Prints are finally showing up!

I been putting a lot of energy organizing and getting ready for the "Dead End Prints" exhibit, not knowing if I was going to get any prints to show. 

I opened the studio on Monday to receive submissions and not a single person showed up, then I got a lonely print on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday I got a bunch on the mail. On Thursday I was anxious to check my mail, and there they were an other pile of multicolored envelopes containing beautiful Day of the Dead prints. 

Today is Friday and there are two more days until the dead line. I can't wait to go to the studio and check my mail. But I'm on the other hand trying to make a dead line for an other printmaking  show which is today.

Dead End Prints - two more weeks

There are just two more weeks between today and the deadline. I have heard from many people about their interest in participating, attending, writing about it, etc. And now I'm just going to be waiting anxiously to see what happens. So far, two local magazines have written stories about this event, but the most amazing thing is the emails I'm getting from all over the country and beyond requesting more information. 

The idea to organize a mini print exhibition came from our visit to several printmaking shops in Chicago about 3 months ago, I got inspired and decided to organize an exhibit with just handpulled prints for my favorite celebration of the year: El Dia de los Muertos. 

I think that an exiting theme and size would be the catalyst for really great mini prints.

If you are a printmaker and would like to participate, please visit my website and download a submission form.   The only requirement is the size; 9 square inches.

Dead End Prints

"My window" print exchange

I signed up for a print exchange with the theme: "My window", that was back in April and then it seemed like I had all the time in the world to finish on time in August. This has been one more reminder that I have no sense of time, even in July I thought August was far away. One day I read an email reminding us of the deadline; I checked my calendar and then I realized that I had just 1 week to finish not just the carving, but the whole edition.

I started working on the drawing, and then I carried the plate with me to any place where aflat surface was available. I finished on time, but...

Carving day and night ...

I'm ashamed to confess that I sent my prints 3 days late (I didn't consider the drying time!)

That's the real window.

My new etching press

Last month I found a posting on Baren Forum about a man who needed to sell his etching press as soon as possible.
I thought about it for an hour or so. it was crazy that for the past 3 nights I waked up in the middle of the night thinking that I needed to start saving money to buy a bigger press and on the third day I stumble into this! So I called the number and inquire the price, location, etc.
There was no way I could come up with the money in 5 days. That was Thursday, on Sunday we had a house meeting and I just mentioned the whole situation to my housemates; the next day I had the money and was making the call to give him an offer (I have the best housemates).

Wednesday:y Carlos and I took the train to Chicago, I've never heard of railroad construction season, we got there two hours late. We had lunch and visited the Mexican museum of art where we were going to meet Carlos' cousin who was taking us to Downers Grove where the press was.

We finally made it to Downers Grove at 5PM, I met Joel and the press, and realized it was going to be really hard to move that press, let alone transport it to GR. The truck we were planing on using could only carry half of the weight. We took off the motor hoping that would reduce the weight, and reserved a big U-haul truck, that's all we did that day.

Thursday: we picked up the U-haul and headed to the tool rental place in DG, they suggested a motor lift and a chain would do it.
. Well it only helped to move it 6 ft out of the garage with the help of a jack and many dangerous slips of the chain. There was no way in the world we were going to lift a 1400 lb press 4 ft from the ground and then push it into the truck. We considered all the options: take it all apart, hiring 8 strong men, take off the legs, etc. By then the idea of having a press in my studio in Grand Rapids Michigan suddenly seemed more and more unattainable. An other day went by, and the press was still sitting 6 feet from the garage, and 4 from the truck. It was late, we covered the press and decided to come back the next day, but first we went to the local brewery! We had a really nice conversation, got to know each other and realize that the press was coming from a good home and going to a new good home as well. I was happy to met another nice printmaker (I haven't met a not nice printmaker yet).

Friday (that was the deadline to get the press out of the premises) We came back to the rental place and got a forklift. The press was in the truck in less than 15 min. We cleaned up, say good bye and came back to Grand Rapids. It took us about 5 hours to drive back, we were afraid that a sudden stop would make the press fly into the air and crush us or somebody else to death. So back in GR, we made a stop at the house and showed the press to everyone, (technically it was their press too) And decided to unload the truck the next day.




Saturday: We are lucky to have a studio where there is all the equipment and helpful people you'd ever need to unload a press, bring it up to a 3rd floor and set it up on your favorite spot.



I forgot to mention that the press was all covered in grease, which took me about 3 hours to get rid of, but that was nothing compared to what we just had been through, so I did it happily and didn't even seem that hard to me.

Now, I have an etching press, and I already pulled my first print!

It's strange, 10 years ago when I came to Grand Rapids I was looking for a printmaking shop where I could use a press. It takes a lot of time and effort to find one!

The latest endeavours.

After my last post back in April, I had a birthday party with a surprise band, video and present. Lots of dancing and such a memorable event.

Then my real birthday came, and we celebrated at Founders brewery, where a poster contest for a local organization was taking place too. I had submitted an image, since it was going to be at the same time and place as my b-day celebration/give-away.



As if all I had received already wasn't enough, my print was selected as the winner piece that night.





This is the final poster with my image.

Birthday print giveaway

Today is my birthday, and the third time I give prints on this day.
I already gave a bunch of them at my party on Saturday, the only thing I ask in return is a note.
Apart from the fun party, food, present, dancing, etc; it's always a joy to read the notes at the end of the day, that makes the whole thing memorable.
This year I created a print that had something to do with my birthday (kind of).
I believe that death is only the end of another cycle, and every year we complete a cycle.
I keep changing the name of this print, but so far I'd like to name it "Death gathering cycles"
If you would like a print, go to my etsy shop and get one.
If you live in Grand Rapids, MI, come to Founders brewery tonight, I'll be there at 7 PM, write a note and get a print!

Why do I give prints on my birthday? I'll write about that tomorrow...

My birthday is coming!

I've been doing this for 3 years now; on my birthday I give prints away to anyone who wants them.
I'm still organizing the whole thing, but I'll give more details soon!

Sembrar es una forma de Resistencia

This is the title of my last exhibit at Fountain St. Church. The work has to do with seeds; the importance of saving, planting, and sharing them, also it the first time in many years that I make colorful and hopeful art, there is no satire or hidden messages this time.

I was in Mexico for my grandma's 90th Birthday

I have had such a hard month, finishing all the artwork for the exhibit at Fountain St. Church, didn’t have time for christmas or new years eve celebrations, or much sleep at all, all because I promised my grandma I’d be here for her birthday, and I’m so glad I came.
I met a lot of family, some of them whom I just didn’t remember and some whom I’ve met for the very first time.
And best of all; it was great to see my Abuela, looking so good and so happy with her 90 years.

Printmaking with blind and visually impaired people

On Saturday we volunteered at the Association for the Blind and visually impaired, I brought some of my plates for people to pirnt them on a press that is basically what we use to make tortillas.

More than what we had to offer to the event was what I got from the experience of working with people for whom the world I take for granted is completelly different. It was a wonderful experience that let me to reevaluate many things that I don't even question or even stop and think about them anymore.


Forcing my self into trying to "see" the things I'm most familiar with, from a non visual perspective was very insightful. Having to describe the paper, it's color, texture and size, the press, its mechanism, the whole process.
Going form a non touch to an absoulutely touch mode was very liberating aftef living in this culture for more than 8 years.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to learn from this worl I've never had contact with.

In a non visual world all the other senses play a very important role and the common world just seems to slow down, there is no hurry, no pushing around, just stop and listen, touch, sense... and everything I took for granted sudenlly takes a different perspective.


Happy 90th Anniversary!

WMCAT art exhibit

Carving, carving, carving...

I have been doing so many things outside my workshop, that now I need to chain myself up to the carving table and finish all those plates that have been patiently sitting there for months.

Today I have the last summer show at Destination 1111, I'll be at the south building selling my prints and shirts. I'll be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more info on the event visit the blog: http://destination1111.blogspot.com/2008/08/open-studio-hours.html

Save your Ash!

For the past month I've been working with 6 students for the WMEAC's Save your Ash campaign. Our project will bring awareness to the Emerald Ash borer infestation that has killed 20 million ash trees since it arrived in a ship from Asia in 2002.









Our project consists in wrapping trees with a green biodegradable ribbon, and hanging red tags with hand printed images that illustrate the issue.



We have printed a ribbon the size of an entire block, more than 250 water proof tags, and 500 buttons.

To learn more about the "Save your Ash" campaign visit: www.saveyourashgr.org
To learn more about the project and the ArtWorks summer program visit: www.uica.org

This art project is a collaboration of WMEAC and UICA.

My little Red Hydrant business is 1 year old!

One year ago I rode my bike to the City Clerk office in downtown Grand Rapids, and registered my art doing as a business named Red Hydrant Press; after that I got a paper saying that I was from then on an "entity". This paper meant that I was supposed to be more responsible with everything that had to do with my "business" which in my case is my whole life, since my business is art making, and art making is a very personal process, and that still gives me head aches.

After a year I'm still in business, meaning I didn't report red numbers on my IRS return and I still have some money for supplies (only).

But it all really started 8 years ago, when I came from Mexico and started doing prints on a washing machine wringer turned into a press down in my wet and moldy basement.



This is the third and last handmade press, which is the one that I've been using for the past 5 years!

My first week in Mexico

I have to start by saying that although I was born and raised in Mexico city, I hate living in big cities, I can visit for three or five days so right now I'm close to my limit, I need to run to a small town soon. By the way the whole city is under construction, it is a complete chaos.

I rather take the subway and the "micro" than driving, it takes twice as much time, but at least you don't have to worry about agressive drivers or being one yourself. I had promess my mom that I would take her out for dinner, and she has to use a wheelchair, so I had to drive, and now I'm so tired, I feel like I had climbed a mountain.

Durig my first week I visited my old university: Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, or UNAM, the library building is covered with a mural made of natural stone by Juan O'Gorman, and some of the buildings are decorated with murals by David Alfaro Siqueiros (one of my favorite artists) and Diego Rivera.

The giveaway outcome

I waked up on the day of my birthay and found lots of print requests, print exchanges and lots of happy bithday wishes on my mailbox and my website; and they kept accumulationg during the day!
The whole experience was very insightful, I met a lot of nice people on the cyberspace and other nice people at the bar as well.
I gave me the opportunity to hang out with people I knew, but never had the chance to sit down with and have a conversation; because we haven't had a "reason" to do so in the past.

The best of all was that "thing" I got by giving and sharing, that thing I couldn't have gotten otherwise.

Thanks to all of you who shared your time with me.

Birthday print giveaway

On my birthday I give prints away to remind my self of the importance of keeping my art available to people who can't afford it. It is also a way of giving back and being grateful for all the good things that happened to me during the year; all the good ideas that I have no clue where they came from, all the great people that I met, all the projects that I accomplished, etc.

Maybe nobody will read this blog on my birthday, but if you do, and you'd like to have a piece of my work, then we are both lucky, you can visit my website and claim a print, if you live out of Grand Rapids (the city where I live) then go to the Etsy shop, you would have to pay for the shipping though.

www.redhydrantpress.com
www.redhydrant.etsy.com

International Women's Day Event Canceled

This is a sad notice, after only two events we were told by the Fire Department that we cann't have anymore. The reason: the space is not safe.
For a whole week I was sad, frustrated and even sick, I didn't know if we were even going to be able to keep the space.
As of today, we can keep the space but we can't have any more events until they approve it.
For now, I'm getting ready for the summer art fairs, I'm happy that I still have a place and also because I had such a good time during those two events.

10 000 AñOS DE MAIZ 10 000 YEARS OF CORN

Friday January 4th
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Join us for an evening of art, poetry, video and information
that both; celebrates the cultural heritage of corn in Mexico, and provides opportunities for anyone to resist the corporate/government attempt to take over our food systems.

On January 1, 2008 new NAFTA provisions take effect, causing more hunger and displacement for Mexican
farmers.

Sin Maiz no hay Pais!

Red Hydrant Shop
314 Straight SW Door M
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
www.alynnguerra.com