Anchor Graphics: American Cities Program – Chicago November 21, 2007
Posted by cwslibrary in American Cities Program, Chicago, Juniors, Summer 2008, Timeframe:, art, nonprofit.trackback
Anchor Graphics
American Cities Program – Chicago
Anchor Graphics was founded in 1988 for the purpose of advancing the fine art printmaking tradition by providing educational and art-making opportunities for young people and professional artists, and by educating the public about the fine art printmaking process.
Internship Description: This ten-week program offers hand-on training in many aspects of a professional print studio. The intern is involved with platemaking, assisting the master printer and the artists-in-residence, editioning, coordinating educational programs and performing other print related tasks depending upon experience. Student may also help with administrative tasks as required
Ideal Internship Qualification:
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Logistical: Current Juniors Strong printmaking portfolio Art background helpful Interest in marketing ,and non profit management |
Personality:
Motivated Creative Inquisitive Detail oriented |
This summer at Anchor Graphics, a not-for-profit fine arts printshop, I gained experience that will be invaluable to me as I pursue a career in the arts. My main job was to assist the master printer. This role allowed me to practice and become confident completing tasks that are necessary steps in the printmaking process. I picked up a lot of new tricks from the master printer, for instance: Japanese kitikata paper makes a cleaner tear if it is dampened along the tear-bar first, and printing from photo-litho plates will create much cleaner results if the water solution contains a few drops of glycerin. In addition to learning more about methods of printmaking with which I was already familiar, I learned two new techniques: stone lithography and solar plate. I was lucky enough to receive one-on-one instruction in each step of the stone lithography process, from grinding the stone to printing from it. One set of prints that we worked on used the solar plate process. I watched as adjustments were made to proof after proof in an effort to achieve the richest darks while maintaining the detail in the lights. I also assisted the instructor of a three-day solar plate workshop, and found that teaching is the best way to learn. Anchor Graphics offered me free use of the studio and supplies after work, so I was able to create some of my own prints this summer. I made several prints using a reductive linoleum cut, which reinforced a lot of concepts that I learned the first time I used the reductive technique. I also made my own lithographs from a stone for the first time. I was especially happy that I was able to learn this method, because it is one of the most direct ways to convert drawings to prints, and a technique that the Wellesley printshop has the capability to support.
Working at Anchor Graphics changed the way I view the world by showing me how small organizations can impact many people over time. I saw in a very direct way that sometimes an organization must navigate a lot of systems that do not necessarily understand or particularly care about their goals, but the organization must find a way to make its voice heard. The persistence with which ideas are presented is crucial to making progress. Anchor Graphics is a very productive organization, publishing print editions for professional artists, hosting artists-in-residence, running courses for the community, providing workshops for various groups, and visiting schools to share printmaking with young people. Anchor accomplishes all of this with only three full-time staff and some occasional volunteer interns. I enjoyed the friendly and laid back atmosphere in the studio, and I learned that a strict regiment is not the only way to be productive.
Courtney
Class of 2009