The Open Studio Sessions: Celebrating 45 years

The Open Studio Sessions: Celebrating 45 years
Group Exhibition

July 30 – August 15, 2015
Opening reception: Thursday, July 30, 2015, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Remarks at 7:00 pm in the Open Studio Gallery
45^th Anniversary Party in the studio to follow reception

Established in 1970 as a small storefront studio on Queen Street West, equipped with just a single etching press and screenprinting equipment, Open studio has grown to become Canada’s leading fine art printmaking centre, providing artists with facilities for relief printing, intaglio, lithography and screenprinting. In addition to extensive printmaking facilities, Open Studio now boasts three galleries, education programming, custom printing services, exchanges and exhibitions with printmaking studios across Canada and internationally, and offers visiting and member-artist residencies to assist artists in sustaining a professional practice in print media.

As an artist-run centre, Open Studio plays a pivotal role in creating opportunities for artists to develop and present their artwork by promoting a shared responsibility for the management and administration of the studio and its many activities. This carries the experience of working in a co-operative studio beyond simply sharing common space and equipment, and encourages a deeper exchange of skills, public engagement and ultimately, a strong sense of community – one that perpetuates as new artists join each year. Now in its 45th year, Open Studio maintains a crucial place in the artistic community locally, regionally and nationally as a centre dedicated to the production and promotion of contemporary original fine art prints. This anniversary is a tribute to the tireless efforts of the many artists, staff, board members, and volunteers who have dedicated countless hours over many years to build the centre’s success.

This exhibition brings together over 80 artists in a celebration of this important milestone for the centre, including Ed Pien, J.C. Heywood, Jane Buyers, Otis Tamasauskas and Libby Hague, to name just a few. These artists represent only a small fraction of the many individuals who have been involved with Open Studio over the years: some as visiting artists, past and current members, students, staff, board members as well as artists from sister printshops across the country. As varied as the artists themselves, the featured artworks demonstrate the breadth of approaches to print media being practiced today: from the utilization of traditional printmaking techniques to the experimental, and including artwork that, while not produced through print processes, shares a relationship to printmaking through its conceptual concerns. This presentation of the ever-evolving and fascinating nature of print media, reveals the strength, beauty and diversity of print media today.

We invite you to join us in celebration of 45 years of innovative printmaking.