70 printmakers participate in ‘Affinity: Connected Relationships’ which runs until July 6
Art aficionados in the valley now have a new medium to fall in love with — print.
The Printmakers Only Group, which first formed in 1990, has brought the island’s inaugural ‘Printmaking Biennial’ to the Cowichan Valley Arts Council gallery. The show opened on June 8. and runs until July 6. This first ever event of its kind in the valley boasts 70 printmakers across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands that have each submitted two prints. The exhibition, titled “Islands Printmaking Biennial — Affinity: Connected Relationships”, is a revival of old fashioned printmaking with a modern twist showcasing an array of handmade prints created through a variety of techniques.
“It was an idea that I personally have been thinking about for the last few years as there seems to be a resurgence of artists making original handmade prints, some limited editions and some one of one,” said show organizer Janine Duns. “I brought the idea up with my POG group and they were enthusiastic so I reached out to the other printmaking groups in our region and every one was very interested in being a part of the show.”
Duns said that there are five printmaking groups throughout Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands including groups based out of Victoria-Ladysmith-Comox, Qualicum, Salt Spring Island and Duncan with Salt Spring Island set to host the next biennial in 2026. POG, which is based in the Cowichan Valley, currently has 14 members.
“I designed the Biennial so that each printmaking group can host and have the show in their community,” said Duns. “Our mandate is to educate the public on what makes an original print and how different it is from a reproduction digital produced print.”
Throughout the art exhibition attendees will witness traditional printmaking. This free exhibit runs out of the gallery located at 2687 James St. during regular hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Stop by on Thursdays to see Duncan printmaker Beverlee McLeod, one of the group’s longest serving members, who has been honing her craft since the 1980s, who will be in action working on a print.
“I pulled my first print over 50 years ago and have been enjoying the endless possibilities of printmaking ever since,” said McLeod. “My first love is creating a series of small etchings I call ‘Vancouver Island Miniatures’ but cannot ignore trying a new technique or printing medium.”
“In this exhibition we have a whole area dedicated to a demonstration and education,” said Duns. “We will have two printmakers at the show daily for people to ask questions. There are so many areas from etching, wood engraving to linocut and so much more. It’s a medium that has been around a long time. Japanese and Chinese woodblock printing has been around for centuries and has been a prominent art form in European art for hundreds of years.”
“This show will feature a wide variety of prints whose techniques range from etching, engraving, relief printing (woodblock and linoblock), monotype/monoprint, screen printing and more, making it a versatile, sometimes surprising, sometimes challenging means of artistic expression,” said Duns. “I hope people come away with a sense of intrigue and wonder and a desire to maybe take a printmaking class.”
“I hope people attending the show are blown away by the variety of original prints, impressed by the talent of over 70 participating Island printmakers and learn something from the technique information panels on display,” said McLeod.
