CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: TSU Art and the Nashville Sign Project

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS:
TSU Art and the Nashville Sign Project



The Nashville Sign Project is a celebration of Nashville through letterpress (and other forms of printed ephemera that mediate on letterpress and/or the poster form). Tennessee State University’s Department of Art initiates the project alongside acclaimed artist Carl Pope. The project will culminate in a group exhibition at Tennessee State University’s Hiram Van Gordon Memorial Gallery in October 2010.

Assignment Guidelines
-The work must be a reflection on letterpress or the poster/banner form
-The work can be any medium that considers the above reflection including digital work, video, painting, crochet, projection, drawing, etc. *
-Any quote or slogan by you, your friends, family or famous Nashvillian
-You must include the quote’s author
-Quote no more than ten words in length
-Banners have no word limit
-Past, present or future Nashville can be the subject of the quote
-To participate contact Jodi Hays Gresham, curator, gallery@tnstate.edu

Letterpress: a very brief history
Letterpress, one of the earliest forms of printing text on paper, is a form of relief printing where the image surface is raised and the resulting image is pressed into the paper. Johann Gutenberg was the father of letterpress printing in Europe, but the Chinese had developed similar types of relief printing as early as the 2nd century A.D. Most of these early texts were printed from type carved from blocks of wood.
When the art of papermaking was introduced to western civilization in the 12th century it allowed printed texts to flourish. By the 15th century A.D., paper was abundantly available throughout Europe. This abundance, along with inventions such as moveable type (characters cast as individual letterforms) and mechanical presses allowed the number of printers and printed materials to soar. A rising literate middle class and movements including the Reformation and religious wars fueled much of this increase.
Today, much remains the same with letterpress printing. Text and image is still printed from a raised surface pressed into the paper. Movable type is still in use. However, the computer revolution has opened many new doors, but the distinguishable characteristics of letterpress remain unchanged. Text and graphic elements can be created digitally on computers and transferred to paper using photopolymer plates and metal engravings. Even with the current renaissance in letterpress printing, one thing hasn’t changed… each impression is still printed by hand, one color at a time.

Broadsides (Letterpress) Posters for Public Announcement, Nashville
Printed on one side only, broadsides were used to issue public decrees, new laws and general announcements. Usually they were quickly and crudely produced in large quantity and distributed free in town squares, taverns, and churches or sold by chapmen for a nominal charge. Broadsides are intended to have an immediate popular impact and then to be thrown away. Posters and items printed for short-term consumption are referred to as printed ephemera.

Hatch Show Print is one of America's oldest surviving show-poster printers, and it opens its doors to visitors who want an intimate view of printing's historical past. Founded in 1870, this still-working letterpress shop is credited with ...Hatch Show Print, also on Broadway, is one of America's oldest surviving show-poster printers, and it opens its doors to visitors who want an intimate view of printing's historical past.



* With few exception, artists must make arrangements for particular projection needs, please speak to Project Curator on specific technical questions.

Be a part of an art installation - Send your Trashy Clothing!

Be a part of an art installation - Send your Trashy Clothing!

I am creating an installation at the new Blend Studio Art Gallery at the Arcade in Nashville. This installation is to bring awareness for the need of textile recycling in America. We are a country of stuff and often just throw it away only to fill our landfills. There are recycling programs for plastic, glass, aluminum but rarely do you see one for textiles. According to the Council for Textile Recycling every American on average throws away 68 pounds of fabric each year!

How can you help?? I am collecting used clothing, in any condition (dirty, with holes, it does not matter) from as many people as possible. Each piece will be labeled with the name and location of the person who donates it. All the pieces will then be stitched together to create one large installation art piece bringing awareness to this problem. I would love to get at least one piece from everyone! Come on you know you have an old shirt, skirt or pants hanging in that closet that you don't want.
After the installation, and some before, all the fabric from the items will be sewn into new items that will be sold at local galleries and shops. The money raised will be sent to Kiva. An organization that helps people of poverty survive. I have selected a lady who is a weaver with 5 children making $3 a day and her husband makes $2 a day recycling. Kiva creates a loan for the family that they will pay back. They are wanting to purchase a bike for the husband to deliver the recycling he collects. The family lives in Cambodia. Some money will also be used to help local schools with recycling programs. And who knows what other great things we will accomplish!

Send me your trashy clothes today!! One shirt in a small mailer envelope should cost about $2 to ship. And you can be a part of this great project!
All envelopes will be reused.
A website will be up and running soon so that you can follow the progress. Drop off sites will also be available if you have lots of clothing to donate.

Mail today!

send me an email for snail mail address: denton.tiffany@gmail.com


http://wastedthread.blogspot.com/

Invitation to Participate in Public Artwork - Art Makes Place

This month ART MAKES PLACE invites you to participate with Mike Calway-Fagen's "Stoop Project." With the idea of making a place for community, Mike has built five large movable stair stoops (see pic below) which we'll be unveiling at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts on Friday, May 22nd at 6:30 during his artist talk. Please come!

On Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23, we'll be pushing the stoops around Nashville! Would you like to push a stoop? It's easy, fun and a great way to meet new people! People are invited to each take reign of a stoop in 2 hour time blocks, 10am - 6pm. To sign up or get more information, email Amanda by Wednesday, May 20th. We are especially looking for people on Saturday.

Should you have questions Amanda is not able to answer, feel free to contact me at curator@n-cap.org. Visit website below to learn more about our lectures/projects throughout the year.

Thank you,

Adrienne Outlaw

NCAP and AMP Curator

http://www.n-cap.org/amp.html