Saturday Print Circle

You’re invited to join us on Saturday, April 22 1-4pm for our first monthly Saturday Print Circle in the studio
240 St. George Street, 2d Floor, Annapolis Royal.

Everyone is welcome. Members and the general public please bring a friend (does not need to be a printmaker) to see what we are doing and join in the creativity and conversation.

If you like, bring something printmaking related to work on, a work in progress (WIP), a show and tell and ideas you would like to explore with a group.

Visit with our fellow printmakers to cross pollinate ideas.
Show and tell what we’ve completed or what we are currently working on.
Get feedback if wanted.

Our first Print Circle will be an informal gathering with no theme or agenda other than to get the rusty wheels of momentum going again and for some of us gently nudge us out of our comfy homes and back into the studio. We will be holding a Print Circle one Saturday of the month. This is a work in progress, we will tweak it as we go.

Can’t wait to visit with you all again.

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Last OPEN HOUSE of 2022!

Print a seasonal gift tag on a vintage letterpress or a card with linocut with our members. Check out printing a copperplate etching on our printing press. Our members have a diverse set of printmaking chops we love to show off.

Find out if printmaking is a skill you are interested in developing in 2023. Or just come by to say hi.
Sunday, November 6, 1-4pm,
240 St. George Street, 2nd floor, Annapolis Royal.

2022 AGM Meeting, Hey it’s a date.

Join us from the comfort of your couch, while you are working in your studio, even if you are on the road, for our 2nd Annual General Meeting via zoom.

Our AGM is open to members and the general public (as non voting observers). To register message us and a link will be sent to you nearer the day.

Elephant Grass Printmakers Society is a not-for-profit arts organization located in Annapolis Royal. We are currently seeking nominations for new members to join our Board of Directors at our AGM, March 28, 2022. Anyone who is a member of EGPS (Studio and Associate) can be nominated to the Board of Directors. EGPS Membership is open to anyone who is interested in expanding traditional and contemporary printmaking and letterpress practices in our community regardless of skill level or experience.

With the lifting of most restrictions, EGPS is looking forward to welcoming the public back into the studio for workshops, a special event on Print Day in May with Mum and Open Saturdays during the summer. Stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter.

Miscellany: prints from EGPS

August 7 to September 18, 2021

Miscellany is defined as “a group or collection of different items: a mixture”. Miscellany is also a useful description for the assorted talents of members of Elephant Grass Printmakers Society. As individuals, we each approach printmaking with personal thematic visions. We each favour different technical applications. And, though we teach and encourage each other, we do not imitate. Elephant Grass Printmakers is a collection of differences: a hodgepodge of a variety.

We are pleased to present a selection of prints from the members of Elephant Grass Printmakers Society, who though are a small group, we are mighty persistent. The exhibit may be viewed online here .

August 1 to Sept. 18, 2021

ARTSPLACE, 396 St. George Street,

Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am-noon, 1pm-5pm, Saturday 11am-2pm 902 532-7069

Doors Open Saturdays

Doors Open Saturdays

Starting on Saturday July 17, 2021 (but not every Saturday), EGPS studio will open our front door to the public for the occasional POP UP Doors Open event, 10am to 2pm. Hosted by member Katie Prescott of Woodshed Press there will be the opportunity to check out our printmaking/ letterpress facilities and ask questions, see the odd demonstrations and stock up on small prints and cards for sale. Katie may be joined at times by other printmakers, so watch for the signboard outside of 240 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, announcing dates, hours and special events. Since this is the first time we have been able to open for visits by the public, we ask visitors to observe safe distance protocols and wear masks during their visit.

Wear Your Pride One Saturday we will be here for sure is Saturday August 7, 10am to 2pm. We will be outside (or inside if it rains) on Annapolis Royal Pride Day offering DIY buttons in the colours of the rainbow flag. Make a button to wear in the parade at 12:30pm or come upstairs to print a postcard celebrating your Pride.

1st Annual General Members Meeting!

Annual General Meeting on March 22, 7pm via zoom.

EGPS is holding it 1st AGM on Monday March 22, 2021 at 7pm online. Our AGM is open to members and the general public (as non voting observer). For zoom link contact elephantgrassprint at gmail.com

2020 was a rough year to expand our mandate, grow our membership and move facilities during the pandemic but we managed to reopen to members in June and even hold an outdoor demonstration with a visiting printmaker. 2021 is not without its own set of challenges which we are looking to meet with a fresh approach. Join us and be part of that conversation.

Elephant Grass Printmakers Society began in 2013 as a community minded group of artists committed in expanding the tradition of printmaking and letterpress, with the goal to provide mentorship and equipment access to anyone interested regardless of experience or skill level to fine art printmaking and letterpress.

In 2020 Elephant Grass Printmakers Society became a not-for-profit Society registered in NS and moved to a central location in Annapolis Royal to be accessible on foot, by public transport. EGPS continues to offer space for members, visiting printmakers and the general public to exchange skills and experiences, work on personal projects or take workshops. During this time of uncertainty, EGPS was able to resume use of the studio for Studio Member by observing safety protocols and guidelines but has temporarily postponed in person public workshops until later in 2021.

EGPS offers two levels of membership: – Studio Membership with full access to the facilities and as a supporting Associate. EGPS continues to support itself through annual membership fees, rentals, workshops and fundraising. Membership in EGPS is open to individuals interested in printmaking regardless of experience or skill level.

2020 Online Sale Begins Now!

Who doesn’t like getting art in the mail. We do so! Instead of our annual exhibit and sale we are having an online sale of original small prints, cards and artworks from $15 to $60 that we will ship anywhere in Canada for an additional flat fee of $5. (We’ll mail to outside of Canada at the going rate. Just ask.)

The sale runs from Oct. 26 until Nov. 16. Click on images for info and prices, send us a message to purchase or for inquiries. Works are being snapped up quickly.

Cash, cheques, e-transfers or Paypal accepted.

Also Check our facebook or instagram page, Elephant Grass Printmakers Society to see new works being added or to DM us. Click on images for price and info.

Unpacked and in our new home

Boxes are unpacked, presses assembled, and the letterpress cases back in their cabinets. We  settled in and made ready to print.  Unfortunately, 3 days after moving, we made the responsible decision to close the studio temporarily to members and public in response to the COVID 19 emergency.

Nova Scotia was one of the last Canadian provinces to see confirmed cases in mid March.  Nova Scotia with a small but aging population has taken strong measures to contain the spread as to not overwhelm our already strained health care system.  EGPs members are social distancing, and in some cases self isolating.

But, we are also creative folks and looking at ways to continue making prints and stay connected.  Later this month we will be launching a newsletter.  Stay in touch and check back for information on how to subscribe.  Have patience, the newsletter team is working remotely from their homes.

Stay well,  wash your hands and stay 2 metres (6 ft apart).

 

 

 

We are on the move in 2020!

661c657b084aa35269aad4102a4bba73Elephant Grass Print Collective is a diverse group of experienced and novice printmakers that have been sharing skills and equipment for over 6 years in our current space in Parker’s Cove. In early 2020 we will be moving the studio to a central location in historic Annapolis Royal and are looking for new members.

We will miss our neighbours, Coco the dog and Buster the window cat but not driving winding and sometimes icy rural roads. Our new location will be accessible by foot, public transit or vehicle.

Interested in starting or continuing printmaking? Come to our first meeting of the decade at the Annapolis Royal Town Hall Boardroom (285 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal – 2n floor) on Sunday January the 26th 2pm-4pm and find out how you can become a part of this exciting opportunity.
If you are interested but unable to attend please contact us at elephantgrassprint@gmail.com.

Be: Art Cards for Gender Safety

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Letterpress prints know Words without action are not worth the paper they are printed on. December 6, Friday commemorates the 30th anniversary of l’École Polytechnique shooting of 14 women because they were women. EGPC joined with 3 other Canadian letterpress printers in turning their words into a positive response against the rise of Gender based violence in Canada.

EGPC member Bonnie Baker took action with 3 other Canadian letterpress printers, from Nova Scotia, Alberta, and British Columbia. We created 5×7 postcards with their responses to the 30th National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and the horrible event that inspired it.

We then swapped cards, and the resulting sets of five postcards each are for sale, with all proceeds going to local groups raising awareness of gender safety.

The exchange is the printers way of calling out everyday violence against women, girls and LGBTQ2 individuals.

On Instagram Bonnie Baker, one of the four participating letterpress printers, writes about hearing of the shooting at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989,

“As a confident young woman in rural Canada listening to the brutal news, I felt kicked in the gut, a reminder every step we made towards equality, fair treatment and respect was still fragile and potentially dangerous,” she writes.

Here is what they printed: “Gender is a journey… from @EGPCPrintmakers, Souls are all equal… from @arquoisedesign , Health, dignity, autonomy … from @dogwoodetterpress , Got your back.” from @whiskyjackpress.

You can get a set by sending an email to elephantgrassprint@gmail.com

Suggested donation $20, or pay what you can. Monies collected by EGPC will be donated to the Elizabeth Fry Society Mainland Nova Scotia, or directed to a group of your choice.