Since 1960, Tamarind has shaped the field of collaborative printmaking, through a unique printer training program and an educational mission to preserve and advance the creative medium of lithography. Today Tamarind is a nonprofit workshop occupying a freestanding building on the original Route 66, with a state-of-the-art workshop, public gallery, educational programs, and tours. Tamarind encompasses an extensive archive of historic material, a print inventory of some 8000 lithographs produced by the workshop, and a team of highly trained printers, curators, and print experts. Tamarind Institute stimulates research, preservation of knowledge, and community among a diverse international following. This unique program is widely credited with revitalizing the creative medium of lithography and continues to provide the only printer training program of its kind in the world.
Image:
Night Peonies, Ellen Berkenblit
Image:
Ellen Berkenblit signing Night Peonies at Tamarind Institute, 2023
This year's IFPDA selection showcases a diverse array of artists, encompassing both long-standing collaborators and recent projects. San Francisco-based artist Koak came to Tamarind for the first time in 2022. In her piece High Noon featured in this year’s booth, the serene elements clash with unsettling details, evoking a sense of tension. The juxtaposition sparks an exploration of human complexity. Stockholm-based Brian Rea is another artist with whom we had not previously collaborated with. Rea's debut project at Tamarind Institute involved a remote collaboration with our printing team led by Master Printer Valpuri Remling. They produced five lithographs, starting in 2021 and finishing in 2023, overcoming pandemic-related challenges and geographic distances. Each piece reflects Rea's versatility, humor, and commitment to collaboration. We also feature works by Ellen Berkenblit and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, both of whom have a rich history with Tamarind. Additionally, we included pieces by Danielle Orchard, who began collaborating with us in 2018. Her 2022 monotype Tights III references her 2021 painting, Lint, offering insights into the contemporary female experience. This year's booth reflects Tamarind's evolution and artists' various approaches to collaborative lithography.
Exhibiting Artists
Henni Alftan, Ellen Berkenblit, Jeffrey Gibson, Koak, José Antonio Suárez Londoño, Danielle Orchard, Brian Rea, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Shinique Smith, Michelle Stuart.
