2011 North American Print Biennial
Images Left to Right: Anthony Barrows, Abrahamic Munitions; Tyanna Buie, There’s Always a McDonalds; Daniel Brewer, Lost and Found
Juried by Jim Dine
February 27 — May 1, 2011
Opening Events on Sunday, February 27th
Lecture A Dialogue: Artist Jim Dine and MFA curator Clifford Ackley, 1:30pm, at Framingham State University Dwight Hall
Reception Sunday, February 27th at 3pm – 5pm, at the Danforth Museum of Art
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Ancillary Print Events
Gallery Talk with exhibiting artists Don Gorvett and Sean Hurley, Sunday, March 6 at 12pm
Gallery Talk with Deborah Cornell, Boston Printmakers Executive Board Member, Sunday, April 3 at 12pm
Panel Discussion Remembering Mazur: Artists Michael David, Joel Janowitz and Betsey Garand present personal reflections
on the life and work of artist Michael Mazur (1924 – 2009), Sunday, April 10 at 3pm
» View All Ancillary Print Events (PDF)
Opening Lecture and Reception
Juror Jim Dine and MFA Curator Cliff Ackley will present a dialogue on contemporary printmaking on Sunday, February 27 at 1:30 pm in the Dwight Auditorium at Framingham State University. The presentation is free and open to the public and is funded by Framingham State University’s Arts and Humanities Council.
The presentation immediately precedes an opening reception at the Danforth Museum from 3-5 pm to be attended by Mr. Dine and exhibiting artists. All are welcome to attend.
About the Exhibition
Juror Jim Dine has selected 149 prints by 105 artists from 2064 entries prints for the 2011 North American Print Biennial, one of the major print reviews held in the United States. The 2011 Biennial features prints created in traditional print processes that include lithography, woodcut, linocut, etching, mezzotint and screen printing, as well as works produced in new or experimental media such as digital, collage, artist books, and 3-dimensional constructions. The 2011 North American Print Biennial will appear in the first floor galleries of the Danforth Museum of Art.
The Arches Student Print Show, a companion to the 2011 North American Print Biennial, will appear in second floor galleries of the Danforth Museum School. Starting In 1999, this companion exhibition expands the scope of Biennial activities to include printmaking from more than 20 New England colleges and universities. Sponsored by the Arches Paper Company, this show not only acquaints the public with emerging printmakers, but also gives students an opportunity to exhibit with some of our country’s most renowned artists.
Cash Prizes and Purchase Awards
The Boston Printmakers and numerous corporate supporters provide cash prizes exceeding $10,000, which Juror Jim Dine awarded selected exhibiting artists. The North American Print Biennial supports both artists and museums by awarding purchase prizes and material awards exceeding $10,000. Two Founders’ Purchase Prizes support the acquisition of prints for the Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, respectively. The Boston Printmakers’ Purchase Prize supports acquisition of a print for the Boston Public Library. The Arches Paper Company supports material awards to exhibiting students in the Arches Paper Show.
» See list of 2011 Prize Winners
About Juror Jim Dine
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1935, Jim Dine studied at the University of Cincinnati and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and received his BFA from Ohio University in 1957. In 1959, he moved to New York City where he first staged his Happenings with Claes Oldenburg, Robert Whitman and Allan Kaprow at the Judson Gallery, and had his first solo exhibition at the Reuben Gallery. Dine was represented at the Venice Biennale in 1964 and at the documents “4” in Kassel in 1968.
From the early 1970’s Dine’s work became increasingly figurative as he moved away from Abstract Expressionism toward Pop art. By incorporating images of everyday objects in his art, Dine created works that fused passion and everyday experience. Repeated use of personally familiar and significant objects, such as a robe, hands, tools, and hearts became a signature feature. In 1967 Dine and his family moved to London, England, where he devoted his energies to printmaking and drawing. In the 1980’s, Dine turned his attention towards sculpture when he created works based on the statue Venus de Milo.
Dine’s career includes a major retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, a print retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, and many solo museum exhibitions in Europe and the United States. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston houses an extensive Jim Dine print archive, a promised gift of the artist. His work also appears in the permanent collections of numerous museums.
About Boston Printmakers
Established in 1947, The Boston Printmakers is one of the oldest organizations of professional printmakers in the United States. Founded by a small group of senior students and faculty at Boston’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Massachusetts College of Art, The Boston Printmakers debuted with a successful exhibition in 1948. Currently representing artists throughout the United States, England, and Canada, The Boston Printmakers sponsors The North American Print Biennial, one of the most prestigious events in contemporary printmaking. From 1954 to 1969, this exhibition was held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Other hosts have included the Hayden Gallery at MIT, the Rose Art Museum, the Duxbury Art Complex Museum, the Fitchburg Art Museum, the Danforth Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Boston, the DeCordova Museum, and Boston University, who hosted the Biennial in their 808 Gallery from1999 to 2010.
As a non-profit, volunteer organization, The Boston Printmakers’ mission is to promote public knowledge, understanding, and support for printmaking; encourage and support artists working in printmaking; promote excellence in printmaking; and support innovation within the field of printmaking. They reach a large and diverse audience through the North American Print Biennial, as well as members’ shows and traveling exhibitions to museums, libraries, and other institutions throughout the United States and Canada. Each year hundreds of young printmakers, as well as established artists from across the US and in Canada and now Mexico, apply for membership in the organization during biannual portfolio reviews.
Learn more at www.bostonprintmakers.org