Ken Frink‘s solo show, featuring his multiple plate
etchings, attracted a large crowd.
 |
| Ken Frink and his family |
His work celebrates color and the visual quality of gesture,
brushstroke, lines, and drips.
People crowd around Ken as he demonstrates at the press his
multi-step process.
Frink begins with a copper plate which he alters using acid
and resist to etch lines and tones, as well as aggressively manipulating the
surface of the plate by scraping, burnishing, sanding, and scratching.
He applies intaglio ink to the plate and wipes the plate
with tarlatan to remove excess ink. Old phone book pages are used to even
further remove ink from the plate. This allows ink to settle into any incisions
he has made in the plate. Once Frink has placed his inked plate on the press he
places a damp piece of paper on top of the plate, so that when going through
the press the damp paper will be able to be squeezed into the plate's
ink-filled grooves.
He continues to work back into the same plate, creating
prints that evolve as his plate evolves. Viewers got to experience his evolving
methods as he printed in workshop. The slightly transparent ink layered images
showcases his evolving method.
Each time Frink runs a plate through the press the crowd
craned their necks, eager to see him peel the print off the plate and reveal
the evolving print. Several youngsters wiggled with anticipation and clapped
their hands, excited to see the outcome.
Thank you to all the volunteers and to Jeff Simpson, photographer. See you next time!
