Friday, May 29, 2020
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Welcome to CPC's Covid-distraction and Visual Art Series
with Jay Ryan
 
Each week, CPC's very own Flat Phil takes you snooping through the drawers
and other hidden
places to discover gorgeous work by
gallery
artists that you can
buy.
Flat Phil (with his trusty sidekick,
Art Purchase) has an enviable ability to slip inside narrow spaces unnoticed, and was already a fan
when he jumped feet first into our stash of JAY RYAN'S screen prints, featuring
a kaleidoscopic
of mammals engaged in all sorts of tomfoolery...
Enjoy.
"Jay Ryan has been making concert posters and
other screenprints in the Chicago area since 1995,
for many hundreds of bands you've probably
never heard of. Known for his hand-drawn
lettering, concerned mammalian protagonists,
and depictions
of troublesome furniture and bicycles, Jay has
owned and operated his own print shop, confusingly called "The Bird Machine", since
1999."
-excerpted from a
reliable
source
Right: from the "Four Bad Ideas" series,
screen prints, 10 x 8 inches, $20 each
Top: Your Shit Elsewhere / Bottom: Frozen Burrito Society
Left: sorry, Phil just couldn't help himself....(he did his best to mimic Jay's lettering style)
Heartless Bastards
, screen print (5 screens), 24 x 18 inches, $25
We know Jay is bashful about his accolades, so WE'RE here to tell you that you
HAVE heard of some of those bands he's worked with,
including
the likes of
The Decemberists, Jack White, Pearl Jam, My Morning Jacket, Fugazi, Shellac, the Melvins, Hum, Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy, Lil Bub, the Flaming Lips, the National, Nada Surf, Patton Oswald, Mudhoney, Neko Case, the Shins, Queens of the Stone Age, and hundreds of others. Jay has had a longtime, ongoing
and fruitful collaboration with the amazing Andrew Bird (check out Andrew's IG feed
for his daily live mini concerts - marvelous), so if you just can't get enough Andrew
Bird and need a visual accompaniment, here's what we've got:
array of Andrew Bird gig posters... screen prints, 24 x 18 inches, $25 each
(just describe the one you want and we'll put it aside for you!)
30th Annual SXSW
, screen print (4 screens), 24 x 18 inches, $40
(Prints commissioned for the staff of SXSW in Austin)
Jay's work is in the permanent collections of the Chicago Historical Society, the Erie Museum of Art, and the
Wing Collection of the Newberry Library, Chicago, and now
his work can be in YOUR collection. And did you know that he's got some groovy
books out that make awesome gifts for friends quarantined on islands devoid of visual stimuli? We don't have these at CPC, but you can grab those off his website.
And the following prints are THE LAST ONES WE'VE GOT, so snatch em up while supplies last:
All prints above are $30 each, and all are 24 x 18 inch screen prints
(except Camp-in, at 18 x 12 inches, $25)
Besides running The Bird Machine full time, guest lecturing in Universities and companies all over the country (Pixar! Lego! SAIC! Penland!), making giant piles of gorgeous prints, raising his daughter alongside his equally talented wife, and watching bunnies hatch behind his studio, Jay has played in the touring band "Dianogah" since 1995. To put it lightly, Phil is a bit starstruck.
All prints above are $25 each, and all are 24 x 18 inch screen prints
Left to right: Gapers Block / Sons of the Never Wrong / Almost There
Left:
Hyenas Help in the Kitchen
, screen print, 10 x 8 inches, $25
Right: Morning Coffee, screen print, 10 x 8 inches, $20
All prints above are 24 x 18 inch screen prints
Left to right: Red Dawn $20 / Flatstock $40/ The Promise Ring $25
Owls, screen print (4 screens), 24 x 18 inches, $40
Loved Ones (top) / Turn Your Back on the Void (bottom), screen prints, 12 x 12 inches, $20 each
Jay has an established reputation for hand-drawn text and a computer-free design process. His prints aim to attain the same goals as other concert posters, but using raccoons and toasters instead of skulls, breasts and hot rods.
From 2002-2007, Jay served as Vice President of the American Poster Institute, a non-profit group which manages the successful FLATSTOCK series of poster shows.
Full Size
, screen print, 11 x 11 inches, $20
Left to right:
Valley of the Vapors, screen print, 24 x 18 inches, $20
I Like Having Health Coverage and I Vote,
screen print, 20 x 16 inches, $20
Drink Coffee All Over the
Place,
screen print, 20 x 16 inches, $20
Left:
Gravel Metric
, screen print (6 screens), 24 x 18 inches, $30
Right:
Hugs, screen print, 24 x 18 inches, $30
And... FRESH OFF THE PRESS (it's practically still WET!)...this cute lil 10 x 8 screen
printed poster
that Jay just pulled for the band SONS OF THE NEVER WRONG (Phil just happens to be the roadie in that band):
Sons: the Boxed set, screen print, 10 x 8 inches, $25 each
Jay's work is highly collectible, and Phil noticed that folks are selling his work on the interwebs for a lot more than his monthly take as a band roadie. The point is, you
might wanna buy it now for your collection while it's majorly affordable.
Jay draws and prints daily, and often travels to conferences and universities to show and speak about his work.
He lives in Evanston with his wife and daughter, one cat
and one dog.
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If you would like to purchase one or more
of
these amazing prints, please
email
the
studio and we will arrange payment and shipping (add around
$25 - $45 for UPS or USPS
domestic, depending on size and if we're shipping flat or in a tube). The
CPC accepts credit card, cash,
check or
PayPal.
We also offer
free, convenient, sanitary
curbside pickup.
Folks have been LOVIN' this!
We've already had so many thrilled buyers contact us to let us know how delighted
they
are as their prints arrive in the mail!
We've also shipped prints around the country as gifts...a welcome surprise for
folks
stuck at home!
TWO weeks instead of weekly. The feature has been so popular that we'd like to
keep it going post-pandemic, and think this new schedule will be more sustainable. Plus, ALL of our FF Features are now
ARCHIVED on our website, where you can still browse for prints while we continue to
fill orders and ship work out.
 On June 12, Flat Phil explores the otherworldly work of mezzotint maestro ART WERGER, just in
won't wanna miss it.
Other upcoming features include Sarah Smelser (June 26), Eric Hoffman (July 10), Jaco Putker
(July 24), Sanya Glisic (August 7), and Scott Kiefer (August 21)
If you missed or would like to revisit our past FFFs (Flatfile Friday Features), you can check them out:
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ONLINE CLASSES ARE HERE!
Ready to get back to work? Tired of life without printmaking? Do you live out-of-state and always wanted to take a class with us? Lucky for you, online classes have arrived! Both of these courses, taught by the wonderful Duffy O'Connor, will be taught through live, weekly Zoom meetings and supplemental recorded demo videos. Get your ink on, at home, from anywhere on the globe!
4 weeks | Thursdays, June 18 - July 9, 2020,
6-9pm |
Cost: $180
In our online mezzotint academy, Duffy O'Connor will guide you through the process
of preparing a drawing, rocking a plate, and scraping and burnishing your image.
Lots of work goes into a mezzotint before printing and this class will get you ready.
6 weeks | Sundays, June 14 - July 19, 2020,
1-4pm |
Cost:
$215
In this course you will learn to make relief prints start to finish from preparing imagery, to cutting the block and printing. Perhaps the most accessible of print processes,
relief can be done from the safety of your home. We can't return to the print shop
yet but that won't stop us from printmaking!
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GIFT CARDS NOW AVAILABLE
You can now purchase gift cards for yourself, a friend, a family member, or your favorite sea creature! These certificates can be applied towards classes, print purchases, work sessions, membership, and a myriad of other CPC services. Upon purchasing, you will receive a printable gift card within 24 hours (or it will be
emailed to whomever you wish). There is a very small processing fee, but you can
enter any amount right here.
Easy peasy. Thank you for supporting CPC!
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VISIT CPC's ONLINE GALLERY
While the gallery is currently closed, you can now view the entire exhibition of thirty works online! Visit our
website to scroll through the exhibition or purchase work while sporting your most comfortable loungewear and petting your dog.
Last September, we kicked off a celebration of our 30th year with a series of events called
CPC 30/2020
. This exhibition features the work of 30 artists who have played some sort of role in the history of our little printshop.
Artists include CPC members, teachers, interns, visiting artists and gallery artists. They are all immensely talented
and firmly committed to their studio practice, to printmaking, and to the community of artists who carve wood, draw on stones and plates, pull ink through screens, and drive the presses. They all make work that is gorgeous, well-crafted, and visually compelling. Due to the pandemic, the exhibition has been extended through August.
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WINDOW SHOP THE CPC STOREFRONT!
The offerings change weekly...
Lately, it's been super quiet (if you ignore all the cars on Western Ave) in the 'hood and there is always a parking spot out front. Or if you already live nearby, make the CPC window a fun destination for you and the kiddos -
lots of family friendly, affordable prints to buy or simply browse. John Himmelfarb's magnificent 3D truck sculpture is also still in the window and is a draw in and of itself (that will not change weekly!). Just trying to find ways
to bring a little joy to those who
venture out for a masked walk. Your exposed eyeballs will thank you.
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CPC COMMUNITY UPDATE -
SAFETY POLICIES / COVID-19 PANDEMIC
To our local and global CPC community:
We know that the state and city are starting to open, and we hope to do the same as we watch carefully the consequences of such actions. We believe we still have work to do in order to keep our community safe and healthy. The shop has been quiet, and misses the buzz of its artists, students and visitors -
the people who give it light and life. The CPC has put into place a staggered and limited opening of its facilities to residents (June 1) and members (July 1), with social distancing measures and strict guidelines in place regarding masks, sanitation, and capacity.
We will get through this because we know
how to come together (even if remotely) and do the right thing. We appreciate all that you
are doing to stay safe and creative, and we reach out to those of you who are suffering, sick or struggling.
Wear your mask. Wash your hands. And stay home if you are at risk.
The CPC is
following all recommendations of the United States Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the Chicago Department
of Health.
CPC will be closed to the public until further notice
. All classes,
private classes, work
sessions, and events have either been canceled, postponed,
or
moved online.
* ONLINE/REMOTE CLASSES HAVE LAUNCHED - YAY! So far we're
offering RELIEF and MEZZOTINT PREP, and plan to announce Bookbinding classes
and a Poetry/Print course soon.
Those interested in purchasing work in the gallery may do so
via Paypal or credit
We offer either private, sanitary curbside pickup (free) or secure shipping ($25-$45
for domestic packages).
The CPC has long been a sanctuary during challenging times, and while we're all hunkered down, we've been providing some fun and creative activities:
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We miss you all!!!!!
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WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!!!
Stay healthy, take care of yourself, and be safe.
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CHICAGO PRINTMAKERS COLLABORATIVE
4912 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
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GALLERY HOURS:
Fri & Sat 12-5
And By Appointment
773-293-2070
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