SGC 2011 Conference Panel:

Sustainability Seeks Equilibrium: What Does It Mean To Printmakers?

Panel chairs Stephen Hoskins and John Risseeuw will examine current theories and issues of sustainability as they relate to printmaking and print media. In a study completed at the University of the West of England's Centre for Fine Print Research (CFPR) in 2008, they investigated the literature and current thinking in sustainability, looking for applications of theory and practice that printmakers might consider for their practice.

A poll was recently taken of print studios, commercial print works, publishers, ink manufacturers, educational print shops, and other large graphic entities regarding sustainability practices and issues. This presentation will include basic definitions of sustainability, the results of the poll, and suggestions for future printmakers.

In addition, the panel will include experienced specialists from the graphic industries offering perspectives of interest to artist-printmakers. The panel will encourage printmakers to reconsider "toxic" and "non-toxic" biases, the contents of their inks, and sources of paper. The result will be a raised consciousness of sustainability and a series of questions to be undertaken in further research.

This paper relates to an ongoing research project into sustainability in printmaking. For further information visit www.uwe.ac.uk/sca/research/cfpr/research.

This year’s conference theme, Equilibrium, acknowledges the amazing ingenuity of print artists to respond to constant change and to innovate expanded practices reflecting the dynamic condition of the field. We are pleased to highlight such an outstanding range of practices and to contribute to the ongoing discourse that has defined SGCI, all while celebrating the breadth of work being done today.

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