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| As you walk past the vintage four-story building across from the Western "L" station, you'll find clues to the creative powerhouse that's located within. There are the prints hanging in the windows, and there's the address over the door, which appears inside the painted outline of a printmaker's brayer. But step inside the doors of the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative and you'll find a world of art in progress: from step-by-step prints on the walls demonstrating the process of printmaking, to the found objects scattered throughout owner Deborah Maris Lader's office, to the artists buzzing around the studio at all hours of the day and night. Even if you don't have an artistic bone in your body, the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative is a feast for the eyes. If you do enjoy printmaking, the studio is a version of heaven. |
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 When she's not running the CPC, Deborah sings, plays guitar, banjo and mandolin for the Sons of the Never Wrong, creates her own art represented by galleries like Chicago's Wood Street Gallery and Belloc Lowndes Gallery, and raises her sons Evan and Daniel with the help of her architect husband, Michael Silver. There's no doubt that the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative has taken on its founder's personality and energy—the studio never stops moving, teaching or creating either.
After moving to Chicago in the 1980s, Deborah began looking for a teaching job in printmaking and for a place to print her own work. It turned out that no printmaking studios existed at that time outside of a university setting. So Deborah set out to create one of her own. When she found an old printmaking shop that was up for sale complete with its contents, she took the opportunity to purchase everything. In 1989, Deborah officially opened the Chicago Printmaking Collaborative in a second-story walk up in Ukrainian Village, at Paulina and Division. It didn't take long for word to get around the printmaking community that a new studio had opened. Soon it attracted Chicago-based artists and students from all over the globe, including places like Nigeria, Japan, Thailand, Russia and England. The CPC became a center of Chicago's printmaking community, hosting regular exhibitions, visiting artists and student tours from the printmaking departments at local art schools. As a studio it focused both on education and serving artists who print their own work. |
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| When Deborah began to think about relocating CPC in 1998, the option of Lincoln Square literally came to her. As a musician, she spent quite a bit of time at the Old Town School of Folk Music and got to know Jim Hirsch, the school's executive director. Not only did he encourage her to move CPC to Lincoln Square, he also brought her to several Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce meetings and introduced her to Alderman Schulter. Although she enjoyed being a part of the artists' community in Ukrainian Village, Deborah felt that she needed to participate in a supportive business community as well. After meeting the people in the chamber and in the neighborhood, Deborah knew immediately that it was the right move to come to Lincoln Square. "I'd been working my butt off to make my business great and I wanted to feel like I was part of a business community," says Deborah. Once she found a location large enough for the studio, Deborah had to do precision planning to plot the move of the extremely heavy, yet delicate equipment from CPC's second floor workshop. Both of the presses had to be carefully disassembled, then reassembled once they arrived at the new studio. |
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 Located in a building that originally housed a cold storage facility, the new Western Avenue studio occupies the entire first floor and basement, offering ample space for the studio's presses. After moving in, CPC was able to add a third etching press. (CPC's other two presses included the original combination etching/litho press that Deborah first bought and a second litho press she acquired shortly after she opened CPC.) Deborah has her own studio space at the new location, with a business office that sits inside an old vault, complete with bars and thick, locking doors. Art objects, supplies and works-in-progress occupy her personal studio, including several pieces from her "Tools" series, which explores how humans integrate different kinds of tools into our everyday lives. Many of Deborah's personal pieces incorporate images of her two sons, Daniel, 10 and Evan, 8.
Recently, CPC added six artist-in-residence studios, where artists can rent space for six month or year long intervals. The artists have 24 hour access to their studios and to the facilities. Deborah's husband designed the studios, which are airy and open with windows to create a sense of community. Four of the spaces are on the main floor and two are downstairs. In addition to its resident artists, CPC takes in carefully screened monthly members who have permanent storage rights and 24 hour studio access. CPC offers unparalleled access to its resident and monthly artists, who can come and go whenever inspiration strikes. |
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| Unlike arts such as painting or ceramics, printmaking is somewhat of a mystery to many people. That's partly because it's a complex art that encompasses a variety of processes, such as relief (woodcutting), intaglio, lithography and monoprinting. And each type of printmaking requires completely different tools, supplies and equipment. The most basic definition of printmaking is the process of developing visual information from a "plate" or "element" (stone, metal, wood, etc.) and transferring it to paper. Part of Deborah's and CPC's mission is to help people gain a better understanding of the printmaking arts. CPC has facilities available to support all the different forms of printmaking, despite their complexity. |
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 Deborah started her artistic career in the sculpture program at Cornell University. Growing up, she was always drawing, welding and experimenting with sculpture. Although she enjoyed sculpture in college, she missed drawing and grew tired of the endless dust of the sculpture studio. That's when she discovered printmaking. "Printmaking involved drawing, metal, stone, power tools—all the things I love," laughs Deborah. "When I found that out, I said, 'I'm there!'" She eventually went on to get her BFA in Printmaking at Cornell, then an MFA in Printmaking from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Much of Deborah's work today is in mixed media that often incorporates the use of found objects, which add a sculptural element. "I find that I always think like a printmaker." Deborah says. "Printmakers work in layers—not just physical layers, but in layers of ideas."
Because she's been a teacher throughout her career, Deborah has brought an educational atmosphere to CPC. Not just learning in a purely academic sense, but also in a practical sense that addresses the idea of art outside the studio. "I always wanted to be around other artists," says Deborah. "I wanted to create the type of environment that would involve a dialogue, where we could challenge each other and share a sense of camaraderie." As a teacher, Deborah has seen quite a few of her students go on to achieve great things. She first met artist Holly Greenberg at her graduate review at the School of the Art Institute. Holly is now represented by Lyons Weir Packer Gallery in Chicago and is in the process of becoming a tenured art professor. Maggie Tate started out as an intern at CPC, then became the studio manager within two years. She's now starting an MFA program and teaching an etching class at CPC. As a true teacher, Deborah says with a smile, "I like to see people go on and surpass me in their careers." Because of its great reputation, the CPC has hosted a number of famous artists throughout the years including Tony Fitzpatrick, who worked with master printer Jeff Sippel to produce the lithograph "Pinky" on the CPC press. |
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| One of the best times to visit the CPC is during their Small Prints Show, which the studio has hosted every year since its opening. "It's my favorite event," says Deborah. "We have a spread like you would not believe." The Small Prints Show is a two-day event held at the beginning of December, when the CPC opens its doors to members, students, teachers, friends, family, local business owners and area residents for a big party complete with food and drinks. Artists post their unframed prints everywhere and sell them for affordable prices. There are also vendors of handmade jewelry, books and paper items selling their wares. "I like the idea of offering something accessible that people can take home," says Deborah. "Instead of getting another sweater for a present, they can buy artwork," she says. Students of the CPC's classes get equal, side-by-side billing with established artists who submit their work to the show. "Because the work isn't framed, it's an equalizer," explains Deborah. "It's exciting for students to sell their first piece." The Small Print Show gives visitors the opportunity to see CPC's facilities, meet some of the artists and talk to the instructors. This year's show will be the first one since Deborah added the artist-in-residence studios, so it will be a combination art opening, sale and studio walk, where visitors can meet the resident artists and see their work in progress. The 2002 Small Prints Show & Holiday Open House will take place on Saturday, December 7th and Sunday December 8th from noon until 7:00pm. |
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| There are lots of ways to get involved with the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative. The studio offers classes for adults and children (ages 7 to 12) teaching printmaking basics such as relief (woodcut and linoleum), etching, lithography and screenprinting. CPC also offers classes in book arts, pinhole camera, polaroid transfer and other arts. If you're an artist of any type looking for somewhere to work, there is currently one artist-in-residence space available. Contact Deborah for details. Those who appreciate the fine art of printmaking can help CPC by becoming a Friend of the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative. Friends range from the "Kind" ($30) or "Inky" ($75) levels to the "Best" level, who donate $2000 or more and receive gifts of thanks such as handmade prints and a special CPC Tea in their honor. Or if you're just curious and want to learn more about printmaking, call the studio to find out when the next Studio Saturday will take place. On certain Saturdays, Deborah opens the studio to observers who want to watch the artists and find out how printmaking works. If you'd like a tour of the facilities, or if you're interested in purchasing some art, call 773.293.2070 to set up an appointment. And make sure to take the opportunity to stop by for the 2002 Small Prints Show to find out what goes on behind the studio's doors. |
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Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
4642 N. Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
773.293.2070
www.chicagoprintmakers.com
ink1101@aol.com
December and January Hours:
Saturdays 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Or call 773.293.2070 for an appointment.
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| Read more profiles in the Member of the Month Archives |
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