HOW IT WORKS
Welcome to the Second Annual Parlor Trick Print Exchange! Each participating artist mails in an edition of 12 hand-pulled original prints. Of the 12 prints, 2 will be kept by the Parlor Trick Print Exchange for archival and promotional purposes. The remaining prints are randomized, sorted and sent to the other participating printmakers in the exchange. In the end, each artist will have 10 new pieces of art sent to them and their prints will be shared with 10 other artists across the nation. There will be a virtual art exhibition to showcase everyone’s submissions AND all postage and shipping costs are already paid for!
This print exchange is made possible by a DCA Art Fund Grant from Staten Island Arts, with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Sign up and read below for further details.
ELIGIBILITY & ACCEPTED MEDIA
Open to all U.S. Printmakers and is limited to 50 participants. All forms of editionable, hand-pulled prints are acceptable, including etching/aquatint, lithography, woodcut, linocut, mezzotint, and screenprint. No monotypes, giclées, reproductions, or photographs. To prevent damage to other entries, no glitter, attached objects, or 3-D work.
ENTRY FEE
FREE to participate and postage is taken care of! All participants need to worry about are supplies, ideas and having fun.
This exchange is made possible by a DCA Art Fund Grant from Staten Island Arts, with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
THEME
The theme this year is “Vessel.”
By definition, a vessel can be a craft for traveling on water, an airship, a hollow or concave utensil used for holding various contents, an artery, or a person regarded as a receiver of something. It can be used in a literal sense, a religious sense, a non-religious sense, a biological sense, a botanical sense or any sense your mind conjures up! What is your vessel? What does your vessel hold? It is up to you!
DATES AND DEADLINES
JULY 15th, 2022: Registration Opens
AUGUST 31st, 2022: Registration Closes(Registration closes once we reach 50 artists. )
OCTOBER 1st, 2022: Submission Deadline (Submission must be received by this date! )
NOVEMBER 1st, 2022: All exchange prints will begin at this time
DECEMBER 1st, 2022: Virtual Exhibition will go live
EDITIONING & SIGNING
12 identical prints are needed for the exchange.
Each print needs to be signed and numbered along the bottom edge of your prints. The edition number goes on the bottom left-hand side and should be numbered 1/12, 2/12, 3/12, etc. The bottom right-hand side should have your artist’s signature and year.
(Note: If you would like to make more than 12 prints for your edition I will allow it! I never want to discourage artists from potentially making money on their own artwork. However, the first 12 in the edition MUST be used for the exchange.)
PAPER SIZE & SELECTION
The paper size MUST be 5” x 7” (127mm x 178mm). The image does not need to fill the whole page. Any sizes over or under 5”x7” will be returned and disqualified. All prints must be printed on archival paper, such as Fabriano, Rives BFK, French Paper, etc.
(Please see the link below for paper recommendations.)
SHIPPING STEP-BY-STEP
All shipping costs such as postage, mailers, etc. are included in the exchange thanks to the DCA Art Fund Grant. Here is how it will work:
Sign up for the exchange by filling out the form above with your name, address and social media information.
You will then be mailed a packet that will include the edition instructions, sheets of tissue paper or glassine, and a return label and mailer.
PRINT!
When you are finished with your edition, place a piece of tissue or glassine between each print for protection. Place the prints in the new mailer with the return label attached.
Mail back to Parlor Trick Prints.
Wait for your random mix of exchange prints!
Registration for 2022 is now closed.
Thank you for your interest! Check back here for our Virtual Exhibition in December.
Thanks to an Art Fund Grant from Staten Island Arts, participation and shipping for this exchange is FREE! However, there is a lot of extra work that goes into this exchange that I do myself out of love for printmaking. Any donations to help cushion extra costs is much appreciated and will help me continue this exchange yearly!
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
Stay tuned for the Parlor Trick Print Exchange 2022 Virtual Exhibition.
Click here to see what our 2021 printmakers made last year: http://www.parlortrickprints.com/print-exchange-2021
CONTACT
Please send any questions to parlortrickprints@gmail.com
RESOURCES
Never made a print before but want to participate? No problem! Here are some resources to help you get started. Some processes may require a printing press or other equipment, but some can be done at home, too.
Here is a thorough blog post about choosing the right paper for your linocut print:
Short video about Etchings from the National Museums of Liverpool:
Here is a crafty DIY silk screen hack video:
Here is a DIY screen printing video using a vinyl cutter:
Different printmaking paper options from Blick: www.dickblick.com