Pics from the Exhibition

I am really happy with the exhibition opening and lecture at Solomon Projects. Overall there was a really solid turnout for the opening night and I had lots of great conversations about prints and the collaborations I've printed. It never fails to amaze me- the variety of the pieces and the cohesiveness of the works that are made by such varied artists. Solomon Projects did an amazing job hanging the work salon style and really coaxed some interesting connections with the work. 

I gave a half an hour lecture talking about the publishing collaborative aspect of the prints, as well as sharing some anecdotes of the production process. There were lots of great questions and good responses to the works. On top of it, I was grateful that people seemed to linger - spending about 2 hours on their Sat morning digging deeper into the works and coming up with some insightful questions and commentary. 

I am really happy with the show which is up for another 3 weeks. I hope if you're in Atlanta you will make the time to go and see it. 

A big thanks again to all the artists - Wendy White, Jiha Moon, Scott Ingram, Holly Coulis, David Humphrey, Ridley Howard - and to Solomon Projects. Also a big thanks to Larry, Mike, Ashlee, and everyone else who put the hours in and got your hands dirty. That's where it all starts, after all. 

Nancy Solomon & me at the lecture

Checking out the Jiha Moon's

Talking about screenprinting & collaborating with artists like Wendy White, Jiha Moon, Ridley Howard, and David Humphrey

Firsthand at Solomon Projects

An exhibition featuring recent collaborations will be opening at Solomon Projects Tomorrow, March 13th and I'm really excited . This show has been in the works for a while and it's great to see another gallery getting behind the power of print.

Originally, when I began doing research on artists to publish, I looked for solid galleries in the Southeast who were exhibiting the best work and Solomon Projects was at the top of the list. I have worked with many artists who show there regularly---- Wendy White , Ridley Howard, and Scott Ingram. David Humphrey was the first artist I published professionally. I'm so happy that this show is recognizing the quality and depth of the projects I've had a hand in. I'm also happy than another high quality gallery has decided to incorporate prints into their mindset and exhibition scope.

Stay tuned for images from the show . . .

Cockeyed Press

I'm very excited to report that my good friend Bill Fick has recently expanded operations of his Cockeyed Press to publishing prints and books by artists and authors other than himself, honing his focus and bringing greater exposure to his passion for relief prints. His most recent project, a sweet lino cut printed by Ali Roudabash, is a collaboration with Team Lump,  an artist collective from Raleigh, NC.   I've been a longtime fan of Bill's and I'm really excited to see Cockeyed Press make this expansion. I'm positive Bill's going to be putting together some interesting projects over the next few months.  

It's also exciting to see another press tapping into the energy and  possibilities that are out there right now. I think the rush of digital imagery- the onslaught of speed and ease - has finally led more and more small and medium sized publishers to focus on what they are publishing instead of how many. It's also led people with passion and vision to make the leap and commit to creating and exposing people to a whole new way to frame their ideas of collecting art. 

Right now, more than anytime since the desktop publishing revolution,  I see a sincere desire to push the work beyond just merch and to make something that reflects vision, integrity, and a point of view. It's my sincere hope that this economic period of reevaluation will support and respond to commitment of vision  by bolstering high quality publishers such as Cockeyed Press.

Good Luck Bill and Congratulations.

32nd Bradley

Southern Review Arts Coordinator

I've been meaning to blog about this for a while, but haven't had the proper amount of time to sit down and give it the proper due. I'm very excited to announce that I have been named the Arts Coordinator for the Southern Review at L.S.U. as of Jan 2009. I began this process by working with the Editor Jeanne Leiby to help her find work for the Fall 2008 issue, which features works by John J. O'Connor. Jeanne and I had worked together on an important grant a few years back and when she assumed the Editor's role at the S.R. we had a great conversation about how the arts section could be expanded upon. In an informal way, I suggested John as an artist to look at and Jeanne selected him as the Winter Issue Cover, as well as featuring his work in the overall issue, which includes also includes the following: 

POETRY
James Arthur, Evan Beaty, David Bottoms, Traci Brimhall, Robert Cording, Rita Dove, John W. Evans, Bob Hicok, Roy Jacobstein, Martin Lammon, Joseph Landi, Alex Lemon, George Looney, Erika Meitner, Nadine Sabra Meyer, Mary Oliver, Brent Pallas, Joshua Rivkin, Jay Rogoff, Catie Rosemurgy, Jesse Schweppe, Charles Simic, Shirley Stephenson, G. C. Waldrep, Tana Jean Welch, William Wenthe, John Yau

FICTION
L. Annette Binder, Steve Davenport, Ivonne Lamazares, Andy Mozina, Victoria Patterson, Justin Quarry, George Singleton

ESSAYS
Jerry D. Mathes II, Peggy Shinner, Eliot Weinberger

REVIEWS
Juan Manuel Sánchez

In January, Jeanne called me again and we started to talk about the artwork for upcoming issues, a conversation that evolved into an invitation to work as the Visual Arts Coordinator. I'm honored to have someone I trust and admire as much as Jeanne ask me to work on her team! As the coordinator, I'll be keeping my eye on the pulse of artists who are important contributors and creators and bring their work to the readers of the Southern Review, the 2nd oldest literary Journal in the U.S.