An exhibition gallery, printmaking studios, and a resource center dedicated to supporting, preserving and advancing the art of original prints, both traditional and contemporary.
Founded in 1995, the non-profit Center for Contemporary Printmaking is located in an historic landmark 19th-century stone carriage house. An architectural gem transformed into an important art resource, it is the only Center of its kind between New York and Boston.
Workshop program:
The Center is an anchor in Norwalk’s Mathews Park and plays an essential role in the cultural vitality of Fairfield County. Through its workshop program, the Center supports and encourages serious emerging and professional artists in the creation of original prints. Artists, whether painters or printmakers, will find a lively, interactive workspace where they can work independently, collaborate with master printers and participate in stimulating workshops. The Center offers approximately 100 workshops per year in printmaking disciplines, often combining innovative new technologies (digital, polymer plate) with traditional printmaking techniques (etching, woodcut, monoprint, monotype, lithography, silkscreen, paper and bookmaking). These workshops provide artists with the opportunity to learn from the Center’s highly skilled and qualified faculty of renowned artists, many from the finest art colleges and universities in the United States.
Exhibitions:
Through its exhibitions and education programs, the Center increases awareness, knowledge and appreciation of prints and printmaking process for artists, art collectors and all who are interested in expanding their artistic horizons.The exhibition program provide a resource for new and established print collectors while exposing the general public to the history and breadth of printmaking as an artistic discipline. Major gallery exhibitions, many favorably reviewed in the New York Times, major art magazines, and local area press, give both an historic and contemporary view of printmaking. On average, five contemporary and historic exhibitions are presented that serve as learning tools for artists and educational vehicles for the public. The Center’s art gallery features critically acclaimed, world-class exhibitions including a biennial International Miniature Print Competition, which in 2005 drew entries from 19 countries and 19 states. In addition to an annual member’s show, recent exhibitions have included works by Jim Dine, Ellsworth Kelly, Joan Mitchell, Emily Mason and Alberto Giacometti.
Print Collection:
The Center’s print collection, primarily of 20th century American and international works is available for exhibition and study. A Resource Center consisting of a collection of more than 300 donated prints, posters, drawings and artists books is housed in a print room and continues to grow. It represents work of the 20th and 21st centuries and offers opportunities for inspiration and response. A library of books on printmaking, exhibit catalogs and periodicals is also available for study purposes. In-house and outreach programs, including lectures, tours, demonstrations and seminars are offered for individuals, families, schools, teachers and businesses.
Community outreach programs:
These programs increase understanding of the graphic arts and stress the creative process. Classes for both public and private school students and teachers are held both at the Center and at outside locations. Special programs such as demonstrations and lectures attract a large adult audience. Internships are offered to interested students and artists for credit or workshop exchange.
