Rolled, Stoned & Inked! 25 Years of Chicago Printmakers Collaborative

The Chicago Printmakers Collaborative (CPC) is celebrating 25 years as the longest-running independent print shop in the city of Chicago. To commemorate the quarter century in business, CPC, in partnership with The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will host ‘Rolled, Stoned & Inked’, an exhibit featuring 50 world-renowned artists who exemplify the caliber of work CPC champions.

Since first opening its doors in 1989, CPC has promoted the art of handmade printmaking by teaching, inspiring and launching world renowned artist careers and by fostering a diverse community of artists.

“The Collaborative is an incredibly special community of talented artists and students alike,” said Deborah Maris Lader who is the founder of the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative. “CPC fills a niche in the art and printmaking world by accommodating a wide range of print media ranging from etching, lithography, screen-printing, monotype, relief, letterpress and book making. We are blessed to fill our studio with artists from around the globe.”

The workshop is home to six resident artists, hundreds of students, and scores of professional printmakers who work on the presses 24/7.

The Chicago Printmakers Collaborative has etched its place in history among artists and students alike. Former CPC teacher and artist Molly Briggs was so inspired by her time at the Collaborative she modeled her own publishing press after CPC.

“It was such a luxurious way to teach; working with accomplished, committed makers, who were really colleagues, more than students,” said Briggs. “I remember how motivated they were to take on new techniques, language, and ideas, and how happy we all were to come to CPC after long days at full-time jobs. We invented and explored and reflected and laughed, and those evenings confirmed that teaching would be a lifelong commitment.”

‘Rolled, Stoned, & Inked: 25 Years of the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative’ will open November 14, 2014 and run through February 28, 2015 at Expo 72, located at 72 East Randolph Street in Chicago. A mini print shop set up in the space will offer demonstrations of printmaking throughout the run of the show.The exhibition, curated by Greg Lunceford and Nathan Mason, features 50 artists affiliated with the CPC including the following:

Carlos Cortez (now deceased, acclaimed printmaker/activist, collaborated with Deborah Maris Lader at CPC, life’s work and archivenow housed in the Museum of Mexican Art)

Jeanine Coupe-Ryding (visiting CPC artist and collaborator, currently professor of printmaking at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago)

David Driesbach (CPC visiting artist, longtime professor at NIU, now retired)

Tony Fitzpatrick (CPC visiting artist, longtime collaborator and supporter of CPC)

Christine Gendre-Bergere (Parisian printmaker, CPC gallery artist)

Michael Goro (longtime CPC member, award-winning international printmaker)

Holly Greenberg (former CPC resident artist and member, now teaching printmaking at Syracuse University)

John Himmelfarb (former CPC student and collaborator, best known for his paintings and huge sculptural installations of trucks)

For more information about the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative log onto www.chicagoprintmakers.com.