Fob Holder at Second State Press
I was a Fob Holder during the 2024 summer and fall sessions. Second State Press is a community print shop in the Crane Arts Building in Philly. As a Fob Holder (or as we are called at Second State, a Fob), I worked at the studio eight hours a week in exchange for 24/7 access to the studio to work on my art. During each of my four hour shifts, I completed a small list of shop upkeep tasks, such as sweeping, cutting down fabric into rags, monitoring the computer for the occasional order, and signing in and out members coming to print in the studio. I was able to dedicate most of the time during my shifts towards my own artwork. Each term, there was an optional Fob Holder exhibition. I was a part of both exhibitions and helped in their planning. For the fall show, I helped with installation.
A wonderful bonus of the program was that I could attend the printmaking workshops for FREE! I participated in the Repeat Pattern on Fabric Screen Printing class (see 'Repeat Pattern on Fabric Screen Printing' below) and the Texture Monotype class. I continued to play with the techniques I learned in the monotype workshop during the residency; It is a loose and fun process using various textures and layers (see 'Monotype Exploration' below). I also had the opportunity to participate in a private workshop hosted by Second State (see Lithography for Conservators and Print Scholars), which was the highlight of my whole Fob Holder experience!
Member Print Exchange Linocut
Each year, Second State Press invites members to participate in a member print exchange – create an edition of 22 hand pulled prints that are 8x10 inches; one will be auctioned at the holiday party to raise money for the studio; one will be kept in Second State's archives; the rest will be given out to the participating artists.
I am in love with the linocut I made for the exchange! It is a portrait of my cat, River.
River in the Duvet
Edition of 33
Linocut Print on Paper
8in x 10in
Printing with Margaret Screen Print
I invited my close friend Margaret to come and print with me at Second State. I taught her the texture monotype printing technique, and we made some collaboratively. I developed this screen print based on a photo I took of Margaret cranking the press that day. I wanted to play with the transparency of the ink to create additional colors in the print.
Printing with Margaret Edition of 10
Screen Print on Paper
7in x 9.75in
Monotype Exploration
Lithography for Conservators and Print Scholars
Second State Press hosted the Lithography for Conservators and Print Scholars workshop led by Christina Taylor and Christopher Wallace. I volunteered as the Fob liaison for the fist day of the workshop, hoping to sit in, if the teachers would let me. They allowed me to participate in the entire three day workshop! It was one of my favorite experiences of my entire life <3. We started with a power point presentation of the history of litho (litho is short for lithography) and an overview of the process. Then we went into the shop to do it for realzies. Over the course of the fist two days, we completed three types of lithograph prints: stone litho, plate litho, and polyester pronto plate litho. There were also demonstrations including graining the stone and two litho transfer techniques. The final day was spent at the Perelman Building of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where the conservators' offices and labs are as well as archives (OMG OMG OMG OMG)! We looked at ~20 lithography prints from the archives that represented a large variety of litho techniques. The conservators were shining flashlights on the prints to inspect them further and learn more about how they may have been made. Everyone was nerding out over the artwork, which made me so happy! Then we went into the lab and saw even more prints as well as stones. The lab was stunning! Not in a basement, like the engineering labs I am used to. There were high ceilings and huge windows. Christina used the fancy microscope and monitor to show what the prints looked like close up. I adore how sciency art conservation is! The whole experience was magical and everyone I met was wonderful. I even made friends with some conservators who said they would give me tours of their labs!
Group stone litho print
My plate litho prints
My polyester pronto plate prints
Stones and prints in the lab
A print under the microscope
Repeat Pattern Screen Print on Fabric Workshop
This class was a two day workshop taught by Shir Bassa. The process of printing requires three people: two to squeegee the ink and one to hold down the screen. Passing the squeegee off to my printing partner and then taking it back felt like a dance – it was satisfying and enjoyable. Here is a link to a video of my printing prosses: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8TBC5DJ75V/.The pattern I created is based on motifs from/of ceramic objects. I later printed shirts of the individual motifs.
