under pressure

art practice and ear worms

Printmaking is how I begin to think about almost everything. To process belonging and the objects that carry and hold I begin with a curiosity about the material. I collect, gather and deconstruct brown paper bags, plastic bags, rubber bands, twist ties, woven fibers, worn pieces of clothing, and friends from the natural world like seed pods leaves and tendrils.

My current favorite etching press requires diligently clicking in to reserve 3 weeks in advance. The reservation for the Charles Brand Press and the window workspace at Kala shows up as a brown and pink stripe (which I have come to love). I arrive earlier than most to the quiet and enjoy looking through the drying racks to see what other printmakers have been getting into. I gather my brayers, blankets and utility knives and begin to organize my workflow, pulling and selecting paper from my flat file, making note of what I am running low on, I choose two ink colors. I begin to choreograph the work of the day, selecting and arranging objects along the east facing work table in the gorgeous morning light.

I am thinking about carrying light during these times of extreme cultural pressure.

April 15, 2025. paper lanterns are deconstructed and printed. (notice the metal cup for a candle at the bottom of the frame) Lanterns holding and carrying light also require caution, walking a delicate balance between a glow and a potentially destructive flame.

Lanterns holding and carrying light require caution. There is a delicate balance between the poetic glow and a destructive flame. Deconstructed, the shapes become evocative of an ancient text, a biological form or perhaps a sea creature.

An inked acetate sandwich with objects as the filling is laid on the press bed. Three blankets are laid over the top. The wheel turned slowly to move the work below the roller, applies pressure. Moving to the opposite side, blankets are lifted, the acetate separated, the objects now inked on both sides, are lifted off for next placement.

Paper placed over one page of inked acetate with select objects. Three blankets laid over the top. The wheel turned slowly to move the work below the roller, applying pressure. Moving to the opposite side, blankets are lifted, paper pulled, print revealed. 

Repeat with variations, masking areas of acetate, rearranging inked objects, using a sheet of gampi instead of rives lightweight. 

Other ways I am thinking about the press and pressing and why is is such an elemental gesture for my visual art practice. Audio recording above of printed text below.

To Press

Press 2 for Spanish 
Press 4 to leave a message 
Press 0 to talk to a person

Press feet against earth Press foot in sand, in mud, in grass Press feet against the wall when swimming Press seed into soil Press trowel into dirt Press flowers between pages Press arms of chair to stand Press to toast Press cookie dough Press to defrost Press to heat up Press to wash Press to dry Press iron Press coffee Press waffle Press tortillas Press fork into meat Press knife into vegetables Press plastic over cheese Press butter onto bread Press mop against floor Press broom over floor Press pencil to paper Press brush over pigment Press needle into fabric Press nozzle into tank Press emergency flashers Press doorbell Press to start Press to select Press to delete Press to apply Press to submit Press to donate Press to subscribe Press to open prescription Press card into payment slot Press hand over brow, hand over heart Press to shake Press to caress Press to brush Press knees together Press feet together Press to snap Press to dispense soda Press to change stations Press cash into the hands of the needy Pressed into service

don’t forget the ear worms

It is funny to me the sounds that are the ones that stick. Recently there have been two and I recommend you set them up in your play list and run them through your auditory system if for nothing else some retro laughs.

Under Pressure, Queen and David Bowie & Where is My Mind, Pixies

and a note about restorative pressure

Did you know that our bodies actually enjoy receiving squeezes? For self regulation, after some deep breaths, seated comfortably begin to squeeze the full length of your arm starting with one hand, moving up to the shoulder. Do the same with feet and legs, gently squeezing, holding, nurturing. Apply some pressure to hips and then torso, to back of neck, to top of head, to brow, jaw and cheeks.

Next on your play list I highly recommend:

Have you Been Good to Yourself, Johnnie Frierson

While thinking begins with the press, it lands in the body allowing me to continue with the work of the day.