The Month of Printmaking (Mo’ Print) is a biennial celebration of the art of making original, fine-art prints. While the focus of events is during March 2020—the official month of celebration—some exhibits are beginning earlier. One such exhibit is Rhythm in Balance curated by artist Patricia Branstead and featuring five contemporary printmakers, including herself, Judith Bennett, Austin Buckingham, Joe Higgins and Charles Woolridge. The show runs February 21–March 29, 2020 at Niza Knoll Gallery, 915 Santa Fe Drive with an Opening Reception on Friday February 21, 5:30-8:30 p.m. and a Closing Reception on Sunday, March 29, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. during the Art of Brunch Art Walk in the Art District on Santa Fe.
Patricial Branstead’s work is inspired by the history and nature of form and her observations of the patterns and flow in the natural environment. She is also inspired by the architecture, art, calligraphy and physical forms created throughout history to express this relationship and create her own. She holds an MFA in printmaking and has worked in NYC, Steamboat Springs and currently in Denver. For the last 8 years she has been evolving monotype prints on Asian papers and has been creating lamps to reveal the light coming through the print and the translucent papers.
Judith Bennett is drawn to the shapes, spaces shadows and reflections found in nature and her environment. Her surfaces are energetic and complex, with organic and geometric forms combining with line, color, layering and texture to bring richness to her compositions. She often incorporates varied mark-making techniques and chine colle’ to further define the work.
California artist Austin Buckingham studied printmaking at the Art Students League here in Denver with master printmakers Mark Lunning and Joe Higgins. As a former environmental scientist, themes and elements such as earth, rock, wind & water inspire her print works that also follow a modern aesthetic. She likes to invoke a sense of flow & movement though use of line and recently has been exploring with drawn elements using charcoal and brushwork at the final stage of printmaking.
Joe Higgins’ monotypes deal with the vexations of making connections of the spirit. His images are representational, but also conceptual and symbolic. He uses distressed landscapes as a metaphor for the uncertainties of life, or interiors to express ineffable messages of the heart. His more recent imagery includes nests as symbols of both comfort and protection; as well as threat. In 1988, Higgins was awarded an Individual Artist Fellowship by the Colorado Council on the Arts. He teaches classes in monotype at the Art Students League of Denver and has shown his work throughout Colorado.
By partnering with a critical mass of participating artists, galleries and other partners The Month of Printmaking serves to promote exhibits, workshops, demonstrations, and events that inspire, educate and promote awareness of this art form throughout the Denver area and Colorado. It is marking its 4th run, deferring, every other year to the comparable Month of Photography. A full listing and calendar of exhibitions, workshops and events can be found at www.moprint.org