International Print Biennale 2011:

Drawing with Fire: An exhibition of laser cutting by book and paper artists

international exhibition
venues: newcastle gateshead, uk: hatton gallery / laing art gallery / northern print
dates: 17 september - 19 november 2011

funded by: arts and humanities research council
url: http://www.parkerharris.co.uk

'Drawing with Fire: laser cutting by book and paper artists', curated by Tom Sowden, was on show from 1st-10th November as part of Northern Print's 2011 International Print Biennale. This 2011 event follows the success of the inaugeral Biennale in 2009, which attracted over 95,000 visitors and was the first major project in the UK for 20 years concentrating on the diversity of contemporary printmaking. The Biennale showcases the very best in new British and international printmaking through an extensive programme in Newcastle Gateshead of exhibitions, events, activities and an international symposium.

Tom's exhibition contains work produced during his AHRC funded research project 'Paper Models: investigating laser cutting technology to develop new artists’ books and paper-based creative practice for arts, crafts and design'. The work on display demonstrates and represents some of the interesting and innovative ways in which the laser cutter is being utilised by artists and designers working with paper. Featuring work from national and international artists such as Hyperquake, Ingrid Siliakus, Su Blackwell, Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck, Jenny Smith,  Cut Out Paper (Sam Drury), Lesley Dill, Charlotte Hodes, Sumi Perera, Cath Fairgrieve, Sarah Bodman and JP Willis, Angie Butler, Tom Sowden, Priscilla Trenchard, Coo Geller, Melissa Olen and Paul Laidler, the work highlights good practice and how the attributes of a laser cutter can be harnessed in order to produce new works.

The exhibition showcases some award winning work by the projects case study artists; Su Blackwell and Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck, who each attended a four-day residency at the UWE Laser Studio in order to produce new work. It also includes new work by Tom Sowden, the principal investigator on the project.
The exhibition has previously been shown at Bower Ashton, UWE Bristol in September 2010, and the AKI AKI/ARTEZ Academy of Art in The Netherlands in January 2011.

Exhibitions of the selected works are being shown as part of the International Print Biennale at the Hatton Gallery, Laing Art Gallery and Northern Print from September to November 2011. All selected artists will be featured in the catalogue and on the International Print Biennale website.