A Year-End Message From the
Washington Print Club
Dear Friends,
This was a spirited and gratifying year for the Washington Print Club.
A rich array of educational programs were offered and each found an enthusiastic response. Many were at capacity within hours. Programs ranged from visiting artists’ studios and private collections, to museum and university exhibitions, to behind-the-scenes offerings.
Among the 18 educational programs offered to members were a tour of Underdogs and Antiheroes at the National Museum of Asian Art; a viewing of Eastern-Western Front: World War II Photojournalism by Georgi Zelma and Constance Stuart Larrabee at the Katzen Center at American University; a Zoom discussion on preparing a catalogue raisonné of Yves Tanguy drawings; a tour of the collection of Philip Barlow and Lisa Gilotty at the Katzen Center; a dialog with Carol Barsha, a former student of Philip Guston, in the Philip Guston exhibition at the NGA; and, a behind-the-scenes visit to the Center for Matisse Studies and tour of Fauve woodcuts at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
This year’s annual membership appreciation event and business meeting took place in May at Pyramid Atlantic in Hyattsville, Maryland — the now regular site for these events. Nine current board members were re-elected (Melissa Fast, Joan Filson, Mike Hagan, Linda Stiber Morenus, Kathryn Powell, Carol Reed, Brian Weinstein, Beverly With, and Christopher With). The finances were declared to be sound and the Club membership remains steady at approximately 200.
At that meeting, we once again presented the Student Printmaker Award, which carries a $1,000 honorarium. This year’s award went to Lamiya Murray, a fine arts student at Howard University.
Following a successful showing at the 2022 annual meeting, we invited five WPC members to bring a favorite work on paper and discuss it for a few minutes. The diversity of works and explanations proved a wonderful cross-section of images and artists and a great learning experience for all attendees.
The design, layout, and choice of articles in On Paper are worthy of the best niche publications. This acclaim is due to the tireless efforts and keen eye of editor Lorena Bradford. Articles in the Fall issue ranged from exhibition and book reviews that explored the origins of two intaglio techniques to the establishment of Lou Stovall’s screenprinting legacy. There were articles on women artists in Ukraine, a look at the work of Takeda Hideo, and an investigation of critical choices among six contemporary printmakers.
At the back of the issue was a lengthy memorial tribute to Linda Lee Johnson. This magnificent benefactor provided a $10,000 legacy gift to the WPC for arts education. Under the guidance of Carol Reed and Brian Weinstein, monies will be used to fully underwrite multi-week instruction in printmaking techniques at Pyramid Atlantic for two students from the Baltimore School for the Arts. It is estimated that the gift will enable similar instruction for the next ten years. The WPC is extremely grateful for this incredible chance to make a difference in up-and-coming artists’ lives.
On behalf of the entire board of directors, I thank you for your continued support of the Washington Print Club and its mission and programs. We wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season and New Year.
Sincerely,
Christopher With, president
Washington Print Club