My new etching press

Last month I found a posting on Baren Forum from 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 had been waking 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 stumbled 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 Joel an offer (I have the best housemates).

Wednesday: Carlos and I took the train to Chicago, I've never heard of railroad construction season before, 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 that 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, that changed half of the plans.
We took off the motor hoping that it would reduce the weight, and reserved a big U-haul truck, that's all we could do 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 the press 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! Joel and I had a really nice conversation, got to know each other and we both 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 10 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.

To sow is a form of Resistance

This will be technically my first solo exhibit in GR. I have been working on the theme of seeds, food and nature; going from construction black and white blockprints to a more abstract colorful representation of seeds.

The artwork explores our relationship with food and the environment. Seeds tell the story of our relationship with food and our kinship with the land. 

I became intrigued with seeds when I planted my first garden. As the garden grew, so did my awareness of the political and industrial forces that destroy the lives of small farmers in the U.S., my homeland, Mexico, and around the world. 

By saving seeds from my garden to plant the next year, I participated in a process that people around the world have taken part in for thousands of years, and every year seeds are saved to be our future food. The industrial process of genetically modifying seed has transformed our 10,000 year heritage into branded, private property. 

My work give tribute to those who are working hard to protect what is rightfully theirs, and  ours.

In this exhibit the orange cones represent our relation with nature which at some point  is so absurd it becomes comical. Development of the land means destruction of the land. By constructing roads to unaccessible places, those same places get so intensively exploited they eventually disappear.

Seeds on the other hand represent our relation with food, the importance of saving seeds in order to preserve our natural heritage.

If you want to take part in this effort, please take a bag of seeds and take good care of them, plant them and witness the wonderful cycle that begins and ends with every single seed. 

http://web.mac.com/alynnguerra/Red_Hydrant/Events/Entries/2008/12/31_Sembrar_es_una_Forma_de_Resistencia.html

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

The Red Hydrant Studio is open before the Holidays!

The studio is open on weekends from noon to 5pm.
I'm working on a new big print, come and check out the process.
Also I have shirts, scarves, cards and prints of all sizes framed or unframed.

The studio is located at:

324 Straight Ave SW @ Hemlock st.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

on the South side of Tanglefoot building Door M

Also, if you come on Saturday, you can check out the Tanglefoot studio on the other side of the buliding.

After Death... what's to come?

We had so much fur at the Dead End Show! I was happy, amazed, grateful, etc to see so many people showing up during both days.
The studio is in a warehouse buliding on the west side of the city, it is in the middle of two scrap metal places and far from any main street or intersection, on top of that we are on the third floor. Despite all that, people were able to find their way to our space!

I believe it's better to have friends than money, and this time I'm willing to carve it on a tree, well maybe on a piece of wood. We were able to have such good music thanks to all of our musician friends. Whe had lots of art thanks to all of our artistic friends, and lots of people thanks to all of our art loving freinds.

And what's next? well, because this was our first event ever, it was also going to set the gudelines for future projects, and that's where we are right now, planing for the rest of the year. I'm consideriing teaching some printmaking classes for children and adults, maybe have some days a mont where I'd welcome printmakers to work on a group project, etc...

The next big sale will be at the UICA's Holiday Artists Market www.uica.org November 31 and December 1st.

THE STUDIO WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AND ON SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER.
folow this link for more details http://ical.mac.com/alynnguerra/Events
or visit my website http://www.alynnguerra.com

If you have ideas, want to do a project, or just want to say hi and have a glass of wine (or water, that's fine too), please visit our studio, we would be happy to have you over.

Dia de los Muertos

http://www.alynnguerra.com

DAY OF THE DEAD ART SALE
This will be our studio’s grand opening event.

In Mexico El Dia de los Muertos is one of the most important events of the year, it is the time when you welcome back the souls of the departed and have a big party for them, the belief is that they will make a long trip to be part of the celebration and they don’t want to see tears or sorrow, they want us to be happy to have them back (at least for a night).
For many years I have helped organize several Day of the Dead events in Grand Rapids, now for the first time I’m having my own event.
And what will this be?
The ofrenda a big part of the celebration
Skull painting
Traditional Bread

And most important:
Day of the Dead related art by artists:
Carlos Aceves, Hugo Claudin, Alynn Guerra, Rebecca Rodriguez, Reb Roberts & Carmella Loftis, Sarah Scott-Brandt, Jeff smith and Elisabeth Vedrin

The place:
Red Hydrant Studio
324 Straight SW and Hemlock
Door M
Grand Rapids MI 49504
616 808 0092

Construction Season - May