Athens Print Fest 2009 : Difficult Nights
The Athens Print Fest ’09 / First Edition (Printmaking Festival / First Edition) is being organized by the Greek Printmakers’ Association and the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Athens, from June 3rd to 28th, 2009, in various locations in the city of Athens.
The Festival opens officially on Wednesday, June 10th, at 20:00 at the “Melina” Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens (Herakleidon 66 & Thessalonikis Str. – Thiseion, metro station: Keramikos, tel.: ++ 30 210 34 52 150).
Besides the Greek Printmakers’ Association, the following organizations will be participating in this celebration of printmaking with exhibitions and other events: the Hellenic American Union, the Cervantes Institute, the French Institute, the Italian Institute, the Athens School of Fine Arts, the Piraeus Municipal Art Gallery, Alpha Bank, and the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation. Furthermore, for the duration of the festival the artists involved will open their workshops to the public.
The Greek Printmakers’ Association is participating in the Festival with a thematic exhibition entitled “Difficult Nights” taking place at the “Melina” Cultural Center from June 3rd to 28th. The exhibition comprises works designed to match the doubtful days we live in. The night is modern, the icon of our ignorance, of our limits, the core of our being. Plato thrust us into the dark of the cave, thus condemning the false, misleading quality of light. Tiresius the clairvoyant did not need eyes in order to see. The night requires us to conjure up a different kind of gaze. And it is up to each of us to find our own perspective; to each his own night. Artists Odysseas Annitsakis, Ilia Rena Anoussi, Susanna Aposporidou, Mihalis Arfaras, George Vlassopoulos, Manolis Yannadakis, Nikos Desekopoulos, Elisabeth Dionysopoulou, Christiana Iliopoulou, Eleni Kaprou, Aria Komianou, Yannis Kolios, Grigoris Kotsaris, Dimitra Koumantaki, Adriana Kotsi, Dina Kotsiou, Kati Mahrt, George Milios, Tonia Nikolaidi, Iris Xyla-Xanalatou, Eleni Ikonomidou, Pino Pantolfini, Katerina Papadimitropoulou, Apostolos Piroudinis, Dimitra Petropoulou – Dimitraki, Irene Podimata – Stefanaki, Dimitra Siaterli, Rania Stathopoulou, Nikos Stavrakantonakis, Yannis Stefanakis, Mary Schina, Vicky Tsalamata and Florence Christaki have been asked to give participating in a group exhibition comprising 100 works.
Opening hours: Daily 10.30-21.00, Sunday10.30 – 13.30 tel: 210 34 52 150
On their own exhibition premises, the “Technohoros” (Artspace), the Greek Printmakers’ Association also presents an exhibit of small prints, entitled “Pocket Print”, from June 3rd to 28th. The etchings on show will be contributed by members and associates of “Technohoros”. Etched and printed based on various techniques, they demonstrate the artists’ excellent knowledge of their craft as applied to small-sized works.
“Technohoros”, Lebessi 4, on the corner of Makriyanni Str.
Opening hours: Tuesdays through Fridays, 18:00 – 21:00, Saturdays 12:00-15:00, tel. ++30 210 9228370
picasso_ellinoamerikaniki
As part of the “First Edition” Prints’ Fest, the Hellenic American Union presents for the first time The Etchings of the Angelos and Leto Catacouzinos Foundation, from June 3rd to 30th. The collection includes works by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Spyros Vassiliou, Yannis Tsarouchis, Giorgos Demos, and others. These etchings were gifts from the artists to the Catacouzinos couple, at a time when their home was an art salon of the 1930’s generation. At the same time, they reflect the strong bonds created between significant intellectual personalities at that time.
With this exhibition, the Hellenic American Union wishes to honor Angelos Catacouzinos, who was not only a distinguished neurologist and psychiatrist, but also a founding member and the president of the Hellenic American Union from 1967 until 1975. During this time, he helped make the Hellenic American Union a prestigious cultural organization and laid valuable groundwork for its future development and progress.
The exhibition also includes etchings by Nikolaos Hadjikyriakos – Ghikas, who was a close friend of Angelos Catacouzinos. Hadjikyriakos – Ghikas himself was also a founding member of the Hellenic American Union. The exhibition will be held at the Hellenic American Union’s Gallery named after the renowned Greek artist.
Hellenic American Union, Hadjikyriakos – Ghikas Gallery (Massalias 22, Athens)
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 21:00, Saturdays 10:30 – 14:30, closed on Sundays. Τel.: ++30 210 36 80 900 (extension 171)
Opening: Wednesday, June 3rd at 20:30
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From June 3rd to 30th, Alpha Bank, will be showing the educational exhibition “What Is a Print?” at the Hellenic American Union’s Kennedy Gallery (Massalias 22, Athens). Alpha Bank has a considerable collection of etchings, in particular by Greek artists (woodcut and copperplate prints, lithographies, books containing original etchings). It is a collection spanning the entire history of printmaking in Greece from 1880 up to the present day and comprising works by all significant artists.
Printmaking techniques, i.e. the way in which an etching is created, are quite complex, and producing copies of each etching is based on a difficult procedure requiring a well-organized workshop and a great deal of specific knowledge and skills (making the initial sketch, etching the plaque, printing the etching, producing identical copies, etc.).
This exhibition chooses a straightforward approach to the creation of prints, and does so by showing what the inside of an etching and printmaking workshop looks like, by exhibiting tools, printmaking plaques and the works that result from them. In addition, thorough explanatory texts and photographs allow us to observe the various stages of printing an etching.
(Curator: Irene Orati)
Hellenic American Union, Kennedy Gallery (Massalias 22, Athens),
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 12:00 – 21:00, Saturday: 10:30 – 14:30, closed on Sundays. For further information, please call: ++30 210 36 80 900 (extension 171)
Opening: Wednesday, June 3rd at 20.30
piqueras_ispaniko2 The Cervantes Institute will host a solo exhibition by the Spanish artist Ines Piqueras Garcia entitled “Innermost Nature” from June 3rd to 28th.
Ines Piqueras Garcia was born in 1977 in Valencia and graduated from the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in her hometown. She has received scholarships from the Spanish and Greek governments, since she lives and works in both countries. This is her sixth exhibition in Athens. Her work is always inspired and guided by the pulsing of nature in all of its forms and motives derived from this, and it answers to the absolute need for change, experimenting and exploring. She uses various printmaking techniques, traditional and contemporary alike, as well as a combination thereof. When the time comes to print, she prints, cuts, mounts, glues and sews, playing with all of the possibilities at her disposal and using a wide range of materials: hand-made paper, fabric, plastic, soft metal, etc.
Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens,
Ν. Gyzis Hall, Akadimias 50, Athens.
Opening hours: 09:00 – 13:00 and 17:00 – 21:00 daily except Monday and Sunday afternoon. Tel: ++30 210.3621601, ++30 210.361667
Opening: Wednesday June 3rd at 20:00
Muriel_RI..
From June 3rd to 27th, the French Institute will be hosting an exhibition on its own premises by the printmakers of the “PAS GRAVE” group (Dominique ALIADIERE, Hélène BELIN, Corie BIZOUARD, Devorah BOXER, Alain CAZALIS, Catherine GILLET, Elsa MARC, Dominique MOINDRAUT, Christiane VIELLE, Muriel RIGAL and Zanoarisoa RAJAONA).
“PAS GRAVE” was born from the desire of certain artists to work creatively alongside their usual network, a kind of slightly parenthetic activity in every possible sense of the term, meaning that they work openly, flexibly, with the goal of throwing light on the art of printmaking through a liberal and less conventional prism.
This initiative is based on the sheer desire to allow everybody to partake in the pleasure of viewing these pictures, by way of all conceivable techniques linked to printmaking, as well as providing artists and above all the public, which, especially in France, is not inclined to see printmaking in a new light, with the opportunity to meet on the occasion of exhibitions and events.
Athens French Institute, Sina 31, 10680, Athens
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 21:00, Saturdays 9:00 – 15:00. For further information, please call: ++30 210 33 98 633
Opening: Wednesday, June 3rd at 20:00
Clemente_Italiko From June 3rd to 28th, the Ιtalian Institute is hosting a group exhibition of Contemporary Italian Etchings entitled “The Dual Dream of Art” in its premises (Patission 47). 34 works will be on show at this exhibition, all from the 2RC Atelier and curated by Achille Bonito Oliva, thus allowing the Italian Cultural Institute of Athens to present a unique panorama of Italian etchings from the 1970’s to the present day. With works by Lucio Fontana, Burri, Afro, Giacomo Manzu’ and other artists, the show reflects the evolution of “amorphous” Italian printmaking in the most expressive of ways.
Italian Cultural Institute of Athens: Patission 47, Αthens
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 – 20:00, tel.: ++30 210 5242646
Opening: Thursday June 4th, at 19:30
papamihalopoylos_askt
From June 18th to 28th, the Athens School of Fine Arts will be presenting in the group exhibition entitled “Printmaking at the House of Cyprus” in the premises of the House of Cyprus (Skoufa Str. and Heraklitou 10). It will cover a wide range of works by students of the Printmaking Department: Vassiliki Anastasiou, Kanuto Kalan, Panagiotis Ferentinos, Miltiadis Petalas, Lia Blioumi, Kleves Krisiko, Konstantinos Papamihalopoulos, Ilias Kotsiras, Andreas Kontonis, Anni Zavitsanou, Eleni Dervisoglou, Vassiliki Garavela, Leonidas Yannakopoulos and Matina Georga, as well as a selection of works by the well-known printmaker and professor of printmaking at the Athens School of Fine Arts, Michalis Arfaras. What is particularly interesting about this exhibition, is the quality of the images, and the perfection of the prints, made by these young artists and their professor alike, none of whom hesitate to avail themselves of the entire range of etching and printmaking techniques. The works on show reveal the artists’ thorough knowledge of art history and their profound practical and theoretical understanding of the aesthetic philosophy of the art of printmaking. The exhibition intends to provide art-lovers with a preview of the future of printmaking.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 – 14:00 &
17:00 – 20:00 Saturdays 11:00 – 14:00
For further information, please call: ++30 210 3641217-8
Opening: Thursday, June 18th, at 20:00
On the same day, the printmaking artist Yannis Gourzis will be showing a video film about wood block and copper plate – chisel techniques.
Papadimitriou_peiraias From June 11th to 28th, the Piraeus Municipal Gallery will be presenting a group exhibition of Greek etchings entitled “Impressions on Paper – the Evolution of Greek Printmaking from 1860 up to the Present Day”. This is a unique undertaking in the field of visual arts, curated by Emmanuel Mavromatis (Honorary Professor of Art History at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), who specializes in the study of printmaking and has endeavored to trace its development from the 19th century until the present day, based on authentic etchings by 126 artists and a total of approximately 300 works on show at the exhibition.
The exhibition consists of two parts:
a. Pioneers and Teachers
b. Contemporary and Most Recent Greek Printmakers
A quite remarkable section entitled “Touching Art” and designed for people with restricted vision or none at all, is also organized in collaboration with the State Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki.
Piraeus Municipal Gallery
Old Post Office Building –Filonos 29, Peireas
Opening hours: 10:00 – 13:00 and 18:00 – 21:00 on weekdays,
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 14:00, tel: ++30 210 410 1401
Opening: Monday, June 15th at 20:30
From June 9th to 28th, the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation will host an exhibition of etchings by Panayotis Tetsis in its building on Thoukididou 13, Plaka.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 – 14:00, Tuesday to Thursday 10:00 – 14:00 & 17:00 – 20:00, tel: 210 32 34 267
Opening: Tuesday, June 9th, 20:30
From June 2nd to 19th, ΙΑΝΟS Bookstore (at 24, Stadiou Street) will be hosting a group exhibition of etchings entitled “Woodcuts – From Drafts to Works of Art”.
The exhibition is being organized by Mary Schoina, assistant professor at the A’ Printmaking Workshop and her students – artists of the younger generation: Patricia Evgenia Deligianni, Elisabeth Dionysopoulou, Andriana Kotsi, Katerina Papadimitropoulou, Anastasia Hatziri – graduates of the Workshop and advanced students of the same, such as Vassiliki Anastasiou, Anni Zavitsanou, Giorgos Markellos Mundean and Kleves Krisiko. The “Teachers and Students” group at the Athens School of Fine Arts printmaking workshop work together in a common space, where they share thoughts and views, their research and work dedicated to the cultivation of their artistic vision, while at the same time respecting the differences in each other’s artistic expression. The printmaking workshop is a great challenge to students, calling upon them to succeed in developing their artistic skills and thus improve their artistic language. By working on their materials, they gain a deep understanding of these demanding matters and learn about the value of true persistence and dedication, while making use of the tools at their disposal. And above all, they learn to take command over both of their hands, allowing them to obey the immaterial dictates of imagination and the sensitivity of artistic creativity.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 21:00, tel.: 2103217917 (extension 722)
Opening: Tuesday, June 2nd
For the duration of the Festival, several of the artists involved will be opening their workshops to the public:
Odysseas Annitsakis
Address: Evangelou Liosi 8, Ilion, 131 21 Athens
Telephone: ++30 6939 240403
Open on:
Saturdays 19:00-22:00
Atelier details: Printmaking workshop using various techniques of intaglio and relief printing.
Nikos Desekopoulos
Address: Stefanou Skoulidi 1, on the corner of Koletti Street
(Αg. Vasilios, Piraeus)
Telephone: ++30 6944 108935
Open on: Saturdays 17:00 – 21:00
Atelier details: woodcut printmaking workshop (1st floor)
Εleni Ikonokidou
Address: Orinis Taxiarhias 31, on the corner of Αnakreontos Street, Zografou
Telephone ++30 210 7707838
Atelier details: workshop where various techniques are applied
Μimi Petropoulou
Address: Triantafyllidi 12, Neo Psychiko
Telephone 210 6725857, 6947 882142
Open on: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons
Atelier details: woodcut printmaking workshop (ground floor and 1st floor)
Μary Schoina
Address: Sahtouri 3, Psyrri
Telephone: ++30 210 3224613
Open on:
Saturdays 19:00-22:00
Atelier details: wood- and etching workshop (1st floor)
Vicky Tsalamata
Address: Asklipiou 121, Ano Glyfada – Athens
Telephone: ++30 6937 249028
Atelier details: etching workshop (ground floor)
Anastasia Harokopou
Address: Aetomilitsis 44, Ilion – Athens
Telephone: ++30 210 2692913
Open on:
Mondays 19:00-22:00, Wednesdays 19:00-22:00, Fridays 19:00-22:00
Saturdays 19:00-22:00
Atelier details: etching and collagraphy workshop (ground floor premises with exhibition space).
Finally, in cooperation with the Angelos and Leto Catacouzinos Foundation, the Hellenic American Union is organizing a series of lectures as part of the Festival, entitled “Artist – Art – Audience, Interactive Relations”. The lectures will be held from June 17th to 24th, at 20:00, at the Angelos and Leto Catacouzinos Foundation (Vas. Amalias Ave. 4, 5th floor).
Lectures’ Program
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009, 20:00
Νikos Tzavaras
Psychiatrist, Professor of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the Democritus University of Thrace, President of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association
“Dürer’s Melancholy”
Aris Marangopoulos
Author and editor
“Works of Art in the Age of Their Electronic Reproduction”
Pavlos Vasiliadis
Psychiatrist, psychotherapist, associate professor at the Center for Mental Health, main department, in Thessaloniki and Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
“The Concept of Psychosis and Art by Psychotics – Influences Which Shaped This Notion and The Technique of Works by Great Artists”
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009, 20:00
Thanasis Tzavaras
Psychiatrist – Psychoanalyst, Honorary Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Athens
“Repetition and the Multiple”
Yanna Kilimi
Painter, Art Therapist
“The Vision of the Artist – Psychotherapist in the Field of Art”
Limited Seating Available
Please make a reservation by calling: 210 3680071
(Monday to Friday: 9:30 – 17:30)