Since its inception in 2005 the aim of this exhibition has been to educate people about the medium of fine art printmaking and to convince them that it is an affordable way to collect original art. This strategy has worked so well that sales have been well beyond expectation (274 in 2011) and people come back year after year to collect specific artist’s work.

Based on the opening night this years exhibition appears to be moving in the same direction.

The show was opened by the mayor of Clarence City Council, Alderman Doug Chipman who spoke about HIP’s contribution to the Clarence cultural environment and of his memories of our first Mini-print exhibition at the Schoolhouse gallery.

Discussing the art and what to purchase.

Unlike most exhibitions we encourage people to collect their prints from the wall and take them to the sales desk for immediate gratification but this means that gallery staff are kept busy refilling empty spaces.

Fortunately many of our members produce editions so buyers can usually find another copy, but for those of us that print mono prints or A/Ps it is a case of first in best dressed.

Even if you are not a buyer this is always an extremely interesting exhibition by virtue of the diversity of subject, styles and mediums so hopefully we are still doing a good job of educating people about our art practice.

Remember, all prints are original art on 21 x 21cm paper and all sell for the amazing low price of $25 – so make sure you rush in to add to your collection or buy fabulous gift of art for your friends.

Look forward to seeing you at the opening (the best time to snag a bargain as some prints are A/P’s or monoprints) but  if you can’t make it on Thursday the show will continue until May 02, so do your friends a favour and let them know where they too can add to or start their own collections.

none of the participants had ever done lithography before so there was a great deal of anticipation as Kaye explained the various marks and methods of achieving them

and, as soon as they got the chance everyone got started making their own marks (some even working over an old image on a stone which had not been grained)

Kaye explained the importance of correctly etching the stone to get a perfect image for printing

and the right way to roll up the stone

The excitement was palpable at the end of the day as the newbie lithographers tried to work out ways to bring forward the next litho workshop – a good time was had by all. A big thanks to Kaye and to Steph Parkyn our indefatigable workshop co-ordinator.

Obviously it was time for our annual xmas get together in the HIP studio

Lots of food to share, a little bubbly and stories about our individual print years

And then there was secret santa, our xmas print exchange where everyone brings a small wrapped print to exchange and is given a number which is drawn at random from a hat (or in this case a basket)

all very exciting

Wishing all our friends and supporters a happy and peaceful xmas season and successful printing in 2012

Other worlds and curiosities, Milan Milojevic’s latest exhibition opens at the James Makin Gallery, 67 Cambridge Street, Collingwood at 6pm on the 10th and continues until 3 December. If you are in Melbourne make sure to see this latest body of work from a true Master Printer (you can also add them to your collection)

Island Diaries opened on October 6 and runs until Thursday October 20 so there is still time to catch this illuminating overview of the work of one of our most prolific printmakers.

The opening was well attended with some HIP members travelling up from Hobart for the experience.

Hopefully, these few images will whet your appetite for more

Congratulations Kaye

Church Studio Franklin is a multipurpose artspace located on the Huon Highway in a heritage listed church.  To book contact Patricia Zuber on 0421 456 656 or platform6@bigpond.com.

www.churchstudiofranklin.com.au

View the Hunter Island Press (HIP) calendar for more upcoming exhibitions, workshops and events, by clicking here: http://hunterislandpress.org.au/sub/hip-calendar/