PREVIEW: The Screenprint Biennial with founder nathan meltz
01/24 - 03/01 at Opalka Gallery, Albany
The Undine by Mark Hosford, 2020
Beginning January 24, Opalka Gallery will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Screenprint Biennial, curated by founder Nathan Meltz. I was able to sit down with Meltz and discuss the history, present and future of the Screenprint Biennial and from what I’ve heard and the pieces I’ve seen, this exhibition will surely inspire.
From traditional screenprinting techniques, to digital, laser cut, and sculptural/installation works, this exhibition has traveled from The Janet Turner Print Museum in Chico, CA. and will soon be on display in the Capital Region for you to experience. Meltz said “I built the shows I wanted to see… and at the end of the day, I returned to my mission of assembling an exhibit showing off the amazing range of expression and meaning possible from screenprinted art.”
(Tony Iadicicco): What inspired you to create the Screenprint Biennial?
(Nathan Meltz): In 2013 I was attending an international printmaking conference in Dundee, Scotland, where one of the presenters, English printmaking historian Richard Noyce, off-handedly mentioned some experimental etching biennial in eastern Europe. It made me reflect on MY favorite printmaking form, screenprinting, and made me wonder if there was a screenprint biennial somewhere. And with the exception of a Japanese biennial that only allows for very small work, there wasn't. So, I decided to start one in upstate New York, with no money, and very little experience organizing any sort of art exhibition. But I received lots of support from my printmaking networks, and, eventually, institutional support, and it all sort of evolved from there.
(TI): How many artists have you worked with over the past 10 years?
(NM): My math might be a bit off, but I have worked with somewhere in the world of 160-some artists over the past decade of organizing. About 30 of the artists were involved in what was only an online exhibition because of the pandemic. But that 160 number is just exhibiting artists. Since we have held one-day symposiums at the Opalka Gallery in Albany and at Mirabo Press in Buffalo and the University at Buffalo, there have been scores of other print-based artists, students, and enthusiasts who have been involved at different levels: attending printmaking demos, participating in open portfolio events, visiting museum print rooms, etc.
(TI): What's your goal with the Screenprint Biennial?
(NM): The official mission statement of the biennial reads: "The Screenprint Biennial is an exhibition and organization that seeks to showcase a range of screenprint-based art applications, from framed, editioned prints to installation, sculpture, video, ephemera, posters, and more. The exhibition does not seek to act as a survey or “who’s-who” of screenprinting, but to assemble a show that is consistent in highlighting artists who utilize adventurous, relevant, and passionate takes on the screenprinted medium."
But what does that mean, exactly? Well, it's rare you get to see an art exhibition where printmaking is the star. For these shows, not only is printmaking the star, but SCREENPRINTING is front and center of every work, whether it is a traditional wall print, or an entire installation.
Back in another life, in my youth, I played in this indie rock band playing very slow, serious music. And, eventually, we were lucky enough to have a record label release our record, and it was exactly the type of music we wanted to hear, but that we felt no one else was making. This show is sort of like that. It's the show I want to see and experience, but that no one else is putting together.
(TI): Anything else you'd like to share?
(NM): This show is a colorful, loud, and accessible show that is not boring. If you're reading this, you should check it out!
Special dates that will have events during the exhibit:
Opening Reception on Friday, January 24, 2025: Walkthrough with Nathan Meltz at 5:30. Reception 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
Thursday, February 13th at 6pm at the Opalka we will be having a printmaker roundtable featuring a discussion between exhibiting artists and local printmaking practitioners. Participants include exhibiting artists Associate Professor Tyanna Buie, head of printmaking at the Rhode Island School of Design, and Ann Aspinwall, founder and master printer at Aspinwall Editions, as well as Ruben Castillo, Assistant Professor of Printmaking at Skidmore College, and Screenprint Biennial founder and RPI Arts Faculty Nathan Meltz.
For additional details, visit https://opalka.sage.edu/exhibitions/