribution. “Contributory” reflects on what and how people, the natural world, and technology proffer with intention and purposefulness, or despite themselves.

ELIGIBILITY
Print-based artwork only. No digital prints. All accepted artworks must be framed. Maximum framed size is 3’x4′.
Entries and fees must be received by February 6, 2012

JUROR
Julia Vodrey Hendrickson is a visual artist, writer, print-enthusiast, and curator. She recently released a poetry/artist book called Grow No Moss, printed at Spudnik Press. Primarily based in Chicago where she is the gallery manager at Corbett vs. Dempsey, she is currently pursuing an M.A. in Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

CALENDAR
February 6, 2012 – Entries and fees due (not a postmark date)
February 24, 2012 – artist notification of acceptance via email
March 23, 2012 – work must arrive at Spudnik Press for inclusion in exhibit
April 6, 2012 – Exhibit opens at Spudnik Press Cooperative
May 11, 2012 – Exhibition closes
May 18, 2012 – Artwork returned to artists

Download the Contributory Prospectus

ONLINE PAYMENT FOR ENTRY FEE
*Additional MAPC Membership options are also available through midamericaprintcouncil.org

The Department of Art and University Galleries at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi are pleased to announce the inaugural Oso Bay North American Printmaking Exhibition, a competitive juried competition held in conjunction with the 2012 Oso Bay Biennial.

With Bill Fick and Tom Huck as the jurors, this promises to be a great show!

Oso Bay Full Prospectus PDF:
http://cla.tamucc.edu/art/galleries.html