February Print Workshop

Way back in mid February Elcho Arts hosted a week long print making workshop run by master Darwin printmaker, Basil Hall and a visiting colleague of his, Antonia Aitken (from Megalo Studio in Canberra).

The previous art centre manager had purchased a press, inks and paper but it yet to be used, so in early February we set up a print studio in an unused part of the art centre and spread the word that Elcho Arts was starting a new venture.

In the week with Basil and Antonia we had more than a dozen artists try their hand at reduction woodblock prints. Basil's idea was this - as there is a strong carving tradition on Elcho, it would be good to invite the artists in to try their hand at a new medium. The result was the completion of 12 limited edition 3 colour woodblock prints.

Most of the artists used the workshop to create complex figurative images reflecting their connection to clan and totemic symbols and animals. We had a showing of the work with the artists on the final day of the workshop and 80 per cent of the prints were sold on the spot. It was the beginning of something new and exciting on Elcho...

The pics below show artist Tommy Minburra carving out his first woodblock, printmakers Basil Hall and Antonia Aitken hard at work and Tommy's finished print, titled Wangupini (Cloud), which sold out in two days.