PREPARATIONS for Printfest, the UK’s foremost artist-led printmaking festival, can be said to be going swimmingly.
The exhibitors for this year’s event, at Coronation Hall, Ulverston, from Thursday, April 30, to Sunday, May 3, were chosen at the end of January.
“42 artists were selected from 68 applications. 10 are from Cumbria with artists coming from all over the UK, from Somerset to Kinross and all of them will be exhibiting in the Main Hall at the Coro,” said chair of the organizing committee Sally Bamber.
In addition there will be four workshops in the Ante Room at the Coro. These are provided by the Carlisle and Penrith-based Cumbria Printmakers group who are offering outreach workshops in different areas of Cumbria and the North West as well as holding their own exhibitions. There are 12 places in each.
Also on display will be work by pupils at secondary schools from Ulverston and the Barrow and Furness district.
The Printfest ‘Fringe’ will be larger than ever this year, with over 15 cafés, shops, galleries and local manufacturers putting on linked events and workshops. You can expect to visit them both Saturday and Sunday.
They will all be highlighted on a map being distributed in the area to promote the festival.
Part of the Fringe is Swarthmoor Hall, showing an exhibition of the complete Printfest Print Collection, created by past Printmakers of the Year from 2010-2019. Visit to the exhibition to find out the reason the collection exists and the importance of it.
Each year a major UK printmaker is chosen by the organizers to be their Printmaker of the Year.
For 2020 internationally renowned Anita Klein has been selected. Anita has undertaken a residency in the South Lakes, giving her the opportunity to enjoy the environment and create a commissioned piece inspired by the local area.
Anita Klein studied at both Chelsea School of Art and Slade School of Art, and has exhibited across the world, including at the ICA and the Royal Academy in London.
All her works are essentially self-portraits, but portray what is felt, not what is seen.
Born in Sydney in Australia, Anita was 11 when she came to London with her mother and younger sister. She is now British, based in London, but one aspect of her early life endures – a love of outdoor swimming.
She was initially dubious about taking the Printfest role, because she never portrays landscapes. But she heard from her peers what a great event it is, and couldn’t resist the challenge of creating a new body of work.
“Besides it would be churlish to turn down such an invitation. I never do landscapes but being in the Lake District means I can indulge my love of wild swimming.
“I made a flying visit to Ulverston in September so I could swim in Windermere before the cold weather set in, in preparation for a Printfest print.
“My wild swimming experiences have all been in Italy, Switzerland and Australia before, so I approached the idea of a cold English lake with trepidation. I thought I could always do a paddling print if it was too freezing!
“Actually, once I was in it was glorious, and quite different to other lake swims I’ve done. I even went back the next day and got caught up in a sponsored swim, so managed a kilometre or more.
“Under the water was really black and cold and the surface of the water was silvery and magically reflected the grey sky. Also rain on the water was amazing
“I let the experience settle in a bit before starting some paintings, and finally a print, which I aim to have ready by April for Printfest.”
It is this experience that her lino-print will portray. “Essentially it will be a picture of me swimming, not necessarily looking like me, but rather the feel of it.”
She was back in South Lakes in January to help select the other successful exhibitors and to swim in Coniston Water.
Her time at Slade, in the 1980s coincided with Paula Rego’s period as a lecturer. “She took a liking to my work and thought that I, like her, was essentially a drawer rather than a painter.
“She was incredibly supportive and quite amazingly kind to me, even though we were at different stages of our careers.”
Anita is a fellow and past president of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers (RE) and her work is in many private and public collections in Europe, the USA and Australia, including Arts Council England and the British Museum. She divides her time between studios in London and Anghiari, Italy.
The first edition of the commissioned print Anita creates will be unveiled at Printfest 2020 and will become part of the Printfest Collection. You will be able to purchase editions of the print over the weekend. To find out about the Printfest Print Collection visit www.printfest.uk/gallery/printfest-print-collection
Sally Bamber said: “The joy of this commission is in the exploration of what inspires an artist when they visit the Lake District, being in the landscape, awareness of the large skies, feeling the water, visiting the buildings.
“The figurative and personal aspect of Anita’s work will bring us another perspective, which we are thoroughly looking forward to sharing with our visitors in May 2020.”
Sally said of Anita’s work: “There is vulnerability and joy in observing her work, clearly a documentary of her life in which she portrays those tender times shared with loved ones.
“Anita shows us the simple happiness in life’s small moments such as gathering some flowers, watching the birds nesting, cuddling her grandchild, all of which causes me to reflect on my own life. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of her commission.”
Printfest is dedicated to the exhibition and sale of contemporary hand-made prints and is a rare opportunity for some of the best of the UK’s printmakers to gather under one roof, to share practice and learn from each other.
Printfest offers visitors the experience of purchasing artworks direct from the artists. You get to talk to the artist, hear the story behind the work and find out more about printmaking. The artist also gets to hear why you as a visitor have responded to it.
Printfest was founded in 2001 had has been held at Coronation Hall every year since, except one break in 2016. Printfest 2021 will mark the 20th anniversary.
Printfest 2020 line-up!
Printmaker of the Year 2020 Anita Klein
Printmakers’ Printmaker 2019 Helen Murgatroyd
Sally Adkins | Debby Akam | Ruth Ander | Sinclair Ashman | Jamie Barnes | Tess Baxter | Laura Boswell | Cath Brooke | Sue Brown | Adele Burdon | James Bywood | Lou Davis | Annwyn Dean | Alison Diamond | Katie Edwards | Richard Foster | Sarah Garforth | Janis Goodman | James Green | Raymond Higgs | Penny Hunt | Kevin Maddison | Sarah Mander | Gail Mason | Jenny McCabe | Jo McChesney | Alex McIntosh | Moira McTague | Gregory Moore | Jane Mowat | Mark Pearce | Babs Pease | Ian Phillips | Dorothy Ramsay | Anthony Ratcliffe | Jay Seabrook | Nell Smith | Kelly Stewart | Alan Stones | Laine Tomkinson | Isobel Walker | Kate Watkins | Beverley White
Printfest 2020 dates:
Venue: Coronation Hall
County Square, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7LZ
Opening Talk 30 April, 6pm in the Supper Room at the Coro
Presented by our Printmaker of the Year Anita Klein and our Printmakers’ Printmaker Helen Murgatroyd. Thursday evening upstairs in the Supper Room. Bar opens at 5.30pm. Booking essential, email [email protected], pay £2 on the door.
Preview for Friends of Printfest only: Friday, 1 May, 6.30 p.m
Private View for invitees only: Friday 1 May, 7pm
Public admittance:
Saturday 2 May, 10-5pm
Sunday 3 May, 10-4pm