The Ink Shop Printmaking Center

In 1999, The Ink Shop and Olive Branch Press were established by five artists including Christa Wolf. Three years later, Kumi Korf was the first artist to have her work published by Olive Branch Press, a set of three chine collé intaglio prints titled “Letters to the Planet” featuring Kumi’s writings, with Christa as her master printer. Thus, began almost a quarter century of friendship and collaboration, with many hours spent at the etching press in Kumi's studio, cooking in her kitchen, travelling together in Japan, always side by side telling stories. Though they were born and raised in separate homelands, their intuitive reactions to art and life are overlapping. This exhibition is the first time their works have been shown side by side, just the two of them.

In Japanese, Tagasode translates to "whose sleeves?" a phrase used in classical love poetry to evoke the memory of a woman through her empty kimono. For this exhibition, Kumi Korf gathered nine women artists, sent them kimonos and invited them to create artwork with the garments as the catalyst. Though the kimono itself seems a precious work of art, the prompt was to "be free"; an invitation to adventure, playful chaos, a brave step into the unknown.

Useful Labor vs Useless Toil is a pamphlet and lecture given by the decorative artist, poet and philosopher William Morris in 1884. It was a critique of the waste and inequality inherent in the capitalist system exacerbated by the Industrial Revolution. A new relationship between man and machine was born and Morris felt the need to sound the alarm bell. While he did not object to the use of machines to ease and assist labor, he was concerned about the potential of new technology to replace skilled labor. He worried about out quality of life and in particular the sense of satisfaction and pleasure derived from meaningful work. This exhibit will examine our relationship to various forms of technology as creative tools. Industrial revolution era machines such as the printing press, jacquard loom, and knitting machines are still in use today. Can we express ourselves creatively and with a satisfactory level of craftsmanship and artistic expression using machines vs creating things wholly by hand? How does technology change the creative process? And what of the looming technology of our era? What are the dangers and benefits of artificial intelligence to the creative process and to the skilled labor of today?

Each year, The Ink Shop launches a Members’ show, giving our membership the opportunity to exhibit their newest work. This exhibit gives the public the opportunity to see the new work coming out of The Ink Shop, one of Central New York’s only community printmaking facilities.

The Ink Shop has its Annual Print Sale before the holidays. Our collection of prints is extensive and it represents some of the best printmakers around. The work exhibited in this print sale will make great gifts. We encourage everyone to bring some wonderful handmade prints home, support the Arts and local artists.