Making Prints in a Digital World
Abstract:
The project that we are proposing will transform two traditional printmaking courses through the increased use of digital technologies. These courses involve both majors and non-majors. Together, Denison's Printmaking I: Intaglio ( ART 131) and Kenyon's Printmaking: Silkscreen (ARTS 240) will incorporate digital techniques as a stimulus for conceptual development and artistic collaboration. Students in these two courses will develop images in their respective mediums and locations. Subsequently, they will collaborate with students in the other class through mostly virtual means (electronic transfer of ideas and images), eventually creating a virtual gallery of collaborative images and a physical art exhibition at Denison's John W. Alford Center for Service Learning's NewArt Gallery in Newark, Ohio and the Horn Gallery at Kenyon College. Students will focus on the contrast between the virtual image and the printed image. As printmakers we find great meaning in the physicality of the printed image. Therefore, we see digital media as a tool, but not an end in itself. It is critical that our students experience the union of virtual technology and physical object making. Hence the importance of output in printed terms. The exhibition in Newark is in conjunction with the gallery and community print shop Ron has established with students through a service learning development grant. The Horn Gallery is part of a recently rebuilt student cultural center. Our exhibition will demonstrate the creative possibilities of technology and continue the artistic goals of the partnership between Denison and East Newark, and with the KenyonGambier community as well.
Path to Fulfillment:
During September 2000 each class will learn the foundations of their media independently on their home campus. Concurrently, Ron and Claudia will meet to improve their skills in Web publishing. To this end, Claudia will train Ron more thoroughly on Photoshop, having gained more experience at this point. In addition, the faculty will collaborate along with the students on artistic projects and will cross teach along virtual space by using the distance learning conferencing facilities developed at our respective schools. In October we will begin a series of virtual critiques, lectures and demonstrations using these distance learning classrooms. These will be supplemented by campus visits as needed. Claudia will train all the students in Photoshop skills. Ron will lead discussions and lecture about popular culture and community collaboration in the arts available through technology. By working in different print processes and outputs (intaglio, serigraphy, ink jet, monitor) the classes will be exposed to the complimentary characteristics of each media ( the nature of line, color space, texture, etc.) They will scan and transfer images back and forth for collaborative opportunities. The semester will end with the students preparing a web site/ exchange portfolio with a subsequent physical exhibition in the spring semester.
To aide in the development of these courses and further our own professional development we plan to attend a joint training session in large scale digital printmaking at Cone Editions in Vermont as part of the fulfillment of this grant. This will help us prepare our students for the production of their own final exhibition. Cone Editions is one of the premiere digital print ateliers in the world today and our experiences there will enhance our vision of current professional practices to pass on to our students. We will address such issues as: color management, resolution and file management, ink and paper quality (archival and non-archival) ICC profiles for printers, inks and papers, etc.