Saturday, October 16
Sunday, October 17
11am-4pm each day
Free and open to the public
Join us! You’re invited to Color | Ink Studio & Gallery to watch as 14 artists print large-scale woodblocks on the “Big Tuna”, BIG INK’s giant mobile printmaking press! BIG INK, a New England-based arts business, is teaming up with Color | Ink Studio to present this event for the first time in the metro-Detroit area.
Each of the artists started work on their giant woodblocks in August using traditional Japanese chisels. BIG INK Director Lyell Castonguay has been guiding them through online instruction over the last two months. All the work leads up to a two-day public demonstration this weekend as the press produces paper prints from the woodblocks — essentially giant wooden stamps up to 4 feet by 8 feet.
“Seeing woodblocks printed at this scale is impressive,” Castonguay says. “(It’s) like magic. The woodblock is inked, sent through the press, and an image appears on the paper. It’s like watching a rabbit pulled out of a hat.”
Color | Ink Studio will be open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. There will be a hands-on community art-making activity featuring small woodblock prints. Admission is free.
Saturday’s participating artists are Theresa Ann Moore, Candace Law, Kelly Vander Kley, Lavinia Hanachiuc, Leanne Su, and Don Kilpatrick.
Sunday’s participating artists are Martine MacDonald, Pat Duff, Katrina Maria Dienno, Madeleine Barkey, Emily J Legleitner, Robin Jourdan, Beverly Booth, and Frank Dulin.