[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking. Baren Digest Saturday, 22 May 1999 Volume 07 : Number 570 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Gayle Wohlken Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 09:55:56 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4434] Re: Baren Digest V7 #569 Dave asked about political statement in woodcuts. I think the political statement in woodcuts will be around a long time. Not so much in the hanga woodblock print, but in the tradition of woodcuts. The energy of the wood lends itself to strong statements. There's an immediacy and boldness because of the tools used (gouges). Gayle Wohlken ------------------------------ From: "Brad A. Schwartz" Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 08:21:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Baren 4435] Gum Arabic?? Hi... In reference to David Bull's Encyclopedia entry on Preparation of the Hanshita using colour copies... David, you mention using 'gum arabic' on the block to adhere the thin rice paper with the colour image on it. Is this just plain old gum arabic that you'd use in lithography or something else? What about using rice/wheat paste and or YES! paste? thank you, Brad ------------------------------ From: "Jeanne N. Chase" Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 12:09:27 -0400 Subject: [Baren 4436] Re: Baren Digest V7 #569 Woodblock as Gayle so aptly put it is a perfect vehicle for political statements..War posters were either silk screen or woodblock , because of their strength. Look at prints by Kollwitz, Daumier and some political statements were made by Latrec, besides his social commentarys. I am doing one right now. Not for decoration, or the print exchange. Only because this is the one way that I can express myself in reacting to what is happening in the world. Art, is it not wonderful? Jeanne ------------------------------ From: Jean Eger Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 13:41:15 -0700 Subject: [Baren 4438] Re: Baren Digest V7 #569 Dave wrote >I'd very much like to hear from you three gentlemen (or anybody else of >course) about your thoughts on this: in this new world of CNN and >instant images from all over the world, does woodblock printmaking >really have a role to play in current political affairs? Dave, the Berkeley art center will be having a large show of political prints June 2 to July 11, 1999. I'll have 3 prints in it! Jean Eger ------------------------------ From: horacio Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 01:26:08 -0300 Subject: [Baren 4439] Re: introduction David Bull wrote: > Woodblock printmaking certainly does have a political facet in its > history, but I for one had kind of thought that was all in the past. [1] When I decided to participate in the Baren Group, I was conscious that my work was quite different from many of yours, but I believe that our link is not exactly the coincidence of themes and styles. What join us is our love for the wood prints, the pleasure cutting and touching the texture of wood, the smell of inks and solvents, the patient work of sharpening tools, and, mainly, the mystery of the first copies. Am I right? [2] I agree with David that my prints can be classified as "political ones". In fact, my unique subject is the human figure being, with distorted faces and exaggerated bodies, black and white... Even when I draw a horse, it looks more human than the rider (According to Jean Eager). [3] As you know, we had in Brazil many years under military rule, censorship; Still there are too much social injustice, human rights problems and poverty. The entire world give us a bad example as well: wars, fragment bombs, genocide, violence in schools, hunger... [4] Kim asked me what had inspired me to create the print "Untitled-2" (the man with horns and clock). The answer is "frustration and impotence". My prints express directly my state of spirit, my feelings. (In this case, they are also psychological prints!?). [5] I agree that woodcuts are out-of-date as an instrument for political purposes. But, of course, I don't expect to change the world with my prints. I just want make "xilogravuras". [6] By the way, I think that the beautiful, high quality, peaceful, decorative prints created by Andrea Rich are more political than mine. They carry an explicit political intention, I suppose. [7] Thank you all for your "welcome" and opinions. They made me happy. Horacio [8] "Cut! Print!" says wisely David Bull. ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V7 #570 ***************************