Drop by for a chat, do a little printing at one of our demos and say hello to our new press. Sunday November 26, 1-4pm
Another OPEN HOUSE
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The Count Down Starts Now!
Only two weeks left to buy your tickets for a chance to win these wonderful prizes: Hydrangea pendant, Leaf imprinted pure silver on handmade silk cord by Marianne Brown Jewellery or a carved and painted porcelain lidded Chickadee jar by Deb Kuzyk and Ray Mackie, formerly Lucky Rabbit Pottery.
For tickets, send us a message or drop by the studio Oct 26 & 27, 11am-4pm, 240 St. George Str, 2nd floor, Annapolis Royal. You can also purchased tickets directly from any EGPS member.
Thank you to Marianne, Deb and Ray for their generous support of our printmaking community.
Keep checking back for more events and announcements coming later to mark our 10th year anniversary! Yes we have been a little quiet about it but now we are gearing up to celebrate throughout November through December with Impressed, an exhibit of Members work in November and
… wait for it …
We also launch Earth, the final box set in a four part series of limited edition of original prints by members and guest artists under the theme The Four Elements.
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.
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!
Elephant 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
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.
The winter gods strike again
Our Members Greet and Meet has been postponed until Sunday Jan. 15, 1pm to 3pm because of a pending winter storm.
Interested in joining but don’t have a background in printmaking? Don’t let it hold you back from becoming a member in 2017. Sharing skills and learning from each other is one of the best membership benefit EGPC has to offer. If you cannot come to the meeting next week and had questions about membership or training, please email us this week.
Elephant Grass Printmakers Society 