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Platemark

By: Ann Shafer
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  • Summary

  • What is it about prints and printmaking that draws such fervent practitioners, collectors, and fans? How are prints relevant to all our lives? What do all those people in the "print ecosystem" do anyway? Series one looks at prints and printmaking in the context of museums, the market, critiques, and the print ecosystem. Series two offers a history of prints and printmaking in the West. Series three offers interviews with the colorful characters of the print ecosystem. Join us and the wonderful fans of prints and printmaking.
    Ann Shafer
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Episodes
  • s3e55 Miguel A. Aragón

    s3e55 Miguel A. Aragón
    Apr 23 2024

    In s3e55, Platemark host Ann Shafer speaks with Miguel A. Aragón, artist and professor at the City University of New York, Staten Island. They talk about CNC routers, drills as woodcutting tools, growing up in Juarez, Mexico, and that city’s war on drugs as a subject in his art. He weaves a tight conceptual circle in prints that explore violence, death, perception, and memory in surprisingly subtle works.


    Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Espectadores (Spectators), from the series Meoria Fracturada, 2013. Burnt residue embossment. 11 x 15 in. Courtesy of the artist.


    Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 18, negro (Portrait 18, black), 2008. Hand-drilled paper with drywall dust. 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the Artist.


    Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 18, negro (Portrait 18, white), 2008. Hand-drilled paper. Each: 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the Artist.


    Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 06, panel de yeso (Portrait 06, drywall). Hand-drilled drywall. 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the Artist.


    Miguel A. Aragón drilling into drywall for the Retrato series.


    Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Retrato 06, panel de yeso (Portrait 06, drywall). Hand-drilled drywall. 96 x 48 in. Courtesy of the artist.
    Miguel A. Aragón (Mexican, born 1978). Aplacado (el Veladero) [Appeased (el Veladero)], 2016. Woodcut. Image: 48 x 36 in.; sheet: 51 ½ x 38 ½ in. Published by Flatbed Press, Austin.


    Miguel A. Aragón working at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, CA.


    Miguel A. Aragón working at Scuola Internazionale di Grafica di Venezia in Venice, Italy.

    Miguel A. Aragón working at Zygote Press in Cleveland, OH.


    Miguel A. Aragón working with Wuon Gean Ho at East London Printmakers.


    Studio view of the Edinburgh Printmakers in Edinburgh, Scotland.


    Studio view of the Glasgow Print Studio in Glasgow, Scotland


    Studio view of the Grafikwerkstatt Dresden in Dresden, Germany.


    Michael Barnes working at the Steindruck München Lithografie-Werkstatt in Munich, Germany.


    Miguel A. Aragón’s mother’s doilies at the Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland, OH.


    Miguel A. Aragón. 26.06.2009, 20:07:31. Color lithograph. Sheet: 27.5 x 22 in. Published by Flatbed Press, Austin.


    Miguel A. Aragón. Index: 2170. Color lithograph. Sheet: 27 1/2 x 22 in. Published by Flatbed Press, Austin.


    Installation shot of Miguel Aragón: Holding it all Gently. February 13–March 14, 2024. College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island.


    Installation shot of Miguel Aragón: Holding it all Gently. February 13–March 14, 2024. College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island.


    Installation shot of Miguel Aragón: Holding it all Gently. February 13–March 14, 2024. College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island.
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    Less than 1 minute
  • s3e54 Andrew Raftery

    s3e54 Andrew Raftery
    Apr 9 2024
    In s3e54, Platemark host Ann Shafer talks with Andrew Raftery, artist, professor, scholar, and wallpaper designer. Andrew works in several modes, most notably in engraving. The through line in the work is domesticity. An early print featured a young man suit shopping. Next was a portfolio of engravings detailing rooms during a real estate open house. Then engravings representing each month in the life of a garden were transferred to twelve dinnerplates and sold as a set. His latest show included watercolors depicting historical interior rooms that feature French and Chinese wallpapers. He also produces letterpress wallpapers himself. Ann and Andrew talk about how engraving shows itself completely—there is no secret to how it is made, the inscrutability of Vermeer’s paintings, the importance of understanding the history of prints, how the transfer process works with ceramic dinnerware, how French and Chinese wallpapers were made (some were hand painted!), and hatboxes. Images of Andrew's art are by Erik Gould; Andrew's headshot is by Ned Lochaya. Andrew is represented by Mary Ryan Gallery. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Human Resources, 1990s. Engraving (unfinished). Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Cosmetic Counter, 1990s. Exterior of folding triptych. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Cosmetic Counter, 1990s. Interior of folding triptych. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, 2002. Diptych, engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, 2002. Triptych, engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 1 (living room) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 2 (dining room) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 3 (kitchen) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 4 (hallway) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 5 (bedroom) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). January (recto) from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). January (verso) from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). February from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). March from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). April from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). May from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). June from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). July from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). August from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Study for August from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Pen and ink. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). September from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). October from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Figure model for October from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Courtesy of the artist. Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). November from the set ...
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • s3e53 Carol Wax (part two)

    s3e53 Carol Wax (part two)
    Mar 26 2024
    In s3e53 of Platemark, hosts Ann Shafer and Tru Ludwig conclude their conversation with Carol Wax, artist and author of The Mezzotint: History and Technique. Carol recently published the second edition of The Mezzotint, expanding greatly in every area from the 1990 first edition. As she tells us, there is a better break down of rocking the copper plates, and of inking and printing them, plus there are new chapters about printing papers and the history of the medium and how it fits in the greater history of prints. They talk about the early history of mezzotint, whether one can over rock a plate, what happens when you do, and about Carol’s dislike of perspectival composition, all the machines and their personalities, and her dogs Cecil, the Weimaraner, and Delia, the new dog in her life. The conversation ran long, so the episode is split into two parts. Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Singer I, 1984. Mezzotint. 11 ½ x 8 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was a beautiful tensile piece of copper (ground exact same way as Singer II, but totally different experience and different result). Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Singer II, 1985. Mezzotint. 14 ½ x 7 3/4 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was a brittle copper – two of several state proofs illustrating process of solving technical problem and the finished state. This process led directly to historical research that resulted in my writing The Mezzotint: History and Technique. John Martin (British, 1789–1854). Belshazzar’s Feast, 1826. Mezzotint. Plate: 23 ½ x 32 in. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Martin’s large plate was printed with up to eight different inks to enhance the tonal range and compensate for the peculiarities of mezzotints engraved on steel. Richard Earlom (British, 1743–1822), after Frans Snyder (Flemish, 1579–1657). A Game Market, 1783. Mezzotint and etching. Plate: 16 ½ x 22 ¾ in. New York Public Library, New York. Richard Earlom (British, 1743–1822), after Jan van Huysum (Dutch, 1682–1749). A Flower Piece, 1778. Etching (early state before mezzotint). Plate: 558 x 420 mm. (21 15/16 x 16 9/16 in.). Yale Center for British Art, New Haven. [Right] Richard Earlom (British, 1743–1822), after Jan van Huysum (Dutch, 1682–1749). A Flower Piece, 1778. Mezzotint and etching. Plate: 558 x 420 mm. (21 15/16 x 16 9/16 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore. J.M.W. Turner (British, 1775–1851) and Charles Turner (British, 1774–1857). Scene from the French Coast (Liber Studiorum, plate 4), 1807. Etching and mezzotint. Plate: 20.9 x 29.1 cm. (8 ¼ x 11 7/16 in.). Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. [DETAIL] J.M.W. Turner (British, 1775–1851) and Charles Turner (British, 1774–1857). Scene from the French Coast (Liber Studiorum, plate 4), 1807. Etching and mezzotint. Plate: 20.9 x 29.1 cm. (8 ¼ x 11 7/16 in.). Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Thomas Goff Lupton (British, 1791–1873), after Thomas Girtin (British, 1775–1802). Chelsea Reach, Looking toward Battersea, from the series Gems of Art, 1825. Mezzotint and engraving. Sheet: 260 x 341 mm. (10 1/4 x 13 7/16 in.); plate: 168 x 252 mm. (6 5/8 x 9 15/16 in.). Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore. Carol Wax (American, born 1953). The Old Clothesline, 1983. Mezzotint. 11 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Fanfare, 1983. Mezzotint. 16 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was the first image I did with a mechanical subject and the first time I subtracted so much of the background. Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Singer I, 1984. Mezzotint. 11 ½ x 8 in. Courtesy of the artist. This was a beautiful tensile piece of copper (ground exact same way as Singer II, but totally different experience and different result). Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Under Wraps, 2008. Mezzotint. 16 x 20 in. Courtesy of the artist. One of many images of animate/inanimate objects. This series turns the table and uses fabric to objectify a living subject. This project is also an example of how different grounds can be used creatively: the plate was ground with an 85-gauge rocker, but the dog parts were scraped down and reground with a 120-gauge roulette to differentiate textures between fabric and fur. The whiskers were engraved with a burin. Carol’s wall of inspiration. [Left] Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Remington Noiseless, 1986. Mezzotint. 20 x 16 in. Courtesy of the artist. Remington Noiseless illustrates stylized shadows before working for Philip Pearlstein. [Right] Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Remington Return, 1993. Mezzotint. 18 ½ x 24 1/2 in. Courtesy of the artist. Reflects Pearlstein’s influence as well as more sophisticated technique and confidence acquired while writing the book. Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Glad Tidings, 1993. Two relief intaglio holiday cards. Each: 3 x 2 9/10 in. Courtesy of the artist. Carol Wax (American, born 1953). Missing Peace, 2001. Relief intaglio. 5 x 1 1/2 in. Courtesy of the ...
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    53 mins
Art World
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