Last week over 500 artists from around the world — including from Canada, Poland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Italy, and New Zealand — descended on UW–Madison for the Southern Graphics Council International (SGCI) conference, “Our Shared Future,” hosted by the School of Education’s Art Department. As a result, there was a virtual explosion of art and art-making on the UW–Madison campus — and all across Madison — with open portfolio sessions, lectures, talks, demonstrations, exhibitions, and more.
Here is just a small taste of what we caught on camera.
Themed portfolios
Themed portfolio collections featuring work by artists from around the world — including many UW–Madison alumni, faculty, and students — lined the halls of the Humanities Building during the conference. Photos by Sarah Maughan
Art-making and demonstrations
From lithography to papermaking, screenprinting, and more, conference attendees could learn about many different ways to make art. Demonstrations took place in the Humanities Building, Art Lofts, and Tandem Press.
In the photo below, visiting artist and internationally renowned printmaker Aaron Coleman, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, makes finishing touches on a lithographic print he is creating with Andy Rubin, a senior lecturer in the UW–Madison Art Department. Coleman worked collaboratively with Rubin and several UW–Madison graduate students to create a new, original print in the days leading up to the conference. Photo by Sarah Maughan
In this video, watch as Coleman, Rubin, and UW–Madison graduate student Devon Stackonis work together to create a lithographic print.
Fresh Hot Press, a UW–Madison student organization for undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about fine art printmaking, hosted a steamroller printing event at UW–Madison’s Tandem Press. Steamroller printing is, simply put, “woodblock printmaking made gigantic.” Using an asphalt compactor as an outdoor printing press, the technique allows printmakers to create enormous, mural-size artworks. Photo by Sarah Maughan
In this video, see the process to create a steamroller print.
Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, leads a wood type letterpress print demonstration for conference attendees. Hamilton Manufacturing was America’s largest and longest wood type maker, and the working museum is the only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production, and printing of wood type. Photo by Sarah Maughan
UW–Madison student Kelsey Voy, an undergraduate design studies major, leads a papermaking demonstration. The conference offered a platform for undergraduate and graduate students to share their creative research. Photo by Sarah Maughan
Students from the University of Iowa’s Center for the Book demonstrate a papermaking technique. Photo by Sarah Maughan
Kelvin Mason, a professor of art and graphic design at Augustana College, works with glass during a demonstration in the UW–Madison Glass Lab. Photo by Sarah Maughan
Travis Janssen, an associate professor at Southern Illinois University, demonstrates screen printing. Photo by Sarah Maughan
In this video, get a taste for the broad variety of art and printmaking demonstrations that took place at the SGCI conference.
Exhibitions
The conference included a multitude of exhibitions on campus, throughout Madison, and beyond. Among them, exhibitions at Union South and the Memorial Union highlighted artwork by UW–Madison alumni. At Union South (top photo, below) was “Printmaking: A Social Practice,” and at Memorial Union’s Main Gallery (bottom photo) was “Madison Alumni: A Legacy of Indigenous Perspectives.” Though both of these exhibitions are now closed, many exhibitions on campus and around town are still open for viewing. Photos by Sarah Maughan
Events
A Vendor Fair at Union South offered unique booths featuring various printmaking-related products, including some hosted by individual artists with work to show or sell. Photo by Sarah Maughan
The members of the UW–Madison steering committee for the SGCI conference at a reception at the Arts + Literature Laboratory in Madison. From left, they include: Adriana Barrios, the engagement manager for exhibitions and programs at the Center for Design and Material Culture; Emily Arthur, an associate professor in the Art Department; John Hitchcock, a professor in in the Art Department; and Faisal Abdu’Allah, a professor in the Art Department and the associate dean of the arts in the School of Education. Photo by Jim Escalante
Conceptual artist Mel Chin received a Lifetime Achievement in Printmaking Award at the conference and delivered a keynote address on Saturday night. Chin is known for his collaborative projects such as “The Fundred Project,” on view at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMOCA) through July 31. Chin’s “There’s Something Happening Here,” is also on view at MMOCA. Photo by Jim Escalante
