REPRINT! Printed Matter II Show 02.06.16 Taos, NM

Tempo Feb. 4-10, 2016

Arts & Entertainment Magazine of The Taos News

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LOCAL PRINTMAKERS WORK TOWARD ‘COMMON GROUND’ Event is a chance for artists to view new 555 Taos studio and showroom

BON TEMPS! It’s Mardi Gras time MILLICENT ROGERS MUSEUM exhibits miniatures TCA features ‘Prints and Pastels’

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he area has served as home to many creative ventures over the years — knock on some doors and find glass blowers, painters and installation artists hard at work every day of the week. Walk into some of the most prominent art galleries New Mexico has to offer and expect to find much of that creative production on display. But, in addition to serving as a professional printmaking studio under the name “Serigraphix,” part of the 555 Taos mission is to feature artwork that hasn’t yet reached a high level of representation.

As the brainchild of local designer and longtime printmaker Jason Rodriguez, his partner, photographer Aya Leimbach, and fellow printmaker, Nick Beason, 555 Taos is opening its doors to be a multipurpose art venue that combines studio production, demonstration and exhibition, but not just for printmakers. Their hope is to cultivate an environment that promotes many art forms and to leverage that artistic range to create prints that push the boundaries of their mediums.

“My vision is to create a space where I can do my work and teach the craft of printmaking,” said Rodriguez. “But because there are so many underrepresented artists here in Taos that I feel still need to be seen, I also wanted to create a space where any talented artist can approach us and say, ‘I’d like to have a show here. You guys have a reputation to get folks into a space to create an event. Can I show my work?’ I want to be able to help other artists get recognized and elevated in this community.”

555 Taos will kick things off by doing just that as they plan to host “Printed Matter II,” a regional printmaking exhibition that features work from 30 Southwestern print shops, and highlights talent from the local Taos community. The show opens with a reception Saturday (Feb. 6) from 6-8 p.m. A collector’s viewing will take place from 5-6 p.m.

A press release states that Printed Matter II follows “on the heels of the recent success of the ‘Printed Matter’ Santa Fe at Offroad Productions, curated by Santa Fe artist Tim Jag. The opening event will feature live interactive printing, fine art, posters, cards,

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T E M P O M AG A Z I N E/T H E TAO S N E W S

FEB. 4-10, 2016

Courtesy images

From left: ‘Marilyn Arrives As Venus At The Factory,’ serigraph on paper by Nick Beason; ‘Cloud Bank (Under a Common Sky)’ by Nick Beason t-shirts, mixed media works and some very clever, unique and downright ingenious items. Prices can range from $3 to over $1,000. This event marks the debut of ‘555 Taos,’ home to Serigrafix studio and also a creative space in Taos offering artists the opportunity to stage ‘one-night-only’ events to showcase their talents.”

As part of his promotional strategy, Rodriguez called upon an “amazingly talented Taos graffiti artist,” Scripture, to create the flyer for the event.

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FEB. 4-10, 2016

. . . 555 Taos

is opening its doors to be a multipurpose art venue that combines studio production, demonstration and exhibition, but not just for printmakers. Their hope is to cultivate an environment that promotes many art forms and to leverage that artistic range to create prints that push the boundaries of their mediums.

T E M P O M AG A Z I N E/T H E TAO S N E W S

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“I

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gave him a 16th-century engraving of Gutenberg’s press and a portrait of Gutenberg (the ‘godfather’ of printmaking) and said, ‘Do your magic,’” said Rodriguez. “Two days later, he came out with an incredible piece, and I said, ‘That’s brilliant. We’re going to use that for the show.’”

Prints of the stylized flyer will be pulled onsite and will be available for sale. All proceeds will go toward the artist.

Rodriguez and Leimbach found their way into the Taos art community through events similar to the one they will host this Saturday.

“We both showed at the Taos Open, which is open to the public,” said Rodriguez. “Then I stumbled upon the Veloy Vigil gallery, introduced myself and heard that they were participating in their own opening with local printmakers — a pop-up event that was more of an adjunct to ‘Pressing Through Time.’ So, one day, I showed up with this piece right here.” Rodriguez pointed to his large silkscreen print of a geisha, enwreathed by a halo and framed on a background of a clock with the time fixed at 8:17 a.m. — the exact time that the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. “As people were coming through the door, I just sort of stared down Michael and Tanya Vigil while holding this piece and asked, ‘Can I include this in your show?’ And Michael said, ‘We’re working with this guy.’”

Rodriguez explained that Vigil also introduced him to one of his regularly featured printmakers, Nick Beason.

“Michael said, ‘Screen printer, screen printer — talk.’ After I met Nick, I went out to his place in Peñasco — Gaucho Blue Gallery — and was invited to show at his part of the High Road Tour.”

Beason’s fortuitous meeting with Rodriguez and Leimbach allowed the trio to riff on each others’ creative talents, and they soon came up with some innovative ideas for an art venue.

When an opportunity arose to lease a space on Reed Street, 555 Taos found its home.

“During the last week in November, we signed the lease, got the keys and just started painting, installing walls and plumbing and electrical because

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Courtesy image

‘Glenn O’Brian,’ serigraph on paper by Nick Beason it was just kind of a raw space, but it has good art vibes. It has good energy, and there’s a lot of history here,” said Rodriguez.

“Our goal is to really express and service the needs of the community as best we can and garner support from people for structural and cultural support. For kids that want to create art and express themselves — this space

will be here for them. For artists that want a venue where they can throw up their work, it will be here for them as well. I’ve already heard from artists in Taos [who] want to come here and do work. And so we’re trying some clever, creative ways to make that all happen for them.”

For more information on 555 Taos, visit 555taos.com.

T E M P O M AG A Z I N E/T H E TAO S N E W S

Opening reception

Saturday (Feb. 6), 6-8 p.m.

555 Taos, 1022 Reed St. Free admission 555taos.com FEB. 4-10, 2016