Momentum, an exhibition curated by Alicia Bailey, Director of Abecedarian Artists’ Books, features the work of six significant regional artists exploring aspects of hand papermaking, letterpress printing, and book arts. Included in the exhibition are Aaron Cohick, Alicia Bailey, Gail Watson, Helen Hiebert, Leon Loughridge, and Rhiannon Alpers.
Gallery Hours:
Friday 10-2pm
Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm
Curatorial Statement, Alicia Bailey
It has been an honor as well as great fun to curate this inaugural exhibition at InterOcean Studio, the newly revitalized workspace of my late friend and fellow artist Ray Tomasso. This new incarnation of Ray’s former studio will host workshops, visiting artist residencies, and curated exhibitions in the areas of handmade paper, letterpress printing, and book arts. This is an especially welcome opportunity as these disciplines are underdeveloped in both educational opportunities and visibility in Denver metro.
My intent for Momentum is to showcase as broad a range of approach to these three areas as can be managed in a single show. I've selected works from six Colorado artists, including myself, each with a different approach to working with hand made paper, letterpress printing, and/or book arts.
Artists featured in Momentum are Aaron Cohick (Colorado Springs), Alicia Bailey (Aurora), Gail Watson (Black Hawk), Helen Hiebert (Edwards), Leon Loughridge (Denver), and Rhiannon Alpers (Denver).
Aaron Cohick is the founder and proprietor of the NewLights Press, a small press focused on the intersection of experimental writing and artists publishing. At NewLights he publishes his own work and that of other artists and writers. For Momentum, he is exhibiting mixed-media poem print wall pieces and book works that include letterpress, collagraph, risograph and other mixed media.
Alicia Bailey produces limited edition and unique book works under the Ravenpress imprint. One of her interests is exploring combinations of traditional technique with non-traditional materials. For Momentum she is exhibiting book works created using laser etching and engraving as a printmaking tool.
Gail Watson is a mixed-media artist who produces limited edition and unique 2 and 3 dimensional works that expand on methods associated with letterpress by including additional materials such as foil and carved balsa wood. Momentum will include book works and wall pieces that celebrate layering, interactivity and alternative approaches to foil stamping.
Helen Hiebert's studio work focuses on the creation of interactive objects using handmade paper. Her projects include wall pieces, limited edition book works and installations. For Momentum she is exhibiting interactive spheres that invite audience collaboration in the form of written responses to various prompts.
Leon Loughridge runs DCArt Press, where he produces hand-carved woodblock prints and book works in a hybridization of traditional Japanese moku hanga and Western materials and techniques. His book works include woodblock prints, serigraph and letterpress. For Momentum he is exhibiting both wall and book works featuring landscapes of his home turf, the American southwest.
Rhiannon Alpers publishes limited edition and one-of-a-kind books under the imprint of Gazelle & Goat Press. Her works incorporate the three main areas of book arts; papermaking, letterpress printing and book/boxmaking. In Momentum she will exhibit both wall and pedestal pieces that exemplify Inter Ocean Studio's three main areas of focus.