News

Here's Keyano's New Year's gift for the artists in our community - the printshop will be open for renting to qualified printmakers effective immediately.

Located in the Norm Weiss Art Centre, the state-of-the-art printshop provides print-artists with the ability to produce work in a professional, safe environment. It is designed and built to provide educational opportunities for Art & Design students and is equipped with facilities to print lithography, silkscreen, relief and copper etching.

The idea of opening the printshop to community renters was born from two needs explains Robin Smith Peck, Art Instructor, Keyano College, and a print artist.

"Firstly, we want to participate in creating an art community in Fort McMurray. The number one road block to developing a practicing community of artists in our city is the lack of available, affordable studio space. Exhibition opportunities are interconnected to that need. Printmakers, traditionally share space and equipment and as there is no community shop our thought was that Keyano could contribute by opening our shop up to community printmakers."

The second reason has to do with graduating students. Keyano College is graduating/training approximately five printmakers per year.

"These beginning printmakers have nowhere in the city to continue practicing their art. By opening up the Keyano Printshop for rental by these artists we are again contributing to the art community as a whole and while making our printmaking program more desirable to interested community members. People are more likely to learn a new medium if they know that they can continue practicing it once they are finished classes," Smith Peck continues.

Available equipment includes an etching press used for copper etching and intaglio/relief printing; lithographic press for stone and plate lithography and silkscreen area including vacuum table, screens and exposure unit.

Due to the highly technical nature of printmaking, all renters must go through an admission interview to gain access to the printshop facility. At this time, artists must show technical proficiency and be prepared to discuss their planned use for shop equipment.

For interviews, call Robin Smith Peck at 780-792-5607, or email robin.smith-peck@keyano.ca