It Came From The Basement

In recent years printmaking within popular consciousness has held its own in an ever-growing digital landscape. This proves that the desire for hand-made objects is still strong. The current batch of young and old printmakers working in the basement of the Riddell center's visual arts department are furthering this cause. Motivated to keep the practice of printmaking thriving, this show seeks to further democratize and break down some of the mystique associated with the print making process.

Fostered and grown by our Professor Robert Truszkowski, the print department has a great amount of unique old and new technology. In the studio you will see 100-year-old lithography stones and letter press machines from the early 20th century with a large collection of lead type of the same era. Along with tools of the past you will find the first and only UV cured silkscreen printing technology in Saskatchewan. A leading process in contemporary printmaking today. Many of the artists featured in this exhibition combine these 100-year-old practices and cutting-edge technology. Grouping tools and techniques that span a century gives a further appreciation for the collective knowledge that brought this work to life.

The printmakers of the university of regina embrace all formats of printed matter. As you walk through the exhibition you will first see some of the more fundamental print processes. These works highlight the unique characteristics of each medium such as: the embossing qualities of intaglio, the direct mark making of stone lithography and the precision of silkscreen. As you explore further to the back of the gallery you will find work that pushes the boundaries of these categories.

After this journey you will become familiar with a wide array of possibilities and hopefully find your little slice of print to explore further.