Opening this weekend at Center for Contemporary Printmaking

Located in Matthews Park, in Norwalk, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking is hosting the opening reception and awards presentation for their new show called Kindred on January 25 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Kindred is an exploration of family and the varied ways that we define it. Works of art in the exhibition explore family experiences and how they have influenced our lives. This is the CCP’s annual members show. In addition, New Mexico Reflections, an exhibition of works by Brenda Giegerich, 2014 Best in Show award recipient, will be on view in the lithography room. The show will be on view from Jan. 25 – March 15.

The CCP also has some exciting new workshops planned for the month of February. Experimental non- toxic printmaking will take place from Feb. 3-17 from 6 pm – 9 pm and will instruct artists on how to create prints with inexpensive materials using innovative techniques. Explore carborundum aquatint, Plexiglas drypoint, collagraph, and other techniques, all with non-toxic Akua inks. These techniques can be easily made with readily accessible materials like cardboard and Plexiglas.

Stone Lithography with Tusche will take place from Feb. 7-28 with masters artisans Paul DeRuvo and Judith Solodkin. This workshop is perfect for a more experienced lithographer looking to expand technical skill; particularly with Tusche. Tusche is a greasy black paint used in lithography to produce rich blacks, beautiful soft grey washes and a variety of painted effects. In the first two sessions, Associate Printer Paul DeRuvo will instruct artists in graining stones, drawing on them, processing them for printing and printing them. Participants will then be prepared for Judith Solodkin’s one-session Tusche demonstration on the 21st. DeRuvo will then assist students in finishing their printing in the last session of the class

On Feb. 12 there will be a class on Figure and the Monotype with Nomi Silverman from 6 pm – 9 pm. Participants in this workshop will work directly from a live model, working with printing inks much the same way as Degas. The work is then printed with the assistance of the instructor. Subsequent reworked impressions can also be pulled to achieve depth of color. Or as Degas frequently did, a second paler or ghost impression can also be printed and used as ground for later pastel additions.

For more information about the CCP visit http://www.contemprints.org. For area event information www.visitfairfieldcountyct.com