FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Michael's Printshop Commemorates 50 Years with Island-wide Celebrations
[St John’s, Newfoundland, March 19, 2024] – St. Michael's Printshop (SMP) turns 50 this year, commemorating five decades of fostering artistic expression and community engagement. Since its founding in 1974 by artists Heidi Oberheide and Don Wright, SMP has been a cornerstone of Newfoundland's cultural landscape, supporting local and international printmakers alike. From its humble beginnings in the outport of St. Michael’s to its current home in the bustling harbor of downtown St. John’s, SMP has served as a hub for community building, artistic exploration, and collaboration.
To mark this significant milestone, SMP is thrilled to announce a comprehensive series of exhibitions, public programming, and outreach activities across the island of Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland) throughout the year. The exhibitions and events will showcase prints from SMP’s archive of over 3000 prints, dating from its inception in 1974 to the present day, that celebrate the rich history of printmaking in the province. Curated by Emily Critch, a local Mi’kmaw and settler curator, the exhibitions will spotlight the diverse voices that have shaped SMP into the vibrant artist-run hub it is today.
SMP’s jam-packed year kicks off on April 12th with “gathering at the water’s edge” - an exhibition of works from the past five decades of Visiting Artists at the Rotary Arts Centre in Corner Brook, NL.
"gathering at the water's edge is an exhibition that presents a survey of 20 visiting artists from the St. Michael’s Printshop archive, demonstrating the breadth of print media, technical skills, and artistic practices nourished in the shop. The Visiting Artist Program has welcomed an expansive group of artists from around the world, and the intention with this exhibition was to select prints from the last five decades that reflect the diversity of practices and artworks that have yet to be exhibited from the collection. Founded in 1974 by artists Heidi Oberheide and Don Wright, St. Michael’s Printshop remains a place of significance to artistic production in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada, and internationally. From the beginnings in the outport of St. Michael’s to the bustling downtown St. John’s, artists have been community building, engaging in artistic production, fellowship, and gathering at the waters edge for 50 years at St. Michael’s Printshop." Emily Critch, Curator
Other 50th anniversary programming includes an exhibition of works titled, etched by wind and water, featuring local Newfoundland and Labrador artists at Union House Arts, Port Union opening August 17, and an exhibition celebrating 32 years of the Don Wright Scholarship program, titled emerging along coastal margins, in St. John’s in the fall. Additional programming to be announced this spring.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Christeen Francis, Executive Director
(709) 754-2931
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @st_michaels_printshop
About St. Michael's Printshop:
St. Michael’s Printshop (SMP) exists to develop and grow printmaking as a participatory and accessible art form. SMP provides the facilities and opportunity for visual artists from across the province, Canada, and internationally, as well as for its local community, to learn and engage in the art of printmaking. One of the province’s few artist-run centres and the only artist-run printmaking studio, SMP promotes and continues to push the boundaries of printmaking as a contemporary art form. SMP provides space and specialized equipment for artists to work, educational opportunities through scholarships and workshops, and residencies through its visiting artist program. For more information, visit https://www.stmichaelsprintshop.com/
We would like to thank Canada Council of the arts for supporting us and making our 50th anniversary programming possible.
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