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.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: TSU Art and the Nashville Sign Project
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Carl Pope Artist Talk TSU 10-1-09
Carl Pope Artist Talk
on his letterpress project
"The Bad Air Smelled of Roses"
(featured in Art Papers Magazine, May/June 2009)
October 1, 6pm
Hiram Van Gordon Memorial Gallery
Main Campus, Tennessee State University
TSU will host two visiting artists for a joint exhibition. Carl Pope's work has been shown at the Whitney Museum of American Art (Biennial), and MoMA in New York City. His work explores the use of text and language as it informs identity, specifically the black identity.
His project, "The Bad Air Smelled of Roses" is shown as an introduction to his work as he partners with TSU's art galleries and Nashville artists on a collaborative print project (Spring 2010).
Up next: Aisha Cousins' Diva Dutch project, November 5.
for more info see
www.tnstate.edu/gallery
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Image of the Black Female in Art and Education Panel Discussion: FEb 18, 2009
February 19, 6pm, panel discussion
Room 126 at Vanderbilt University’s Wilson Hall
The Image of the Black Female in Art and Education
TSU Art is partnering with Vanderbilt Studio Art and Watkins College of Art and Design
The panel discussion, organized by TSU ART and hosted by Vanderbilt University, includes Ms. Aisha Cousins (Artist, Brooklyn, NY), Ms. Cynthia Gadsden (Artist, Educator, TSU Art), Amelia Winger-Bearskin (Artist-Educator, Vanderbilt Univeristy) and Jewell Winn (Educator, Women's Center, TSU). The panel will be moderated by Jodi Hays (Artist-Gallery Director/Instructor, TSU Art ).
Ms Cousins will give an informal artist talk at Tennessee State University's Hiram Van Gordon Memorial Gallery on Thursday, February 19th at 1pm.
She will speak to Wakins College of Art and Design students on their campus on Friday, February 20th at 10am.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tennessee State University - Call for Nashville Area Artists/Curators
Tennessee State University - Call for Nashville Area Artists/Curators
NASHVILLE AREA
ARTISTS & CURATORS:
Hiram Van Gordon Gallery
Recognizing the historic precedent set by the civil rights movement of working with immediate communities to affect positive change, the Hiram Van Gordon Memorial Gallery invites Nashville-area artists, collectives and curators to submit curatorial proposals for summer exhibitions that support existing programming missions. The Hiram Van Gordon gallery encourages proposals from artists and curators with diverse backgrounds.
For more information on gallery vision/programming see: www.tnstate.edu/gallery
Application Deadlines for all proposals:
August 1, 2008 for SHIFT 2009
October 1, 2008 for PAUSE 2010
December 1, 2008 for PLAY 2011
Proposals Must Include:
• one page proposal detailing exhibition and how it supports the existing programming (for 2009: SHIFT for 2010: PAUSE for 2011: PLAY)
• resume, statement, and bio (all limited to one page each)
•10-20 images of recent work in digital form. Label images with name and number that corresponds to an image list with title, date, medium and brief description of work. CD should be labeled with artist contact and contain a PDF file that includes all images. Provide a paper copy of image list.
•SASE For return of materials (if requesting back)
•$10 processing fee (check made to TSU Foundation subject line Hiram Van Gordon Gallery)
Contact with any questions:
Jodi Hays, Curator, Hiram Van Gordon Gallery
Founding Director, Space for New Media
Elliot Hall/Women's Building
3500 John Merritt Blvd., PO Box 9562
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: 615.963.1599
gallery@tnstate.edu
www.tnstate.edu/gallery
Monday, April 21, 2008
Call for artists/proposals: Shift Pause Play @ TSU: DEADLINE: August 1, 2008
Call for Artists/Proposals
SHIFT PAUSE PLAY
Recognizing the historical precedence of working with immediate communities to affect positive change (e.g. the civil rights movement) the Hiram Van Gordon Memorial Gallery invites Nashville-area artists, collectives and curators to submit curatorial proposals for summer exhibitions (June-July) that support existing programming missions. In keeping with the mission, the Hiram Van Gordon gallery encourages proposals from artists and curators with diverse backgrounds.
In 2009 the theme is SHIFT, all proposals must include a written statement detailing how the proposed exhibition supports the existing programming vision. Please read information provided on the TSU Gallery web site before you organize and exhibition:
http://www.tnstate.edu/gallery/newmedia.html. Artists (2-3 person), collectives or curators interested in exhibiting in the Hiram Van Gordon at
• one page proposal detailing exhibition and how it supports the existing programming (for 2009: SHIFT for 2010: PAUSE for 2011: PLAY)
• resume, statement, and bio (all limited to one page)
•10-20 images of recent work in slide or digital format
-Slides should be labeled with name and number that corresponds to an image list with title, date, medium and if brief description of work (if applicable)
-CD should contain a pdf file that includes all images. Provide a paper copy of image list.
•SASE For return of materials (if requesting materials back)
•$10 processing fee
• Deadline is August 1, 2008 for 2009 consideration
Submit materials and questions to:
Jodi Hays, Director/
Department of Art,
615.963.1599
gallery@tnstate.edu
