Spudnik Press Cooperative is accepting applications for a part-time Development Assistant position.

The Development Assistant will broadly contribute to Spudnik Press Cooperative’s development and fundraising efforts. Working in a supportive role to the Executive Director, this position will primarily focus on individual giving and special events.

To apply:

• Downloaded and review theDevelopment Assistant Job Description.
• Submit a cover letter, writing sample, and resume with three professional references to angee@spudnikpress.org.

With a new year, come new opportunities for Spudnik Press members! Professional Practices is our new comprehensive professional development series. Each year, Spudnik Press Cooperative will continue to offer our members exclusive access to exhibition opportunities, print exchanges, and member art sales. Newly added opportunities include quarterly portfolio reviews and off-site visits to galleries, museums, artist studios and more.

Continuing our mission to provide comprehensive artistic support to our our community of printmakers, we are launching an ongoing portfolio review program. Our Professional Practice: Portfolio Review series allows any Spudnik Press member to sign up for a 30-minute individual portfolio review with a guest curator, educator, gallery director, or arts administrator. Throughout 2018, there will be four portfolio review opportunities. We’re delighted to kick-off the year with Chicago-based visual artist, curator, educator, and musician Jordan Martins! Later in the year, we will be joined by Meg Duguid, Elizabeth Lalley, and Bert Green.

We are also broadening the scope of our conversations with art professionals in Chicago by going directly to the source. From the museum and the gallery to the auction house and the art fair, to intimate conversations with artists and collectors, our Professional Practice: Off-site Visit series will introduce members to the numerous and diverse art spaces and individuals that contribute to Chicago’s vibrant arts landscape. In addition to connecting with other professionals in the city, these visits are intended to present our members with a range of resources and career paths. 

For more information and current opportunities, please visit Member Opportunities. If you are not currently a member and would like to partake in these opportunities, please join or renew your membership.

Image: Portfolio Review with guest artist and curator Betsy Odom and Grace Makuch, Studio Fellowship Alumnus.

As we gear up for the Hashbrown Showdown on Saturday, February 24, we are excited to introduce a few of our featured chefs in a series of interviews. First up: Barrel Maker Printing!

All the cool kids screen print their own t-shirts. If, for some reason, that’s not possible the cool kids get their shirts printed at Barrel Maker. Just glance at their Instagram feed (@barrelmakerprinting) and you will know it’s true.

The folks at Barrel Maker are some of the coolest and most creative that we’ve known in the world of Chicago screen printing. Even though their presses are now based in Elk Grove, they keep a foot in Chi with a remote office in Logan Square.

We asked Zach Corn, VP of Sales, a few questions to acquaint those that have not met Barrel Maker. While we can speak to their caliber of awesome, you’ll have to come out to The Hashbrown Showdown to gauge the caliber of their chili.

SP: Where did the name Barrel Maker Screenprinting come from?

ZC: The Owners’ first kid was named Cooper, named after Agent Cooper from Twin Peaks. Since a Cooper is someone who makes Barrels, they figured it would be a cool Ode to Cooper.

SP: Who will be the lead chili chef? How did they earn that honor?

ZC: I’m actually going to be the lead Chef on this journey. My wife and I have a few chili swaps every year and it isn’t a huge departure for me to make some chili and sling it to some friends.

SP: What is the craziest or weirdest event that you’ve done live screen printing at?

ZC: Lollapalooza was pretty crazy just with the amount of people there and the format. We also did one at an opening event for a climbing gym. People really enjoy seeing printing happening. You can easily take the process for granted when you see it every day.

SP: Do you have a pet peeve regarding file prep? If you could give one tip to our artists about how to better prepare their file for printing, what would it be?

ZC: I don’t like when files are Untitled.xxx. Just call it something. And keeping everything on one artboard and not giving just the art that is needed. If the preview is of something we aren’t even printing, it could be cleaner. In the end though I’m usually just happy people are working with us.

SP: Thanks Zach! And for you cool kids that print your own shirts, check out Barrel Maker’s line of eco-social-friendly apparel, Allmade.

The Hashbrown Show Down:
Spudnik’s Rootin Tootin’ Fair & Chili Cook-Off
Saturday, February 24, 2018
5:00 pm

Reserve Your Tickets

The Spudnik Press Board of Directors is a team of experts working behind the scenes to ensure our organization is resilient, mission-driven, and advocating day-in-day-out for artists and the arts. Our Board supports staff as we spearhead new initiatives like our Equipment Fund and expand Member opportunities. They also plans classy and fun fundraising events like our recent Print Factory Art Party.

With so much happening at Spudnik Press, the Board of Directors plans to expand from 8 to 12 members. Incoming directors will have the opportunity to contribute to our next Strategic Plan, help us improve our fundraising efforts, and expand our network of supporters and advocates. We do have a few particular needs:

• Active members of Spudnik Press: Represent your fellow artists!
• Project management and group facilitation experience
• Finance and accounting experience
• Fundraising and/or event planning experience
• Business planning and/or strategic planning experience

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Interpret the organization’s work and values, represent the organization, and act as a spokesperson.
• Represent Spudnik Press stakeholders through approving annual budget, business decisions and participating in an annual performance review of Executive Director.
• Extend personal invitations to potential supporters, continually expanding our network of donors and clients.
• Attend bi-monthly board meetings held on Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm
• Serve on one of the following committee: Development, Governance, Annual Benefit, Finance or Programming.
• Contribute a minimum of $375 to Spudnik Press Cooperative per board term.
• If this is your first time serving on a board, attend Legal & Fiduciary Responsibilities training.

Key Benefits Include:

• Opportunities for professional development as a board member.
• Honorary Spudnik Press Membership, inclusive of all benefits, to align with their board terms.
• Endless gratitude from Spudnik Press staff.

To Apply:

• Send resume or bio summarizing qualifications plus a letter of inquiry to Angee Lennard, Executive Director, angee@spudnikpress.org.

Download the Board of Directors Job Description

Image: Board Members, Andy Warhol Dutes Miller & Stephen DeSantis at the Print Factory Art Party, Oct. 2017. 

As of 1/11/2018, we have made it 55% towards our goal of raising $65,000 goal from individuals and businesses by June 2018. Our organization is so grateful to the 275 people who contributed $35,906 thus far.

We are asking our community to consider donating $50, $25, or even just $5 to enable us provide continue and improve the caliber of programs that we offer Chicago’s creative community.

Ways to Support our Campaign:

1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

Make a tax deductible donation

Since our last 10th Anniversary Campaign update, we have received $2099 in donations totaling $34,792.89 from individuals and businesses since we celebrated our first decade of programming (June 2017).

We are 54% to our $65,000 goal! To stay on schedule, we need $1208 by 12/31/17 from donations, sponsorships, and memberships.

We are asking our community to consider donating $50, $25, or even just $5 to enable us provide continue and improve the caliber of programs that we offer Chicago’s creative community.

Support our 10th Anniversary Campaign

Ways to Support our Campaign:

1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

Donor Incentives:

First Time Donors:
Donate at any level to be entered in a raffle to win a Winter 2018 class or workshop or Spudnik Press merchandise.

Donors at $250+ Level:
As a member of our Giving Circle, you and a guest will be invited to our donor-exclusive Ink & Drink Art Party on Friday, January 26.

Make a tax deductible donation

With the help of 289 supporters who donated between $3 and $1000 since we launched our 10th Anniversary Campaign, we have hit a milestone: 50% to our $65,000 goal!

Thank you to each and every person who has pitched in so far to help us meet our ambitious goal. We cannot wait for our 2018 program improvements to go public so that you can see your donations at work.

To stay on schedule to 100%, we need to bring in $3307 by 12/31/17 from donations, sponsorships, and memberships.

Support our 10th Anniversary Campaign

Ways to Support our Campaign:

1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

Donor Incentives:

First Time Donors:
Donate at any level to be entered in a raffle to win a Winter 2018 class or workshop or Spudnik Press merchandise.

Donors at $250+ Level:
As a member of our Giving Circle, you and a guest will be invited to our donor-exclusive Ink & Drink Art Party on Friday, January 26.

Make a tax deductible donation

In the last week, we had 12 generous donors come forward with support for our 10th Anniversary Campaign bringing our total donations to $31,610. We are one percent closer to our ultimate goal of $65,000 and only $4,908 from our goal for 2017!

With your support, we hope to reach $36,000 by 12/31/17!

How will we invest your donation?

• The next $1200 donated will be earmarked for our Equipment Fund and a new screen exposure unit!
• Start a cash reserve fund so that we can weather the next unforeseeable hardship, be it a budget impasse or a broken press.
• Increase free and low-cost professional development opportunities for our members.
• Deepen and expand opportunities for professional artists through our Fellowship, Residency, and Publishing programs.
• Bring nationally recognized artists to exhibit, teach, and make prints in Chicago.

Support our 10th Anniversary Campaign

Ways to Support our Campaign:

1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

Donor Incentives:

First Time Donors:
Donate at any level to be entered in a raffle to win a Winter 2018 class or workshop or Spudnik Press merchandise.

Donors at $250+ Level:
As a member of our Giving Circle, you and a guest will be invited to our donor-exclusive Ink & Drink Art Party on Friday, January 26.

Make a tax deductible donation

Our 9 new classes and 16 new workshops present a wide array of opportunities for everyone with a creative itch to pick up new skills and make new art friend.

If you’ve never taken a class at Spudnik Press, there is no time like the present! For most our classes, no experience is needed. Plus, we keep our classes small to make sure that our teaching artists can get to know everyone and meet them were they are.

Sign yourself up or gift a class to a friend. Or best yet, sign up WITH a friend!

Brand New “Special Topics” Classes!

Hand Lettering *NEW*
Papermaking: Pulp, Sculpt & Print *NEW*

1-day Workshops Perfect to Gift:

Calligraphy Crash Course *NEW*

Relief Tester & Refresher 

T-Shirts & Totebags Workshop (Jan session)
T-Shirts & Totebags Workshop (March session)
T-Shirts & Totebags Workshop (April session)
DIY Valentines: Screenprint Your Own Cards
Make Your Own Wall Art: Chicago Edition
DIY Letterpress Coasters
DIY Screenprinted Tea Towels

Refresh and Refine: New Skills for Seasoned Printmakers

Screenprinting Refresher
Pre-Press Workshop: File Prep for Stress Free Printing *NEW*
Screenprinting 201: Color for Screenprinters

Core Classes & Workshops: Learn the Ropes & Get Authorized for Open Studio

Screenprinting Explorations (January session)
Screenprinting Explorations (February session)
Screenprinting on Textiles *Rarely Offered*

Bookbinding

Letterpress I: Wood & Metal Type

Risography 101 (January session)
Risography 101 (February session)
Risography 101 (March session)
Risography 101 (April session)

Not sure where to start? Test out 3 Processes in 1 Class:

Printmaking Foundations

 Browse All Classes & Workshops

Our one-time 10th Anniversary Campaign is 47% to our ultimate goal of raising $65,000 from individuals and businesses by June 2018. To stay on track with this ambitious but critical fundraising effort, we need to raise just $5500 by December 31.

What will we do with $65,000?

• Start a cash reserve fund so that we can weather the next unforeseeable hardship, be it a budget impasse or a broken press.
• Increase free and low-cost professional development opportunities for our members.
• Deepen and expand opportunities for professional artists through our Fellowship, Residency, and Publishing programs.
• Bring nationally recognized artists to exhibit, teach, and make prints in Chicago.

Support our 10th Anniversary Campaign

Ways to Support our Campaign:

1. Make a cash donation. Join our Giving Circle with a $250+ donation.
2. Become a Spudnik Press Member.
3. Contribute specifically to the Equipment Fund.
4. Ask your employer to become a Sponsor.
5. Add a $1 donation when you attend Open Studio sessions.

Donor Incentives:

First Time Donors:
Donate at any level to be entered in a raffle to win a Winter 2018 class or workshop or Spudnik Press merchandise.

Donors at $250+ Level:
As a member of our Giving Circle, you and a guest will be invited to our donor-exclusive Ink & Drink Art Party on Friday, January 26.

Make a tax deductible donation

Spudnik has your back this holiday season with 10 fabulous gift ideas that are sure to check at least one, two, maybe even three individuals off your wanna-tell-em-I-love-em list. Each item is made with love by a member of Spudnik Press or printed here at our studio. Thanks for shopping local and supporting your neighborhood artists and artisans. Here we go:

1) White Pines Letterpress Greeting Card | $4.50 each
Current Location Press | Raychel Steinbach Lauen

Inspired by White Pines Forest State Park in Ogle County, Illinois, the White Pines Greeting Card features the southern-most stand of native white pines towering up to an impressive 90 feet tall. Fill the card with your sentiments and send off with USPS. What a special occasion and a surprise treat to receive a literal work of art via snail mail.

2) Chicago Skyline Pulp Painting | $395
Lion of Bali Paper Arts | Don Widmer

This series of skyline is “painted” completely with pigmented cotton pulp on top of a base sheet made from abaca and may be perfect for that person in your life with deep Chicago pride. The process used to create this one-of-a-kind work of art references the blood, sweat, and tears that built the city itself.

24″ x 36″

3) Ten x Ten 2017 | $20
Published by Spudnik Press Cooperative

For the uber-contemporary loved one with eclectic tastes. The fifth and most conceptually broad iteration of Ten x Ten, ‘Ten x Ten 2017: Dual Practices’ brought together 10 notable Chicago artists who have robust practices in both visual art and music. The cassette features sonic works by each Ten x Ten artist pairing as well as a fold out booklet with their coinciding prints and descriptions of their works. This cassette/art combo is an engaging work of art & music, as well as a keepsake.

4) Black Letter Feminist Shirt | $20
Vichcraft | Jenna Blazevich

We don’t have to tell you who this shirt is for – they probably popped in your mind immediately. We will tell you that it’s a high quality soft style tee by Bella + Canvas. Unisex sizing.

Do good bonus!! Ten dollars for each shirt sold will go to Chicago Women’s Health Center, an organization that facilitates the empowerment of women and trans individuals by providing sliding scale access to health care and health education in a respectful environment.

5) Letterpress Enamel Pin | $10
Designed by Andrew Ghrist for Spudnik Press

The crowned fowl of Andrew Ghrist are a regal, yet humble variety. The qualities of these creatures are the very reason Spudnik collaborated with Andrew to develop an iconic mascot for our press and 10 year anniversary. Steadfastly perched on a pilot press, this enamel pin speaks to printers and lovers of print with respect to the tradition and process we hold so dear. Plus, pins are cool. Who doesn’t love pins?

6) “Hands” Screenprint | $25
Consume and Create | Maxim Barkhatov

This screen printed work reflects a contemporary pop style and a coming together of hands. Filled and outlined, it could be a union of our vibrant inner passion and the structure of our interaction. Or it could be a beautiful modern expression, period. This three color print (including metallic gold – oh yes!) is a sure win for the poster collector in your life. Frame not included.

7) Print of the Month Club | $25 each; $299 Annual Subscription
Published by Spudnik Press Cooperative

Each month, we release a new letterpress print on archival 100% cotton paper designed by a member of Spudnik Press Cooperative. Each print fits into an affordable 8”x10” frame. Grab the full portfolio so you can keep you favorites plus have gifts for all your friends. The full portfolio even includes two matching coasters for each artwork! Or buy individual prints a la carte.

8) Lil Chano from 79th Poster | $30
WalkterTKL

This limited edition screen print featuring Chance the Rapper is a must have for any screen print lover or poster collector – especially if they rep Chicago. If you are reading this, you probably know one. WalkerTKL is on a steady path upwards, so this gift/investment may very well keep on giving.

9) Back to the Studio Special: Membership + 3 Open Studio Sessions | $160

For your printmaking loved ones, studio space and time can be the biggest challenges when it comes to producing work. For your friends who like to try new things, different activities and experiences can challenging to come across if you don’t know where to look.  For you, because you used to print, got busy and want to get back into it. This combined one-year Studio Membership with three Open Studio coupons (covering both base and material fees) jumpstarts presence and creativity.

10) “Lady Musteline” Etching | $50
Carrie Lingscheit

How absolutely exquisite and a total steal for art and animal lovers alike!

This original etching is inspired by da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine.” All imagery is rendered by hand, incorporating traditional intaglio techniques of hard-ground and soft-ground etching, aquatint, drypoint, and lots of scraping and burnishing. Printed in oil-based etching inks on ivory Fabriano Rosaspina paper, this work was hand-pulled from a single copper plate using a Conrad etching press.

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