Method to their gladness | Auckland Lifestyle News | Health, Fashion, Food and Wine in Auckland

If your knowledge of printmaking is limited to the stuff you did in the primers with cut-out potatoes and poster paint, you're in for an education, writes Sharu Delilkan.

IMPressive!'s curatorial team and co-exhibitors Gabrielle Belz and Toni Mosley have been talking about organising a printmaking exhibition since they met almost two years ago.

"It all started when we realised that we were both print-makers," says Mosley. "We are a funny breed, we get excited about processes. And when I found out Gabrielle was a fellow printmaker, we had an instant connection."

The professional photographer-printmaker wants to attract South Aucklanders to the art of printmaking via the show.

IMPressive! demonstrates the variety, processes and applications involved in traditional, fine art printmaking via "the pulling" of a print as opposed to digital ink jet prints that people are now so aware of", says Belz.

The show features the work of seasoned practitioners Natalie Couch, Steve Lovett, Prue MacDougall, Cerisse Palalagi, Sheyne Tuffery and Marty Vreede.

"The show's name is a pun on the term IMP short for 'impressit' which means 'printed by', a term commonly used to identify the printmaker of an edition or run of prints," explains Belz.

The artists in the show have used a variety of media, including woodcut, intaglio, drypoint, solar plate, or screenprint. This includes sculptures and 3-D objects, in addition to traditional framed prints.

One of Mosley's pieces, Grounded, uses screenprint on board and paper inside a suitcase. "This piece is about irony and hope. It plays on the idea of wanting to fly but being unable to physically leave the suitcase and fly.

"Besides enjoying the process of creating the work, I like connecting with the public, even if it's just putting a smile on their faces."

IMPressive!, Nathan Homestead Theatre, 70 Hill Rd, Manurewa, Aug 13-Sept 6. Entry free. Contact: ph 267 0180.