“History is Always Present” Exploring the Contemporary Print Scene at printPHILLY!

Since the late seventeenth century, Philadelphia has been a hub for publishing and printmaking as a central component of the city’s evolution. As the revolutionary and industrial periods reshaped the region and nation, Philadelphia’s printers and publishers capitalized on the broad economic, political, and social changes happening within the city as it evolved into one of America’s largest port cities. It didn’t take long for the city to flourish with industries for newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets, magazines, and other forms of print media.

Today, shifting market conditions have fostered new approaches to the printmaking culture. And a new wave of printers and publishers has pushed to build more understanding and appreciation for the marginalized media. Artist and printer-led efforts push multidisciplinary and inclusive programming surrounding printed images in contemporary art. A renowned push for artist and printmaker recognition, the city was marked by transformation and change as profound cultural shifts across the globe examined, in new ways, how artists tackle the complexities of community, connectedness, and belonging in our ever-changing 21st century world. Invoking a new understanding of the grit of Philadelphia artists, encompassing a deeply rooted resilience and bold spirit of evolution within the city.

Public programs like the printPhilly! Fair, hosted at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, bring art awareness and education to underserved artists in Philadelphia. Its large selection of contemporary prints and print media highlights the work of contemporary local artists in and around Philadelphia, marking a commitment to serving both artists and the community. Navigating the bustling fair environment, visitors could interact with “over 50 individual artists, print shops, collectives, and non-profit spaces that focus on printmaking as a vital, contemporary art medium, as well as one of historical significance to the city of Philadelphia. Visitors could interact with a range of printmakers, print publishers, and print-focused galleries and nonprofits with the opportunity to purchase original prints from a wide variety of artists and shops using both innovative and traditional techniques, which are a hallmark of the medium.” (Source) The fair articulates an evolving chapter in the story of the city being told by artists of today. Art fairs continue to encourage a culture of collecting, having become increasingly popular destinations for collectors and art enthusiasts over the past few years.In the gathering crowd, this feeling of community is practically palpable, the atmosphere buzzing with conversations between artists and collectors, and important outlets for dealing and socializing alike. Even the most beginner of art collectors is bound to find works that fit their budget and aesthetic.

Participating artists pushed the boundaries of the creative process and embraced the possibilities of printmaking, like Sarah McEneaney's cast paper relief sculpture of her pet entitled MANGO, MANGO, a work produced at the renowned Brodsky Center at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Enthusiastic collectors had the opportunity to purchase original prints from a wide variety of artists and shops using both innovative and traditional techniques, which are a hallmark of the medium. Coming off of covid-19, the overly-crowded scene at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia offered a fresh and energetic way of interacting with the history of the city’s contemporary art scene through a close look at a variety of artists whose work represents a wide range of perspectives about the city.

Participating Artists Included:

Francine Affourtit, American Color Print Society, Arcadia University Printmaking, ART MORA GALLERY, Lindsey Benitz, Kristina Bickford, Tanya Brassie, Brodsky Center at PAFA, Kailey Brown, BYO Print, Leann Carlson, Common Press, University of Pennsylvania, Sam de Poto, Tempest Diamond, Shannon Dougherty, Lauren Doyle, Dox Thrash House, Katheryne Flake, Fleisher Art Memorial, Rebecca Gilbert, Nicole Hehn, Evgenia Kim, Claire B. Marcus, Salvatore Marrone, Maisie O’Brien, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Printmaking, Petrichor Press, Philadelphia Center for the Book, Ryan Pic, Maria G. Pisano, Printmakers Open Forum, Lindsey Potoff, The Print Center, Billie Raposa, Nicole Saltzer, Marta Sanchez, Second State Press, Mike Sgier, Patricia M. Smith, The Soapbox: Community Print Shop & Zine Library, Space 1026, Oliver Stern, Eliza Strauss-Jenkins, Tyler Printmaking, University of the Arts BFA & MFA Printmaking, Thomas Parker Williams, Who Press'd Press, Krista Yocius, Wendee Yudis.

Dispatch: Raven Editions attends printPHILLY! at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia

“History is Always Present” Exploring the Contemporary Print Scene at printPHILLY!