A glimpse of Philagrafika
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Philagrafika is billed as the largest printmaking arts festival in the world. It will launch in Philadelphia at the end of the month. But some artists are giving the city an early taste.
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Philagrafika begins on January 29th, bringing the work of more than 300 artists to Philadelphia. It aims to showcase the fundamentals of the printmakers craft, and to point out how it is expanding. Two exhibits this weekend are getting a head start.
In a guerrilla action they are calling Book Bombing – two artists will paste handmade posters in downtown parks to disseminate ideas about public space and homelessness.
And inside the relative warmth of a Rittenhouse Square gallery, artist Merle Spandorfer is showing prints using environmentally sustainable materials. After years of exposure to chemicals in her studio, Spandorfer says she maxed out on toxins and nearly died while undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer.
Spandorfer: When I taught at Tyler, I was teaching silkscreening using solvents, highly toxic chemicals. Etching traditionally uses many toxic chemicals – nitric acid, kerosene, and what I'm teaching is non-toxic printmaking.
Spandorfer will demonstrate her techniques at the Cheltenham Art Center in February. Hundreds of artists will participate in Philagrafika beginning on January 29th.
Thanks so much for the interview. I appreciate your spreading the word for printmakers to work "GREEN"…helping to use non-toxic materials for both their health and the environment.
First, Book Bombs would like to thank WHYY and Peter Crimmins for helping us promote our project – it's such an exciting honor for us!
Secondly, we'd like to clarify some concerns – we want to respect public property, and so we have chosen not to utilize wheat paste. Instead, we are using bookbinder's thread as a non-invasive installation. Our prints can be seen tied to benches, light posts, and fences. The paper and thread we are using is made from natural materials, and will also biodegrade without harm to the environment.
We want to respect the city that inspires us and in which we make our home.