Can't tell you how excited I am to be attending the Southern Graphics Conference International in New Orleans, Louisiana in March.
The Sierra Tap House has also made my show a great experience, they are really considerate and supportive of the local artist here in Reno.
Coming up in just over a week is a show going up at the Joe Crowley Student Union on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno - my alma mater. Not only prints but some of my book art creations will be on display. Keep up to date on this and other projects by checking the Happenings tab.
Did I mention that I have a couple of classes coming up? Check the Nevada Museum of Art's website to find out about their current Tiffany's Glass exhibit and sign up for either my Intaglio or Relief printmaking classes.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Solo Show: Update
Come down tonight to see my work!
After the stress of preparing everything for the show I'm so excited to be at the reception tonight. The Sierra Tap House has been so generous to let me show in their space. At first I was dubious about showing in a bar, but I've been to the Tap House before and I know it has great energy. After this experience I can't recommend them highly enough, if you look at the update they just posted on their Facebook I think you'll understand why:
After the stress of preparing everything for the show I'm so excited to be at the reception tonight. The Sierra Tap House has been so generous to let me show in their space. At first I was dubious about showing in a bar, but I've been to the Tap House before and I know it has great energy. After this experience I can't recommend them highly enough, if you look at the update they just posted on their Facebook I think you'll understand why:
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Solo Show
Well it's certainly been long enough! I must admit the holidays hit me like a tonne of bricks and it's taken awhile to sift through the rubble. Gleaning the repairable bits, and friendship with the amazing Alana Berglund, has landed me a solo show at the Sierra Tap House in downtown Reno, Nevada.
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| a sneak preview! |
Belt and Braces: A Print Show
Art by Rachel Kaiser
at the Sierra Tap House
253 West 1st Street Reno
Reception
6pm-9pm
Thursday, February 16th
Meet me in person, drink great beer, and see my work. Warning, this art will feature skeletons. I know that comes as a huge surprise to those of you who've been reading my blog since last summer. This show I'm taking as a turning point in my artistic focus. I became heavily entrenched in concepts of validation and subject matter. Those concerns moved me to a very tenuous place and I've decided, both consciously and subconsciously, that I can no longer afford to invest myself so thoroughly in what other people take seriously. Belt and Braces is about letting go, yes the title is ironic and the subject matter is a little too. Anatomy, skeletons, and the idea of copying and reproducing have been present while I dealt with many different issues last year. The concept of building blocks - upon those slim bones are hung the rest of your body and soul - and the idea of fundamentals - it all goes back to anatomy - are things I needed to work on, they are things in which I still find comfort.
The time for comfort has passed.
There will be no resolution written here, nor any insubstantial fluff about my commitment to improving my work. Instead I will write simply that I aim to produce. What is the result of my production may be uncanny, childlike, serious, or macabre but it won't really matter if it doesn't jive. Perhaps that's the nature of my work - things trying desperately to fit together, trying so hard that they are making their own adhesive out of hair and using friction to stimulate a melting of the pieces that won't fit. We'll have to see, for now - skeletons!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Reduction Cut - her name is december
The Holland Project, a local non-profit organization in Reno, Nevada that promotes artistic and musical events for young people, began the Holland Editions project about two years ago. This will be their third year producing the Holland Edition; a collection of prints by 12 artists in the Reno area each one featured in it's own month. Megan Berner, a printmaker and the organizer of this project as well as a board member of the Holland Project, was kind enough to invite me to participate in this years print portfolio.
As often happens I came up with a beautiful concept very soon but wasn't sure exactly how I would create it. There are so many options with printmaking and each method has pros and cons. The original idea called for creating a copper plate etching and then doing a drypoint and monotype on top to get some extra color and detail. Instead I ended up at the Black Rock Press with one mounted linoleum board and a solution - reduction cut block printing.
Relief is very direct. There is less process than with most intaglio techniques when creating wood or linoleum blocks. A reduction cut, sometimes called a "suicide cut", was a technique used by Pablo Picasso among other artists to achieve multiple colors from the same block instead of multiple blocks. Beginning with the first, lightest color, make the entire edition of prints. Then cut into the block a second time and print the entire edition again, rinse and repeat for the number of colors the image contains. For myself there is usually a 10-15% loss when creating multiple color prints, and that was true this time as well. The only way to get a copy of this print is to purchase the Holland Editions Portfolio. I must say I like it very much and hope to continue creating work like this in the future.
As often happens I came up with a beautiful concept very soon but wasn't sure exactly how I would create it. There are so many options with printmaking and each method has pros and cons. The original idea called for creating a copper plate etching and then doing a drypoint and monotype on top to get some extra color and detail. Instead I ended up at the Black Rock Press with one mounted linoleum board and a solution - reduction cut block printing.
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| "her name is december" by Rachel Kaiser Thanks to Megan Berner for the photo. |
Relief is very direct. There is less process than with most intaglio techniques when creating wood or linoleum blocks. A reduction cut, sometimes called a "suicide cut", was a technique used by Pablo Picasso among other artists to achieve multiple colors from the same block instead of multiple blocks. Beginning with the first, lightest color, make the entire edition of prints. Then cut into the block a second time and print the entire edition again, rinse and repeat for the number of colors the image contains. For myself there is usually a 10-15% loss when creating multiple color prints, and that was true this time as well. The only way to get a copy of this print is to purchase the Holland Editions Portfolio. I must say I like it very much and hope to continue creating work like this in the future.
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| Inexpert photo by Rachel, see a few more details in this one. |
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Free Swag!
Come early to the Indie Reno Holiday Craft Fair and get a free bag of goodies from all our vendors! Only the first 25 will get this sweet reward so don't delay - mark your calendar for NEXT SUNDAY!
Only a few days from now the Indie Reno Holiday Craft Fair will take place! Many local artists will be selling their items from mosaics, jewelry and children's clothing to books, tote bags, and henna designs. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and support local artists.
It's the happiest season of all - the Holiday Season! My family and friends are busy people and though we all make time to get together throughout the year there is something special about keeping the spirit with the ones you love. No matter what faith you hold dear the holidays are a good excuse to make merry, lavish your friends with goodies, and bake that extra pie.
It's the happiest season of all - the Holiday Season! My family and friends are busy people and though we all make time to get together throughout the year there is something special about keeping the spirit with the ones you love. No matter what faith you hold dear the holidays are a good excuse to make merry, lavish your friends with goodies, and bake that extra pie.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Paper Cutting
Came across the lovely work of Annie Vought at Design*Sponge last week and was thoroughly impressed. Her letters are an intense combination of imagery, display and word power. The lights from above showcase both the precise paper cutting and the thin nature of her material. Though she has shifted to letters I'm also a fan of her older work, the heart in particular which graphically delineates the organ without making it seem fleshy or raw.
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| Heart by Annie Vought 2005 |
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Not everyone has former students of their father come up to them and ask "So was he, like, a spy or something?" when they realize who, exactly, your father is. To me this is not uncommon. No, my father has never been involved in espionage. He did speak Russian, and he did work for the government during the late 1980's and 1990's writing about communist countries like the U.S.S.R. and China for congress.
But what's more important is that now he uses that knowledge to teach young people about their own potential to influence their country through government. He is a high school teacher. I was very proud to find my dad's picture and an article about his experiences working for the U.S. Government in the local Reno News & Review today. He, Phillip, and my mother, Susan, have always held education in the highest esteem and passed their love of it to me. If all I can do to repay them, for how they have helped me throughout this life, is say "thank you" then here it is - thanks for being wonderful, ethical, passionate people and raising me to be the same. I am very lucky to have such supportive and intelligent people for parents. Their stories give me the inspiration to follow my dreams and the conviction to believe in my own mind and opinions.
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| Phillip Kaiser, amazing educator/my dad |
But what's more important is that now he uses that knowledge to teach young people about their own potential to influence their country through government. He is a high school teacher. I was very proud to find my dad's picture and an article about his experiences working for the U.S. Government in the local Reno News & Review today. He, Phillip, and my mother, Susan, have always held education in the highest esteem and passed their love of it to me. If all I can do to repay them, for how they have helped me throughout this life, is say "thank you" then here it is - thanks for being wonderful, ethical, passionate people and raising me to be the same. I am very lucky to have such supportive and intelligent people for parents. Their stories give me the inspiration to follow my dreams and the conviction to believe in my own mind and opinions.
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