Distant Views - Monotypes by Jacob Matteson

Jacob Matteson discusses his work with a viewer

Jacob Matteson's monotypes

On First Friday, February 5, 2016, New Grounds Gallery hosted an artist reception and exhibition opening for Distant Views - Monotypes by Jacob Matteson.

This colorful body of work is fresh from Jacob's studio, combining layers of monotype, paint and colored pencil in eye-catching ways. 

The artist, Jacob Matteson, poses with his work

Jacob is an internationally known printmaker who enchants the eye with fresh landscape monotypes. Matteson’s colorful abstraction invites the viewer to observe the interaction of light, color, shape, pattern, and motion. 

His unique form of environmental abstraction creates drama, blending multiple places into a dreamlike memory that suggests a moment in time, while resembling familiar terrain. Each surreal horizon is a metaphor of space, location, emotion and even ancient mysticism.

An Albuquerque native, Jacob received his MFA at the University of New Mexico and shows his work regionally, as well as internationally. 

Jacob's demo monotype

Jacob inks up his monotype plate

Jacob Matteson provided a detailed monotype technique demo during the opening, showing the audience how he mixes color, builds layers, creates his signature sun/moon, and prints. 

If you missed the opening, don't worry! We'll be editing and sharing the video of his demonstration soon on our YouTube channel.

The exhibition itself runs through Friday, February 26, so be sure to stop by if you haven't seen it in person yet.

3rd International Juried Print Exhibition - Opening Night

Viewers crowd the 3rd International Juried Print Exhibition at New Grounds

Works by Manuel Lau, Riley Breen, Charles Barth and others!

On December 3rd, 2015, New Grounds Gallery hosted an opening reception for our 3rd International Juried Print Exhibition, which features work from more than 25 different artists from around the globe. This yearly event always offers an exciting, fresh look at the state of printmaking and is well attended by collectors, art lovers and other printmakers from our local community.

This year's exhibition drew quite a crowd and generated a lot of conversation about different printmaking methods. We are consistently impressed by the talented artists that submit work each year and it's always such a hard jury process.  

Viewers get in close to view Joh McKaig's work

Viewers admire work by Eun-ji Choi, Barbara Handler, Rosemary Mortimer and others!

One corner of the installation, including the extra pieces available in the
print rack--we wish we had room to display all of the work framed!

Work by Tonia Matthews, Olesya Dzhurayeva and Hiroko Ryusekido

The International exhibition is an exciting event for Albuquerque, as we're able to present new work to local collectors and art lovers. Some of the participants are globally recognized artists, others have the opportunity to show work for the first time in New Mexico, or in the United States, thanks to the event. The result is a talented array of ideas and techniques, rich in texture and concept.

We frame a selected piece from each artist, then have additional works on hand for buyers.

This year's group represents Canada, Mexico, Ukraine, South Korea, Japan, Argentina, Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Estonia, Europa. 

A viewer gets in close!

Works by Judith Klugerman, Barabara Fallini Babiscia and Eun-ji Choi

Works by Aidan Flanagan , Bernadette Madden and Rozanne DiSilvestro

Works by Aidan Flanagan and Bernadette Madden

A viewer gets in close to see Peter de Leur's piece; to the left is Hyejeong Kwon, Manuel Lau,
Riley Breen, Charles Barth, John McKaig and Anais Gerber

The artists worked in a diverse array of printmaking techniques, including mezzotint, waterless lithography, etching, linocut, serigraphy, monotype, drypoint, collagraph, stone lithography and mixed printmaking with chine colle. 

Work by Hyejeong Kwon, Peter de Leur and Reti Saks

Rozanne di Silverstro and Judith Klugerman

If you missed our opening reception, don't worry! We will be sharing videos of the installation, plus all of the work is viewable online on our 3rd International Juried Print Exhibition web page. 

Because the exhibition features so many artists, we'll be sharing highlights here on the blog and on Facebook all month. We'll also be sharing videos of the installation for those who would like to see it, but can't make the journey to our space.

More shots from opening night:

Kim Miro, Aidan Flanagan, Bernadette Madden, Rozanne di Silvestro

The diversity of prints drew many visitors

Brian Giza Etching Demo

Brian Giza

 In August, New Grounds Gallery presented Body and Movement - Etchings by Brian Giza.

During the exhibition opening, Brian provided a live demonstration of his dry point techniques, plus details on his process, his combination of various traditional and non-traditional approaches to etching, and his creative use of fascinating tools to produce his fresh, figurative works. Best of all, Brian goes into detail about why he draws and the idea behind his sensitive portraiture.

If you missed the original demo, or have been dying to see it again, you're in luck! We've finished the demo video and it is now available on YouTube:

Brian's inking station for the demo

New Grounds Print Workshop and Gallery YouTube Channel

View etchings by Brian Giza on our gallery website.

Lincoln Draper - Gravure Demo Video

In July, New Grounds artist Lincoln Draper gave a gravure demonstration at the exhibition opening for our three-artist gravure show, Explorations in Gravure - 19th Century Aesthetic, 21st Century Technology. The audience loved it!

Lincoln demonstrates  inking, wiping and printing a gravure plate, and also discusses exposure and image-making. 

You can view the edited video here, on the New Grounds Print Workshop & Gallery YouTube channel!  Follow our channel, too, if you haven't already. We are always adding new videos. 

The Making of Landscapes, Jacqui Lewnes' solo show

Jacqui Lewnes Stands in front of one of New Grounds' presses in preparation for her demonstration.
I am not alone in saying that I am very proud of Jacqui and admire her as an artist and as a person. Jacqui overcame many hardships with grace, perseverance, and a great sense of humor while creating beautiful, ethereal, and emotional monotype landscapes of New Mexico for her solo show this month at New Grounds.

Jacqui gives us a "serious and thoughtful" pose in front of two of her pieces. A great example of her playful personality.

Selfie time! Gallery Assitant Tanya, myself, and Jacqui take a quick photo together during the show.

In additon to Jacqui's show David Welch and his wife Cynthia Winster had a spectacular show in the Matrix gallery. David (in purple) speaks with a student and her parent in the front studio in New Grounds.

Director Regina Held stands with our new intern Jessica Carr near the entrance greeting guests as they arrive.

New Grounds artist and Local Treasure Mary Sundstrom leans against the press and speaks with a visitor.

A guest admires the work done by New Grounds artist and Serigraph instuctor Ren Adams

Former member and current art model Mike Rudal and his wife Wendy arrive to see Jacqui's show.

Guests gather in Matrix to take in work by David Welch and Cynthia Winster.

A crowd gathers to watch Jacqui's monotype demonstration. To watch the demo please click the links at the bottom of the page.

Photos and Blog by Kaitlin Reese, New Grounds intern.