printmaking

The printmaking area is a highly rigorous one that pursues both traditional and contemporary approaches to image making. The specialization supports the critical investigation of printmaking as craft, and examines its role as a vehicle for expression in historical and current contexts. While focused on developing sound technical skills for the student, the discipline is designed to incorporate the exploration of printmaking as it can pertain to inter-disciplinary practices.

Classes are designed to challenge the student in terms of concept and individual content, and are mediated with dialogue pertaining to aesthetics, technology and ideology. The studio is well-equipped and set up to engage in intaglio, lithographic, relief, photo-mechanical, digital and a wide range of experimental processes. Students are encouraged to take intaglio and lithography at beginning levels (ARS 200-level) before progressing to intermediate (ARS 300-level) and advanced (ARS 400-level) classes in other printmaking processes.

Studio facilities are housed on the ground floor of the Humanities Building and include a large library of over forty lithographic stones, two Brand lithographic presses, one Brand etching press, one Sturgeon etching press, a vacuum light table exposure unit, three Epson 3000 inkjet printers, two Macintosh G4 computers and one IBM compatible computer. Students enrolled in printmaking classes have flat file storage as well as lockers and have 24-hour access to the shop.

For more information contact: Derek Cracco at cracco@uab.edu