I recently spent a week as one of five Artists in Residence at Remarque New Grounds Print Workshop in Albuquerque NM. It was my first time on a residency, and it was an great experience.
Mary, Jennifer, and Christine collaborating on a print
The facility at Remarque is really well planned and maintained. Available are numerous Takach presses in a wide variety of sizes. Lots of work tables at standing height and good lighting mean plenty of space for creative opportunities. There are also spaces for airbrushing aquatints, vertical etching tanks, and an exposure unit for solar plates. Additionally, there is a large, open classroom area and two galleries exhibiting an awesome array of printmaking styles.
Two of the owners, Lincoln Draper and Mary Sundstrom, have been available most of the day to answer questions and share techniques. Their generosity with their time and knowledge has been inspiring for all of us, and we’ve had a good time learning from them and each other.
The week at Remarque allowed me the opportunity to do some very large prints; much bigger than I could achieve on my press at home. The spacious facility made pulling these prints much easier, as all the things I needed from soaking trays to drying racks were there and readily available. Having a plan for what I wanted to accomplish in place before I got there meant that I was able to get a lot done as well.
It’s been an intense week of work, but very rewarding. I’d recommend taking a tour of the Remarque facilities if you are ever in Albuquerque, and consider taking a class or becoming a member if you live in the Albuquerque area. Never stop learning.