Spudnik Press Cooperative is midway through our seventh year of public programming. Since 2007, we have been offering access to professional printing equipment, high-quality education, exhibition opportunities, youth workshops, and so much more. And each fall we have brought together a diverse assortment of artwork from talented artists available via silent auction, with all the proceeds benefiting our humble non-profit.

This year, we are adding an exclusive preview event. Guests contributing at the $50 level are invited to join Spudnik Press staff, guest curators, and featured artists for a special two hours of program, prior to General Admission. Here’s what to expect from this new portion of our benefit:

Gourmet Mexican Street Food and Tapas by El Metro & Gaudi Cafe

All guests will enjoy fresh new flavors from El Metro, our neighborhoods newest restaurant at the corner of Damen and Chicago. Operated by the owners of Gaudi Cafe, El Metro is serving up a street food inspired menu. Stop by the preview event for a chance to preview their offerings!

Live Jazz presented by Elastic Arts

Elastic Arts, our guest curator for the 2015 Ten x Ten, brings us a live performance by three of Chicago’s most loved jazz musicians, Paul Giallorenzo, Anton Hatwich, and Frank Rosaly.

Early Bidding

Guests at our preview event will have the exclusive opportunity to place early bids on the artwork and other auction items. Preview guests will even be able to leave a maximum bid with staff, should they leave the benefit prior to the closing of the auction.

Open Bar

From 5-7pm, our bartenders will be mixing up extra cocktails for thirsty guests. One of the first tasks of our Benefit Committee was to select the featured cocktails. Chosen by popular vote, after rigorous taste testing, we’ll be  mixing up a refreshing red wine cocktail, a spicey tequila cocktail, and more.  Metropolitan beer will be on tap, and we’ll have plenty of Goose Island Root Beer for those abstaining from alcohol.

Live Printing / Hand Printed Gift for Every Guest

Spudnik Press has brand new swag debuting at our benefit. Each guest will take home a handprinted gift designed by Craig Hansen and printed in house. Those feeling adventurous can print their own gift with our Vandercook printing press. Staff will be on hand to explain the craft of letterpress printing, how and why artists continue to flock to this medium.

Meet the Artists & Curators

The auction brings together an exciting selection of artists hand picked by five of Chicago’s most talented curators. Over the next week, we’ll be sharing a handful of the artworks available at the auction, and on Monday September 29th, we’ll post the complete list of all 50 artists. Arrive early to mix and mingle.

Ready to purchase tickets?

On Saturday, October 4, we host our largest benefit to date. To make this all happen, we need lots of help!

Our preview event features live jazz from Elastic Arts, Gourmet Mexican Street Food and Tapas by El Metro & Gaudi Cafe, letterpress printing, and craft cocktails. Then, we’ll open up the doors to general admission at 7pm and bidding will get intense as we auction off 50 artworks by the best artists in the city and 25+ unique items and experiences ranging from a behind the scenes tour of Dark Matter Coffee to hair styling services at The Circle Salon. As the auction ends, the dance party begins with DJ Hummingbird.

We are looking for two kinds of help: Framing and installation help on Thursday, Oct. 2, 6-10pm and Day-of Help on Saturday, Oct. 4, between 4-midnight. All volunteers will earn complimentary admission to the event, which includes popcorn and a drink ticket. We’ve even got a small thank you gift for the first 20 people to sign up!

To volunteer, email Luke Daly, Board Member at tlukedaly (at) gmail.com. Please include your availability and any special talents or interests that you may have, including woodblock printing, letterpress printing, ability to talk confidently about Spudnik’s programming, interest in dressing up a little and serving  hors d’oeuvres, or even bar tending. We are also looking for in-kind photography services!

For all the details please download our 2015 Call for Class & Workshop Proposals.

To apply, please submit a resume and work samples in addition to the following documents:

2015 Workshop Proposal Form
2015 Class Proposal Form
2015 Supply Request Form.

On Saturday, October 4, the Spudnik Press Printshop and Annex will be transformed into a pop-up gallery featuring fifty of Chicago’s most accomplished artists. All the artwork is up for auction with 100% of the proceeds supporting Spudnik Press programming. Our five curators represent a rich cross-section of Chicago’s art scene, with a focus on media that Spudnik directly supports, including design, book arts, social practices, painting, illustration, and of coarse printmaking. All artwork comes framed and silent auction bidding begins at just $35-55. Purchase Tickets Online

Meet Roman Titus, Chicago Design Museum & Co-Founder of Nelson Cash

Roman Titus is probably best known for co-founding Nelson Cash. More recently, he’s been a big contributor to the Chicago Design Museum, acting as the Exhibit Design Director. However, before these ventures, he ran BLDG, a creative studio, printshop, and art gallery in Kentucky. In Roman’s own words “I connect dots to make ideas into reality. I’m a collaborative builder. The power of multiple brains connecting for the use of creating something new and different is exciting to me. The possibilities are endless there.”

Meet La Keisha Leek, Independent Curator

La Keisha Leek is a writer, arts administrator and curator. Her interests within art history are architecture, race, performance, and site-specific projects that investigate the ways bodies and objects offer up themselves, adapt to and negotiate their presence within spaces. She is also a member of several Chicago-based artist collectives including Hyde Park Dacha and Potluck: Chicago. La Keisha’s work clearly embraces a collaborative spirit. Her current curatorial project, How To Make a Hood, at the Arts Incubator in Washington Park is on display through October 10. (Photo (Above) Credit: Kevin Thomas)

Meet Joe Tallarico, Comics Editor, Lumpen Magazine

Joe Tallarico is the man behind the annual Comics Issue of Lumpen Magazine. Each summer, this magazine brings together a ridiculously talented and diverse selection of artists including local, national, and international talent. Joe is also an accomplished artist himself. He is an active member of the collaborative comics group, Trubble Club. You may have scene his animation at the DePaul Art Museum, viewable from the Red Line in late 2012, or his illustration on Spiteful Brewing labels. Needless to say, he’s well positioned to bring an all-star line up to the Spudnik Press Benefit.

Meet Ruslana Lichtzier, ACRE 2015 Curatorial Fellow

 ACRE is a volunteer-run non-profit based in Chicago devoted to employing various systems of support for emerging artists and to creating a generative community of cultural producers. In addition to hosting over 70 resident artists each summer, they curate exhibitions year round through out Chicago.

Ruslana Lichtzier serves on the ACRE Curatorial Board. She has studied in Israel, Austria, as well as SAIC. Her writing has been published in The Seen, International Online Journal for Contemporary & Modern Art, and she has been a guest lecturer at SAIC and Illinois State University. For the Benefit, Ruslana will be presenting works united by the theme of Science/Fiction. A full-scale exhibition of the same title is forthcoming.

Meet Jessica Cochran, Independent Curator

Named a “curator to watch” by Chicago Magazine in 2013, Jessica Cochran has curated exhibitions for the Contemporary Arts Council, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Around the Coyote Gallery, What it Is and the Wicker Park/Bucktown Chamber of Commerce.  She coordinated exhibitions and public programs for the Poetry Foundation, Art Chicago, NEXT and the Artist Project. She was recently the Curator of Exhibitions and Programs at the Center for Book and Paper Art, and is now a Curatorial and Collection Manager for a private contemporary art collection. Jessica, who serves on the Spudnik Press Board of Directors, will be curating a special selection that highlights that artists that have recently worked with Spudnik Press through our Residency Programming, Publishing, Studio Access Programs, and Exhibitions.

Spudnik Press Cooperative is pleased to introduce our 20th Resident Artist, Kate McQuillen.  Through out the fall, Kate will be spending her mornings at our studio exploring the destructive possibilities of the printing press.

She will be creating full sheet, full-bleed monoprints that will be used to create larger works. For her exhibition, she plans on creating an immersive installation, combining wall-size collaged works with illuminated, free-standing print sculptures. Existing together in one space, the works will aim for a sensibility of being surrounded by data, and a feeling of hunting, tracking, and evading in the night.

McQuillen will be the Spudnik Press Resident Artist through December 15, 2014. A solo exhibition of her work will be presented in The Annex at Spudnik Press in early 2015.

Learn more about our  Residency Program or read a review of Kate’s work on Printeresting.

Moving Blanket
By Kostas Anagnopoulos
Published by Ugly Duckling Presse

August Spud Pick by Veronica Siehl, Spudnik Studio Manager

“Shifting between poetry and prose, Moving Blanket by Kostas Anagnopoulos explores everyday moments. His prose stretches out mundane observations placing them in a realm that is based neither in reality or fantasy. This elegant book is nice to hold and easy to get lost in. The weaving of poetry with prose engages the reader and contributes to the sense that we are catching glimpses of dreams, conscious thought and collective feelings. Ugly Duckling Presse has fulfilled their aim of “calling attention to the labor and history of bookmaking” by publishing not only an engrossing read but a beautiful object.”

Spud Pick books can be found in the Small Press Library in the Annex

Nox
By Ron Silliman
Published by Burning Deck Press

August Spud Pick by Hannah King, Spudnik Volunteer

“Nox by Ron Silliman, letterpress printed and designed by Rosmarie Waldrop of Burning Deck Press, is an incredible example of design and words working together to enhance meaning. Simple lines divide the text on each page encouraging a fluid reading experience – the single words of Silliman can be endlessly rearranged to create new content and interpretations. Rosmarie Waldrop’s skill as a printer and understanding of the ways in which the vessel delivering the text can enhance the reader’s experience are clearly evident in this elegant and interesting book. ”

Spud Pick books can be found in the Small Press Library in the Annex

Internships at Spudnik Press focus on bringing students into every aspect of facilitating a community studio. Interns assist with daily maintenance of the shop, included cleaning, stocking, and ordering supplies, marketing, exhibitions, record keeping, fundraising, workshops, and classes, and more. Students typically work at the shop two days a week (Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday) 10-5pm. Internship interviews will take place the week of August 18 and internships will begin in September.

Each year, our two fall interns team up to organize and host our Holiday Art Sale. 2012 was yeti themed and brought together a mix of Spudnik members and current students. In 2013, we worked around the theme Prints in Space. Clearly, our fall internship is perfect for students interest in printmaking who want to get arts programming experience and learn the ropes of arts administration.

See all the Details or Download the Job Description.

The Heads
By Justin Sirois
Published by Newlight Press

August Spud Pick by Angee Lennard, Founder and Executive Director of Spudnik

“The Head epitomizes Spudnik’s mentality: The physicality and presentation of the text add meaning and evokes curiosity. The green cover is not colored stock but white paper inked solidly! Close inspection reveals an embossed title on front and secret stanza on back. This attention to form continues through the book with hand-sewn signatures and copious letterpress embellishments.  This quality of production is standard for Aaron Cohick and Newlights Press, a publisher worth following religiously.

For the writing, Sirois’ poetry is slightly surreal. It instigates spin-off narratives but doesn’t assume importance. The Head is a delightful read that makes me curious about his novels.

The Newlights Press Blog boasts many more publications that combine amazing literary talent with incredibly high production quality, usually including letterpress.

Justin Sirois has many other published works that look equally as interesting and perhaps heavier subject matter, like Falcons on the Floor that looks at the battle of Fallujah seen on the ground by Iraqis, and So Say the Waiters, a series of books about a software developer who has created kidnap, a social network that allows people to kidnap each other for fun.”

Spud Pick books can be found in the Small Press Library in the Annex

We proudly invite Chicago artists to apply for our The Fall Residency position at Spudnik Press Cooperative. Now in its sixth year, The Residency Program has hosted 19 local artists, including Lilli Carré, Miller & Shellabarger, Jessica Taylor Caponigro, and Polly Yates. As our roster of artists continues to expand, the benefits and resources we can offer our residents grows as well. The Residency now includes solo exhibition, publishing, critique, and studio visit opportunities, in addition to three-month access to our facilities and free art supplies.

In 2013, we opened our gallery, The Annex, which now hosts solo exhibitions of new work by the majority of our residents. At the same time, we began working closely with our residents to publish an Artist Book to accompany their exhibitions. Publications created through our Residency Program include Walking Driftward by Hannah Ireland and Aboutface by Veronica Siehl, both of which combine illustrations and visual artwork with original writing and poetry.

This fall, we increase the opportunities for critical dialog and exchange by coordinating two studio visits during the residency period with established artists, curators or gallerists. The Fall Resident will also have the opportunity for group critique with artists participating in our Studio Fellowship program.

Please download the Fall 2014 Residency Packet and help spread the word about this opportunity.

Spudnik Press Cooperative and the Chicago Printmakers Guild are thrilled to be teaming up to present three professional development opportunities designed specifically for our members. After polling the audience, we lined up seven outstanding guest presenters to share their insight and expertise, including Dan Devening (Devening Projects), Jason Teegarden-Downs (Delicious Design League) and Allison Glenn (Monique Meloche). In conversation with one another and attendees, the series will address self-promotion and marketing for artists, ethical pricing, commissions, and how to build relationships with galleries, collectors, and curators.

The series kicks off on Wednesday, August 13 with a free panel discussion with Angela Bryant, Anna Marie Wilharm, and Renee Robbins.

Best Practices Detail and Registration

This Saturday, The Hubbard Street Lofts, will again host Printers Ball. This year is the tenth anniversary, and we are thrilled to highlight a few of the artists who contribute to the success and reputation of Spudnik Press Cooperative. Artists include a mix of Teaching Artists, Studio Assistants (current and past), artists we’ve collaborated with, and artists who have private studios within our printshop. Many artists are producing their work here at Spudnik. Others have set up their own shops. All are using print in innovative and fresh ways, and are excited to share their artwork at the tenth annual Printers Ball!

Perfectly Acceptable; Matt Davis
Perfectly Acceptable offers simple and affordable Risograph printing, design, and consultation services for cartoonists, zinesters, and anyone interested in printing on a small- to medium-sized scale. We are pleased to announce that we will be debuting the first of our series of artist prints at Printer’s Ball 2014, by Andy Burkholder, alongside a number of other Riso-printed goodies. Perfectly Acceptable is run by Matt Davis in a private studio in Spudnik Press’s Annex. 

Alamo Igloo; Keith Herzik
Dog lover, Keith Herzik has been making screen printed concert and show posters in Chicago since before the millennium.  Recently Keith has focused on hand printed art book zines entitled Alamo Igloo.  A new three-color woodblock print designed by Keith published by Spudnik Press, is currently in production.

Hoofprint Workshop; Liz Born and Gabe Hoare
Hoofprint Workshop is a Chicago-based printmaking studio specializing in fine art editions. Processes they use include relief, intaglio, plate lithography, monotype, and screenprinting. They work with emerging artists, students fine-tuning their craft, and clients who are looking to commission a custom design or have their own imagery reproduced by hand. They work with 4 artists each year to create innovative editions that represent the collaboration of the artist and team of skilled printers. By subsidizing printing costs for these projects, we encourage artists to make ambitious works that expand their studio practice, and re-contextualize existing themes. Their shop is located in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood between Pilsen and Little Village in a re-purposed funeral parlor.

Kim Morski
Currently, she is working on a body of prints that explore the conflation of domestic and scientific activity in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1950s. After World War II, the United States Army contracted with private corporations and a select group of scientists to spray zinc cadmium sulfide with a fluorescent additive over certain parts of St. Louis as part of a biological weapons development program. They researched particle dispersal patterns and their effects on unknowing St. Louis residents. In response to this information, she is interested in constructing images that represent the concept of duality and hiding one narrative within a more desirable one.  Her current artwork includes screenprints, as well as an edition of small books and collages.

Rough Ray Press
Rough Ray Press is the design studio and print shop of artists Bailey Romaine, Becka Cooling, and Nick Humber. The press is an aesthetic project that supports these artists’ independent and collaborative approaches to printmaking. We produce books, multiples, and fine art prints, as well as works on commission, including but not limited to book covers, invitations, and posters.

Additional Artists:
Rar Rar Press
Ilyana Schwartz
Brad Vetter
Matt Harlan

Additional Vendors:

Cushing
Chicago’s print and digital communications expert, Cushing has stood for premier reprographic imaging since 1929. From small and large format color graphics to cross media marketing campaigns, the company offers an assortment of cost-effective print solutions. A city of Chicago-certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), the organization’s philosophy is firmly rooted in going the extra mile to provide optimal customer service. From short run to wide format color printing and cross media marketing, our network provides access to over 200 industry partners, across the globe.  Projects are executed with care and precision.