By Kari Dickinson
Paula Panczenko, who for over 30 years led UW–Madison’s Tandem Press, retired this summer.
“Paula has been an extraordinary leader of Tandem Press,” said Diana Hess, former dean of the School of Education. “She is a true expert and also a wonderful collaborator with artists, her colleagues, students in the School of Education and across UW–Madison, and many stakeholders near and far. Her commitment to supporting artists to create outstanding work is widely recognized and lauded.”
Panczenko joined Tandem Press in 1989 as co-director, and became the director in 1994. Under her leadership, it has grown to become one of the leading fine art presses in the United States. Since its founding in 1987 by UW–Madison faculty member William (Bill) Weege, Tandem Press has hosted over 100 artists in its studio and printed and published over 1,000 editions and monoprints.
Reflecting on what makes Tandem unique, Panczenko explained that it places artists at the center.
“Our focus here is that if the artist wants to create something, and it’s complicated, give them the time — don’t rush people out the door. We need to recognize that this whole enterprise is a creative process, and it takes time.”
This approach has brought many American artists to Tandem. “In the last several years, we’ve managed to attract the ‘crème de la crème’ of artists, which has been amazing,” Panczenko said.
Panczenko spearheaded Tandem’s move to its current location at 1743 Commercial Ave. in 2013, and helped expand its footprint in 2017 with the addition of a formal gallery space and regular exhibition programming.
“Paula has transformed Tandem into a hub of cultural activity, a site for new reflections, and a singular destination for the artist’s ideas to take form and be repurposed for the common good,” said Faisal Abdu’Allah, the Chazen Family Distinguished Chair in Art and associate dean of the arts in the School of Education.
Tandem Press is also an important educational entity that’s affiliated with the School of Education’s Art Department. Students employed at Tandem Press complement their coursework with practical hands-on experience, gaining unparalleled insight into the professional art world by working as assistants to printers and curators. This affiliation is a leading reason why the Art Department’s Printmaking program is consistently ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Geha new director of Tandem Press
Katie Geha, a writer, curator, and art historian, started as the new director of the Tandem Press on Aug. 5. Geha comes from the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art in Athens, Georgia, where she had been the director and chief curator of galleries, including the university’s downtown gallery space, The Athenaeum.