“SNAIL MAIL PRINTS”
Featuring The Central Coast Printmakers
Exhibit runs July 2nd thru Aug 30th during store hours
The past year has been such an incredible challenge for so many of us!
The Central Coast Printmakers Group came up with a wonderful way to overcome their collective isolation during the pandemic and it turned into a beautiful collaborative body of prints!
This exhibit showcases an art project The Central Coast Printmakers started to stay in touch with each other as they sheltered in place. They took inspiration from the Exquisite Corpse Project popularized by 1920’s surrealists. In this modern version, each member began by creating an original print, then mailing it to the next artist. Each artist in turn would add to each print, also adding notes and letters, until it went full circle and got mailed back to the original artist.
We are continually astonished to see how local artists adapt and change, to persevere during extraordinary times. The Central Coast Printmakers are a shining example of how to rise to a challenge and we are delighted to host this unique exhibit.
“Because of Covid isolation advisories, we printmakers stopped in-person meetings. Not surprisingly, we really missed them and the intimacy and friendship our group had developed over the years. To keep connected we started art projects that we Snail Mailed to each other often with written comments and explanations.
One project was the Exquisite Corpse game. It was popularized, but not really invented, by the Surrealists in the early 1920’s. In our version every member artist began an original print and mailed it to the next artist on their list who added to it and so on until the print returned to the original artist. The idea was to complete your addition within one week and mail it on.
These projects kept us working and talking to each other. For me it was so very valuable. I felt less alone and more motivated to make art. We sometimes communicated by phone or email to discuss ideas or to figure out who really was next on the list. These projects were a life saver.”
-Barbara Rosenthal
About the Artists
The Central Coast Printmakers are a dedicated group located in California’s San Luis Obispo county. CCP was founded over 25 years ago by Barbara & Rosey Rosenthal. With 50+ diverse active members, CCP’s Mission is to maintain the tradition of making art prints & designing plates by hand. Our printmaking processes include etching, linocuts, woodcuts, silkscreen, collagraphs, & monoprints. Members participate in local demos, open studio tours, education, exhibits & community events. CCP is affiliated with San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, including hosting prestigious juried exhibitions at this popular Arts venue in the historic Mission Plaza.
Participating Artists
- Lynn Evey
- Barbara Rosenthal
- Cheryl Barton
- Beth Kilimnik
- Anne Kellog
- Tricia Reichert
- Deborah Hoffnagle
- Joyce Bauerle
- Rosey Rosenthal
- Evy Justesen
- Anne Crowe
- Paul La Riviere
- Lorene Cabrera
- Willie Bermudez
- Maryanne Nucci
Thank you for these images! I am so touched by the “snail mail” prints. They represent my own interests and feelings during this pandemic phase of life.