More Than Before - Collaborative Print Projects

Panel co-chaired by Jamaal Barber and Gregory Santos

Description

Collaborative printmaking projects can be a rewarding and challenging exploration. Including a wide range of artists and styles is a daunting task that requires focus, clarity, and passion. Yet, the results always bring you to places only made possible by a collective experience of creativity and focus. 

This panel explores two collaborative print projects, Mixed Grit, created by Gregory Santos, and the Black Baby Project, created by Jamaal Barber. Panelists will discuss the genesis of the projects and detail how they have grown and changed during the journey. In addition, they will give tips and advice on how to manage resources, recruit like-minded partners, and deal with obstacles along the way. 

Launched in January 2019 by Gregory Santos, Mixed Grit is a unique format, semi-collaborative stone lithograph print trade composed of small curated groupings of select artists from across the nation.

The Black Baby Project by Jamaal Barber was launched in 2019 as part of the exhibition 400: A Collective Flight of Memory. Artists were given a linocut paper and asked to provide their perspective on what the life of a Black child born during that time would become.

About the co-chairs

Jamaal Barber is a creative imaginative soul who was born in Virginia and raised in North Carolina. In 2013, after seeing a screen printing demo at a local art store, Jamaal started experimenting with printmaking and made it his primary focus.  His woodcuts and mixed media prints can be seen on display at ZuCot Gallery. They have also been included in the Decatur Arts Festival, Atlanta Print Biennial Show and at various art shows around the Metro Atlanta area. Additionally, Jamaal has done work for Twitter, the New York Times, Penguin Random House, Black Art in America and Emory University.

In 2004, Jamaal moved to Atlanta, GA where he now resides with his wife and two children. 

Gregory Santos (b. 1979, New York) is an abstract artist and professional printer specializing in lithography and screen printing. In 2015 he relocated from NYC to Denver, CO. Gregory is the Printmaking Director at Art Gym Denver. He completed the Printer Training Program at the Tamarind Institute for lithography and holds a Master of Arts degree from New York University as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in printmaking from Syracuse University. As a collaborative printer he’s made editions for artists: Tony Ortega, Gigi Chen, Dinh Q. Lê, and Sanford Biggers. He’s also printed editions for Cecily Brown, Jill Moser, Guillermo Kuitca, Robert Kushner, Mickalene Thomas, and Helen Frankenthaler. Gregory created Mixed Grit in January 2019. Through this project he’s printed crayonstone lithographs for twenty-eight artists across the country by sending them litho stones in the mail.

Time

2-3:30pm Saturday

Location

Kent State University School of Art

Center for Visual Arts (CVA)

Room 165

Wearing face coverings and being up-to-date on Covid-19 vaccinations are strongly recommended at this location.