01 Aug 2017

Printed Matter 2018 - Thematic Residency at Skaftfell

Printing Matter – Thematic Residency at Skaftfell Center for Visual Art 2018

Application deadline: Sept 15, 2017


Printing Matter is a 3-week thematic residency with an intensive program for 8-10 artists, focusing on artist book making. The program is guided by Åse Eg Jørgensen and will take place in English.
Two different time periods are available: February 5-26 and September 3-24, 2018.

Tuition: 150.000 ISK, including accommodation in Seyðisfjörður and basic printmaking materials.

Printing Matter is a hands-on workshop that aims to create a platform for exchange, discussion, and collaboration amongst fellow artists from various disciplines, who share a professional interest in artist book making, both on a practical and a conceptual level, and who wish to deepen their knowledge and expertise. The first Printing Matter took place in February 2017 and brought together nine artists from various backgrounds to explore the medium.
The workshop program is developed and guided by the Danish artist and graphic designer Åse Eg Jørgensen. It includes group work, independent research and practice, and an informal final presentation.

Working facilities and basic printmaking equipment will be made available through a collaboration with the Technical Museum of East Iceland in Seyðisfjörður. The available printing presses are museum pieces: three hand-driven presses donated to the museum by German artist Dieter Roth. There is a letterpress proofing press (width max 48cm) and a selection of type (lead), a small intaglio press (width max 30cm) and an old lithographic press (35x45cm) with a small selection of stones.

The main focus of the program will be on conceiving and producing individual artists books in a limited print run (10-15 copies), on location. Since Seyðisfjörður is a rather remote place, we will have to improvise a little and make the best of the materials and facilities at hand.
Apart from the printing techniques made available by the Seyðisfjörður Technical Museum, diverse hand-printing techniques can be used as well. The program will touch upon hands-on book-production, ink, paper, type, binding, folding, sewing, as well as going through a brief history of artist books, discussions on printed matter, and printed multiples. A summary of selected texts will provide a starting point for discussions on the above listed topics.

In order to reveal the joined knowledge of the workshop/residency/process, all participants should prepare half an hour presentation of their own practice relating to the workshop, together with a 20 min practical demonstration of their technique as an exercise for the other participants.
Set within the ongoing Skaftfell residency program, the Thematic Residency aims to integrate the participating artists into the creative community of Seyðisfjörður. Artists will be able to experience life and work in a unique micro community where creativity is applied to the everyday, and the borders between art and life are fluent. The timing of the residency, February 2018, provides artists with the opportunity to experience the dark and serene period of winter in the fjords of East Iceland, while the second period, September 2018, with its majestic autumn colors will equally fuel their creativity.
The program is best suited for visual artists, but artists with interdisciplinary practices are also welcome to apply.

Participants of Printed Matter will be accommodated in Skaftfell's artist residency apartments. These are located in various old, refurbished houses with historic significance to the town, and are within easy walking distance to each other and to Skaftfell. The apartments have single and twin bedrooms, and shared kitchen, bathroom and living area. They are equipped with WiFi, washing machines, bicycles, Icelandic mobile phones, and ecologically friendly cleaning products.

A large shared studio and separate shared printing room at the Technical Museum in Seyðisfjörður will be the main working area for the workshop participants.

Application process
The call for applications for the Thematic Residency 2018 is open from the beginning of June until September 15, 2017. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by the end of October 2017.
Please submit your application via the online application form: podio.com/webforms/18748166/1261617

Travel
Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to Seyðisfjörður. Successful applicants will receive a detailed account on how to get here along with the travel options. As part of Skaftfell's mission to minimize their carbon footprint they have teamed up with Smyril Line, the international ferry leaving from Denmark via Faroe Islands to Seyðisfjörður and can arrange a booking agent and special discount to travel by ferry to the residency. More information on the ferry at www.smyrilline.com.