MAYFLOWER 400
Plymouth, MA- Inky Hands Print Studio and Gallery of Plymouth, MA presents Mayflower 400, a project recognizing the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower crossing.Developed in conjunction with Red Hot Press in Southampton, UK, Mayflower 400 brings together artists from Plymouth and artists from Southampton for an international, cross-cultural exhibition of contemporary printmaking.
In 2020, the exhibition of Mayflower 400 will be on display in both Plymouth, MA and Southampton, UK, coinciding with events in both locations. The collection of prints will be on display at Inky Hands Gallery in September, alongside works by Southampton’s Red Hot Press’ artists prints, following display at God’s House Tower in Southampton over the summer. This collaborative exhibition will provide visual interpretations of the Mayflower’s journey by about 35 artists in print.
Master Printer Kat LiBretto selected 15 local artists to participate in the Mayflower 400 project. Responding to the significant event, their artwork has been inspired by the themes of Journey, Spiritual Freedom, Arrival, and The Sea. These artists work in diverse genres including painting, photography, graphic design, poetry, illustration and printmaking. The resulting prints showcase a variety of technical skills as well as the versatility of the screen printing process, examining the journey, settlement and cultural impact of the Mayflower crossing in contemporary art.
Inky Hands is a contemporary print studio, publisher and gallery dedicated fully to silk screen as a fine art process. Inky Hands aims to promote a greater understanding and appreciation for printmaking as a creative process and encourages artists to explore their artwork through the use of silk screen printing. The studio provides a collaborative approach to producing limited edition prints with emerging and established artists, as well as offers the community a place to learn through workshops. Inky Hands was founded in Dallas in 2014 and relocated to Plymouth in 2018.
For more information please visit: www.inkyhandsprintstudio.com
ADAM CARRIULO
Adam's interest in architecture began to crystalize and he began to notice the threads which connected the great architects to the greater cultural landscape of their day. He began considering ways to present their great buildings in a fresh way that people would respond to.
JESSIE FRIES
Jessie Fries is a self-taught artist, drawn to nature and simple rural, everyday surroundings. Her subject matter is often flowers, birds, sunsets, starry filled moonlit skies or the sea. She is attracted to these things because it expresses the wonder she feels in very existence.
In her paintings and drawings she blends bold colorful acrylics and mixed media to create texture and form as well as using warm earthly hues to create an inviting palette. Her philosophy is that art provides her with an aesthetic appreciation for the world, hoping to capture a bit of beauty and tell a story in her work.
ALISA PARKER
This commemorative piece was created to illustrate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s voyage across the Atlantic to found Plymouth Colony.
The focus is on the iconic emblem, the “Mayflower”, located on the ships stern. The flower with its crisp, pure white, simple petals was considered to be a symbol of spring and the month of May in England. I see it as a personification of the Pilgrims. Puritans, on a journey of hope and commitment to their pursuit of religious freedom.
Taking a mixed media approach to storytelling, I weave torn, collaged bits from the Mayflower Compact, maps of Plymouth Bay, and vintage wallpaper. These elements create the vessel where the graphic image of the Mayflower is placed upon. Using acrylic inks, paints and charcoal the ships stern is depicted to take on an antiqued, old world feel and emote the struggle and perseverance of the Pilgrim. We are grateful for our forefathers.
