Printmakers and suppliers from across the country came together at Plymouth’s first Print in Action Festival on 22-23 October, organised by Real Ideas.
Held at Ocean Studios and various other venues across Plymouth, visitors had the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in all things print including workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations and masterclasses.
There were a plethora of activities showcased at the event using different materials and a variety of print techniques including mono-printing on clay, a fashion show featuring textile print designs, and print-your-yoga, an activity similar to the game Twister, but involving paint.
Throughout the festival, visitors were also invited to contribute to The Truth Wall – a creative use of hoardings around Ocean Studios which provided a snapshot of issues important to society today, expressed through print. Using a range of printing techniques, the Truth Wall displayed messages of politics, feminism, the environment, and emotion.
Alan Qualtrough, a letterpress print artist based at Ocean Studios said: “Freedom of expression is a protected human right. However, many of us stay silent when the world rages around us. The Truth Wall provided the opportunity for visitors to speak up about what they feel is important in the world.”
Other print artists from across the South West joined resident print artists at Ocean Studios to provide masterclasses, exhibitions, market stalls and workshops.
The Bristol Print Collective were just one of many print artists to provide informative talks and workshops at the event. Jemma Gunning a founding member of the collective said: “We really liked the way the Print in Action festival brought together professional print makers and those with an interest in the hobby. It provided an excellent forum from which to showcase our work, share skills and techniques and network with other like-minded and brilliant creative artists. We are taking back a whole lot of new ideas to Bristol and its printmaking community.”
Beth Munro, is a print maker at Ocean Studios and has been instrumental in the development of Print in Action 2022. She said, “Our inaugural Print in Action festival was amazing. It was wonderful to see Ocean Studios buzzing with creative energy and see people having fun with all things print. A big thank you goes to everyone who helped make the event happen and to all the people who came to have a go at something new. We look forward to continued collaboration with printmakers in Plymouth and across the region and to bring Print in Action back in 2023, even bigger and better.”
To find out more about printmaking and to take part in print workshops at Ocean Studios visit www.realideas.org.
