Printmaking in Reno

Recently I was interviewed by the University of Nevada, Reno's school newspaper, the Sagebrush, about printmaking in Reno and it occurred to me that many people in my own community are unaware of the art that I create and the community here. Read the complete article at the Sagebrush website.

If you've ever visited Reno, NV you are aware of it's faults and charms. Reno is a lovely, scenic city where nearly every street corner affords enlightening views of the Sierra Nevada and Ruby Mountain ranges, there is world class skiing within forty minutes of driving as well as the eighth deepest lake on the planet - the famously clear Lake Tahoe. However, it is a relatively small city which means that many things more common to cosmopolitan areas are lacking.

Reno is lucky to have a nationally ranking art museum in the Nevada Museum of Art, an institution that not only hosts and displays works from Europe and abroad but offers local artists the chance to show work as well as hosting classes at their E.L. Cord Museum School, another place I teach.

There is a wonderful group of printmakers who call themselves the Printmaker's Conspiracy. Printmaker's Conspiracy meets up routinely to share new techniques, discuss current work, and develop group projects that are either collaborative or simply provide the opportunity to show work as a club.

An altogether different kind of printmaking - letterpress - is what happens up at Robert (Bob) Blesse's Black Rock Press. Affiliated with the University of Nevada, Reno, the Black Rock Press was founded in the 1970's, it is a specialized publisher who invites authors to print work with them in limited editions. Students of the University who take book arts classes have access to multiple presses, all letterpress machines, the oldest of which is a cast iron Colombian newsprint press which was created in the 1800's and is still in working condition.

Oxbow Press is the newest addition to the printmaking scene in Reno, having opened in June of 2010. We are still in the process of finalizing our 501C3, but are operating at full power hosting classes in printmaking, book arts and more. As opposed to being a school sponsored organization or a small group Oxbow Press is an educational opportunity for anyone interested in delving into the fine and fascinating world of printmaking. Our classes are affordable considering the expense of acquiring three presses, each of which are worth several thousand dollars, as well as allowing certain materials to be accessible to members and workshop students at any time. Most importantly we offer free events and an admission-free gallery where the public can look at print art. The press is also open to the public three days a week - Thursday, Saturday and Sunday - if neighbors or friends are interested in taking a tour of the gallery, print shop, resident artist studios and more.