Letterpress Printed Protest Posters
These pieces were printed during a month of studio time at Alberta Printmakers, on their Vandercook printing press. This set of 12” x 18” posters, a format commonly used for printing protest signs. Using very thin, transparent layers of ink, I printed various compositions of these long blocks interspersed with a contemporary typeface, P22 Blox, arranged in abstract nonsense patterns. This series speaks to the loss of culture and language my family has sustained in the efforts to avoid residential schooling and further systemic racism over the years. I want to find the beauty in the fragmentation and reflect on whether it is possible to appropriate from one’s own culture if they were not raised within it.
Sibling Series
This is what I like to refer to as the "Sibling Series" - a collection of fine art letterpress printed linocuts. Each colour is a separate pass through the press and no two prints have the same configuration of blocks used or ink combinations. The linocut designs are inspired by Anishinaabe beadwork and represent the various traits we are born with. Lined up together, these prints look like a family. Many of the same traits are found in each member, but the expression and order are different.
To further this theme, I decided to return to the origin of these Ojibwe patterns, 19th Century Canada. In the spirit of this timeline, I gave each print a name that would have been common amongst the French, a group that had close contact and trade relationships in this region. Some relationships were closer than that - settlers were encouraged to mix with local populations. My heritage reflects this blended identity.
Each unique print measures 9" x 12" and is a limited edition of 10, printed on white 70lb Acid Free paper.
Mixed Media Work
These mixed media letterpress pieces are an exploration of my family’s Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) heritage. The initial hand printed layers of were made from hand carved linocut blocks, the images carved were an interpretation of traditional Ojibwe beading patterns.
Once the blocks were set into the printing press, the paper was printed multiple times, one pass and block arrangement for each colour added. The art piece was then mounted to a birch cradled panel and multiple layers of acrylic texture medium and washes of paint were added in response to the printed image to conceal or reveal aspects to the viewer.
These are available from Bluerock Gallery, online or in person, click here for more details.
