Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem

Join host Ann Shafer for an illuminating conversation with artist and SCAD educator Curtis Bartone. In this episode, Curtis pulls back the curtain on the alchemical medium of lithography and his secret sauce of counter etching, discussing his artistic evolution from the Midwest to Savannah, Georgia, and how he balances rigorous technical mastery with experimental mark-making. From overcoming early...

Step into the grand, shadowy, and endlessly inventive world of Giovanni Battista Piranesi. In this episode, Ann and Tru explore the extraordinary life and legacy of the 18th-century master printmaker, architect, and polemicist whose sweeping etchings of Rome and terrifyingly surreal Carceri (Prisons) series continue to captivate the imagination. Join us as they examine Piranesi's Venetian roots, h...

Join host Ann Shafer on this episode of Platemark for a captivating journey through more than 55 years in the print world with Daniel Lienau, owner of The Annex Galleries in Santa Rosa, California. From his serendipitous beginnings at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Berkeley to studying under unorthodox educators like Janet Turner, Daniel shares a lifetime of wisdom on print dealing, colle...

Join us on this episode of Platemark for a captivating and deeply personal conversation with the legendary artist, illustrator, and master printmaker Barry Moser. Reflecting on a career defined by extraordinary craftsmanship and intellectual curiosity, Barry shares stories from his beginnings in Chattanooga, his transition from preaching to an ever-questioning artistic life, and the philosophy beh...

In this episode of Platemark , Ann Shafer sits down with master framer Thoren Vadala of Make-A-Frame Atlantic to explore the meticulous, often overlooked world of picture framing. From the technical realities of custom woodworking versus manufactured MDF to conservation standards like cotton rag mats and UV-filtering glass, Thoren breaks down what it truly takes to protect and elevate a work of ar...

Host Ann Shafer talks with Laura Raicovich about creativity, resistance, and alternative cultural spaces. They talk about Laura's pioneering museum leadership, her upcoming fine jewelry line Istria Napoli, and her fearless advocacy for artistic freedom outside traditional institutional boundaries. From exploring the legacy of the Queens Museum to reimagining sustainable cultural infrastructures li...

Celebrate a milestone with Platemark as we record our first-ever live episode at the 30th anniversary of the McNay Print Fair. Host Ann Shafer is joined by master printer James Stroud (Center Street Studio) to explore the fascinating, high-stakes world of the print shop. From Jim's formative years with Stanley William Hayter at Atelier 17 to modern-day collaborations with artists like Markus Linne...

What happens when a visionary publisher collaborates with minimalist and conceptual giants like Chuck Close, Agnes Martin, and Dorothea Rockburne? In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Rachel Vogel, Assistant Curator at the Addison Gallery of American Art, to explore the monumental legacy of Parasol Press. Rachel shares the behind-the-scenes stories of curating the exhibition Parasol Pre...

In this episode of Platemark, host Ann Shafer sits down with Marie Tennyson, Executive Director of the Lower East Side Printshop who shares her inspiring journey from starting at Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) at age 22 to championing one of New York City's most vital artistic hubs. Discover the rich history of the Lower East Side Printshop—born during a 1968 teachers' strike—and learn how...

In this episode of Platemark, we sit down with exceptional artist, printmaker, animator, and educator Jenny Schmid for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of history, art, and activism. We explore how historical figures like Käthe Kollwitz and José Posada influence Jenny's contemporary practice, delve into her fascinating project "Disembodied Reembodied," and celebrate the vital ro...

Ever wonder about the incredible artistry hiding in your wallet? In this episode, Ann sits down with Tom Hipschen, a former master engraver at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who spent nearly four decades crafting the very banknotes and postage stamps we handle every day. Tom takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary career—from his grueling decade-long apprenticeship and serving as the...

In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Venezuelan-born artist and educator Reinaldo Gil Zambrano. Based in Spokane, Washington, Reinaldo is a relief printmaking specialist whose work explores themes of home, heritage, and the universal human experience. As an Assistant Professor at Gonzaga University and co-founder of the Spokane Print and Publishing Center, Reinaldo discusses his commitm...

In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Val Lucas, the artist and master printer behind Bowerbox Press. From her early shift from painting to printmaking at MICA to her current work casting custom metal type and ornaments, Val shares her journey through the tactile, meticulous world of letterpress. We dive into the technical evolution of the craft—balancing traditional handset type with mo...

In s2e38, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part three of three in which we talk about father and son, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. Shift your gaze from the canals to the clouds as we explore the whimsical, light-filled world of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. A master of the Rococo, Tiepolo brought a sense of...

What happens when you trade a job at Kinko's for a career as one of the art world's most provocative curators? In this episode, Ann sits down with the legendary Nato Thompson to explore how he navigates the complex intersections of community, culture, and the "art ecosystem." They dive into his latest mission—The Alternative Art School—where he is dismantling the myth of the solitary genius and bu...

In s2e37, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part two of three in which we talk about Canaletto. While often remembered as a topographical painter of postcards, Canaletto was, in fact, a master of curated reality. In this segment, they examine how Canaletto transformed the ordinary streets and canals of Venice into grand, cinematic s...

David Barthold's journey as a printmaker began at age 13, took him through the legendary studio of Atelier 17 in Paris, and eventually led to a hiatus that ended in a burst of lino-cut street art during the pandemic. In this episode, we explore the life and work of a native New Yorker who refuses to stay in one lane. We dig into his early start learning under Ruth Leaf as a teenager and honing his...

Step into the sun-drenched world of 18th-century Venice as we explore the "theatrical splendor" that defined an era. In this episode, Ann and resident expert Tru Ludwig dive into the vibrant Venetian art scene, where the city itself served as both a stage and a muse. We set the scene by discussing the transition from the heavy Baroque style to the airy, spontaneous Rococo and the rise of the "Gran...

What happens when a rare book library is also a working machine shop? This week, Ann sits down with the formidable Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, Associate Curator at the Cary Graphic Arts Collection at RIT. Amelia isn't just a keeper of history; she's a "press fixer" who maintains a fleet of functional 19th-century printing presses. We dive into the incredible legacy of Melbert B. Cary Jr., the intersec...

In this episode of Platemark, Ann sits down with Betty Winkler to explore her dual career as a master of carborundum collagraphy and a dedicated art therapist. They dive into her technical innovations—such as her preference for plexiglass plates—and discuss her book, which aims to demystify this tactile, non-toxic printmaking method. Betty shares how her background in the collaborative world of th...

Get ready to leave the white-cube gallery behind. In our latest episode, we're stepping into the wild, mythic world of Dennis McNett (AKA Wolfbat). For over 30 years, Dennis has been carving out a career that defies every "standard" artistic path. Dennis doesn't just make art—he builds universes. He is a modern-day storyteller who reminds us that when you combine woodcuts with community and a bit...

In this episode, Ann sits down with Sangmi Yoo—artist, educator, and Professor of Printmaking at Texas Tech—to discuss how she navigates the "in-between." Her work isn't just about ink on paper; it's about how we build our identities out of architecture, memory, and the ghosts of colonial history. www.sangmiyoo.com IG: @sangmiyooliving Show me the images !!    

What is the "secret sauce" that gives a print its soul? In this episode, Ann sits down with Professor Stephen Hoskins to decode the complex chemistry and 500-year history of printmaking inks. From Old Master soot to the cutting edge of 3D-printed textures, we're diving deep into the science, sustainability, and tactile future of our craft's most foundational element. Stephen Hoskins's website: htt...

Celebrating her 100th interview in the third series, Ann is in the hotseat and is being interviewed by her friend Stacy Kincaid. The discussion covers the podcast's origins, challenges, and key moments. Ann reflects on her diverse career and shares insights into the technical and creative aspects of podcasting, including her commitment to providing visual references for listeners. The conversation...

"It's not just about the mechanics; it's about the way the colors breathe together on the metal." — Mark Elliott Johnson In this episode of Platemark, host Ann Shafer talks with artist Mark Johnson who shares his extensive experiences working with Krishna Reddy, a master in simultaneous color printing (viscosity printing). The conversation reveals insights into Reddy's creative process, his philos...