Pickwick x 2 = We double dare you!

"The time has come,"
the walrus said,
"to talk of many things:
of shoes and ships
and sealing wax
of cabbages and kings."

And breaking down of walls and bars.
Away with unnecessary things!

Pickwick is busting out all over. Come see, come see! Two times the space, a cosmic explosion of inspiration, a stretching of both mind and limb!

Cannonball Press makes a landing

It has come to our attention that there is a super-fantastic print show of amazing proportions and remarkably affordable prices just downstairs from Pickwick, in the SPACE Gallery!

Do your print-happy self a favor and grace your eyeballs with the gleam of black on white, slick and wild woodcut imagery as executed by the deadly skills of the folks of Cannonball Press. For those who can ill-stand the thought of walking away from these monochromatic lovelies once an introduction has been made, please be aware that the 18" x 24" prints are a mere $20 each. I know, I wouldn't believe me either. Better go see for yourself.

* * * * *

Burn the Lot: Splinter Heads, Nut Mobs & Ballyhoo
Friday 02.04.2011 through Thursday 03.24.2011

Neo-Pagan World Kings of scruffy pirate black and white hillbilly printmaking Cannonball Press return to Portland for a wild-ride print show extravaganza, with limited-edition prints, woodcut collages, and more.

Cannonball Press is run by Martin Mazorra and Mike Houston. Based in Brooklyn, NY, they've been publishing relief cuts and screenprints since 1999, selling them for $20 each. Around 2004, in addition to publishing, they started to make large-scale collaborative woodcut prints, sculptures and installations. Their work has taken them to Estonia, South Africa, Maui, Germany, Denmark, and numerous U.S. cities. In 2009 Mike and Martin were named US Artists Ford Fellows. They aim to make good prints people can enjoy and afford, adding some small chapter to the rich history of printing (namely, the scruffy black and musky-pirated hillbilly chapter).

The show will feature a huge new pile of limited-edition $20 prints by the likes of Dusty Herbig, Angela Earley, Drew Iwaniw, Sarah Nicholls, Tyler Krasowski, and Donna Diamond.

Also, Martin and Mike will premiere their new supersized woodcuts depicting the capitalist wasteland, as seen through the lens of a carnival for the ages. Mega carny prints on canvas!

The Cannonball Mission is a simple recipe:

The Cannonball Print: A down-home dish that is tasty hot or cold. For low-fat version,

substitute another printing press, because these things will put meat on your bones!

1 lurking artist

1 one-eyed master-printer

1 idea

5 cups backwater goo

6 spoonfuls of jumpstart and holler

9 lbs. mess with your face

1 bottle Tickle-My-Fancy

6 smatterings kick-ass juice

1 handful of Fine Art

Preheat idea in Oven of Rock. Make sure color is off! Allow images to gestate and contort

at will. When mysterious, funny or twisted, remove and slap on table. Add all ingredients,

and beat and cut until smooth and hot. Do not add Fine Art at this point. Add master-printer,

work him into a steady boil, edition. Throw Fine Art in trash. Sign and Serve.

An introduction

While we muster our resources to give you a running report of what the dickens we are up to, we might as well get some of the housework out of the way. That includes the basic preliminaries -- who we are, what we do, and similar pertinent details. Future posts will be of a less lofty, more perspicacious and perhaps even sprightly nature, or so it has been rumored.

Pickwick Independent Press mission statement:
It is our intention to empower print makers and artists to use Pickwick's facility to promote and support their ideas and practices. With our key-holder members we will collaborate on a variety of events including workshops, open studios, editions, and group exhibitions. We will work together to seek out other presses and print collectives around the nation to build networking opportunities. And we will work together to develop and explore income generating opportunities for the shop and its members.

What Pickwick Independent Press is offering:
Press access that includes intaglio, wood block, and letter press. Non-Press processes that we provide equipment for include silkscreen and basic paper making. We have large work surfaces, meant for both clean and messy processes, paper storage, minimal screen and or photo sensitive plate storage, personal item storage and dedicated wash down and darkrooms. We will provide selected materials such as inks and solvents, and other miscellaneous necessities. Once we have defined the needs of our members we will have a small in-house supply store where members can purchase specialized printmaking materials. We provide free WIFI, roof deck access, kitchen, and wood shop facilities. Members may also choose to purchase a page on our website for a onetime fee.

Where is Pickwick Press?
Pickwick Independent Press is a fine art printing facility in the heart of downtown Portland Maine. The press is located in the Artist Studio Building, a community of 35 active professional artists. Our website is http://pickwickindependentpress.com

What? I need more information!
For more information, contact Lisa Pixley, Pickwick Founding Member, in any one of a number of ways:

Pickwick Independent Press
Artist Studio Building
536 Congress St
Portland, Maine 04101

pickwickind[at]gmail.com

Cell:207.329.9703
Fax:207.874.0459

or visit us online for application forms and more at http://pickwickindependentpress.com

Image culled from the amazing blog forgottenbookmarks.com