kc print crawl

"This was my first one....although I've been a member for a couple years, this was the first time I've been to the crawl.  I've been to a luncheon, the most recent Christmas open house (fantastic!), the Benton print discussion at NAMA, and a few others.  I live a couple blocks from the American Legacy gallery, but this is the first time I've been inside.  It's been a self-protection ploy as I knew that once I was inside I would be in trouble!  I enjoyed seeing all the prints available, but found those at the final gallery to be of no interest at all....and too expensive to boot.  Different tastes I guess....." Dinah Henderson

 
 

Dr. William Eickhorst "Bill" has collected prints over the last 50 years and shared some of his collection with us this morning. To reach him and view his Manet, Bonnard, Cezanne and others you can reach him at (816) 587-1986 or email him  eickhorst@missouriwestern.edu

 

"I was remembering the Print Crawls of the early years of the Print Society.  A handful of people... It's just great to see all the new faces and enjoy the lively discussions, with the common thread of love of prints tying all these diverse people together."  Catherine Vesce, Kansas City

There was talk about the works of Gene Kloss, her figurative drypoints and more obscure landscapes.  Elizabeth Carroll asked how one determines which work to purchase. Melissa Behravesh gave this summation. If you are buying for financial reasons look for signature work. What you would recognize as a well known Gene Kloss. Say, her figurative work. If you are buying for personal reasons, go with work that resonates with you. Maybe the landscape.

Left, Jane and Eric Piper from Hyde Park said they were long time collectors. They said this was their first print crawl. Karl Marxhausen

Tim Reimer from Wichita, Kansas said he's been a member for two years. He has wanted to come in for the print crawl, but other things were going on. He decided to check it out. Karl Marxhausen

Two chine colle color lithographs by Hung Liu. Three minutes.

"Where else do you have the power to select a print that will go into the collection of an internationally recognized institution." John Mallery, Program Director 

Members create a buzz over the optical activity
of the Strandell work. Six minutes.

"I enjoyed the day.  We saw quite a range of prints. Seems like we are pushing the boundaries of the definition of 'print'. Welcome to the 21st Century. Remember when photography was on the cutting edge? Now it is is digital and lenticular! It is all very interesting and exciting.  The Print Society continues to get better and better." Susan Lawrence, Susan Lawrence Fine Art, Kansas City, MO

"I think the Print Crawl was a huge success!  Lots of new members attended who had not been to any of the planned events!  It was wonderful to see such a large turnout."  Brucie Hopkins, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes

More discussion and interest generated at Todd Weiner Gallery. Seven minutes. Works of Heinrich Toh.

"Karl it is always a pleasure to talk to members of the Society.  I always get to know different members just a little better at each event.  I hope this experience continues.  Just like you - I would have voted for the Mary Strandell without any further ado." Richard Hamilton

"big change from just a few years ago - so many people it was hard to move around & get a good view of all the prints! always enjoy this program & the resulting purchase for the museum." greg schieszer

thanks for all who contributed their comments.
video and photos from karl marxhausen, print society member.

the crawl

It was an icy start, coming in on highway 210 east, where my wife and I passed a rolled off vehicle in a corn field, its owner standing beside it, talking on a cellphone, waiting for the wrecker to arrive.


The house gallery was full of print society members and non-members, sipping orange juice and nibbling baked goodies.


Each time I attend a PS function I seek out people I've met and meet new ones.


That day Mark Jeske told me about an art appreciation class he took and the color theory talk with Margie Kuhn he attended. He had read about both events and the print crawl in the bi-monthly brochure that Nelson museum sent out. That was what brought him to Kathy Ashen- brenner's house that morning.


Finally, we squeezed around the dining room table and listened as each print was presented. People glanced back and forth from the handout sheets, leaning forward to inspect the inked impression, and make mental notes for themselves.

Then, it was gathering coats and hats and heading of in carpools to the next location.
     Karl Marxhausen

Photos left,

taken by PS member Elizabeth Carroll.


Hi Karl. Thanks for asking.  We enjoyed visiting with Jan and you. Besides the art, we were

and continue to be delighted by the large turnout of PS members and their strong interest in supporting the Nelson.   Jane and Jack Coakley

Kathy Ashenbrenner of Gallery Karl Oskar presents selected prints by Robert Motherwell and Richard Diebenkorn. Three minutes.

Jack Olson of the American Legacy Gallery on Claire Leighton:
   "She actually became a citizen in 1945. But she is known for her book illustrations and for her rural America-type prints. Where we got involved with carrying her work was, she did a gift print for the Prairie Print Makers. The Prairie Print Makers, as you probably all know, is a group that started in Kansas in 1931. And every year, from 1931 to 1964, printed a gift print. If you were a patron of the Prairie Print Makers, and paid your $5.00 a year dues, you got a gift print. So, it was a pretty good deal for a long time."
   "This is a big wood engraving. This is the first time I've had . I suspect it has never been framed."
   "I'm going to do the ones I think are the coolest. (group laughter)"
    Double click on images to enlarge.

Olson went on to discuss the Jackson Lee Nesbitt, a student of Thomas Benton, and a rare etching by John Sloan.

  
Three minutes. See transcription excerpts above.

    "I love the idea of a print crawl to examine prints that Beth has hand selected for us, and talking with people who have special interest in the art of the print.  For example, Ruthie showed me the business card she designed for Doug.   I was especially glad to visit the new Haw Gallery and see how the Dolphin has successfully transitioned.  It was also a pleasure to review the Thomas Moran chromolithograph in Jack's office after learning about this print technique on our road trip to the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa."    Curtis V. Smith

     I enjoyed the annual Print Society print crawl once again.  It is always good to get together with fellow print enthusiasts, to socialize and look at art.  Once again, the first stop at Galerie Karl Oscar (Kathy Ashenbrenner's home) was warm and welcoming with good coffee and treats. I enjoyed meeting some new members, and catching up with others.  At our second stop, American Legacy Gallery, it was a treat to see the wonderful etchings that Jack Olsen showed us. Then on to Haw Gallery for more art treats, and also to see what Bill Haw had done with the old Dolphin Gallery space.     Susan Lawrence

Emily Eddins of the Haw Contemporary Gallery introduced us to belgium prints by Michael Krueger (pronounced kree-ger), a unique relief print by Laura Berman, and a set of lithographs by Peregrine Honig. Six minutes.

Our final stop was Lawrence Lithography Workshop, where our host, Mike Sims, explained the prints that he was offering for our consideration.  He is keeping his holiday sale going through the end of January, and several of us took advantage of the opportunity to purchase prints for our own collections.        
Susan Lawrence


Mike Sims of The Lawrence Lithography Workshop introduces a set of lithographs by Susan Davidoff. Five minutes.

 





We then adjourned for lunch at the Bull Dog pub (we had the back room to ourselves) where we engaged in lively conversation, marked our ballots, and enjoyed good bar food.  susan lawrence




Our goal is to buy prints with the intention that the public will be able to view them in a Print Study Room. Two minutes.

The Print room was located on the Mezzanine. It was a good size room and could house different exhibitions. It is really too bad that it has been discontinued.  Last Fall several members of the Print Society (including me) wrote to the director requesting a new Print room. So far nothing new has happened.   Jean Howard

 
Concern was raised: were frames included in the purchasing price?
No, they were not. Discussion before casting vote. Four minutes.

 I am looking forward to the next step in our print selection process, the Love of Art luncheon on February 15 when we will vote on the print that we will donate to the museum.    susan lawrence


photos by elizabeth carroll and karl marxhausen
comments from jack and jane coakley, curtis v. smith, karl marxhausen, susan lawrence and jean howard