In 1997 the Mesa Arts Center printmaking program hosted a collaborative, international workshop that brought artists together from the United Kingdom and Arizona. The collaborating entities were the Mesa Arts Center, The Sky Harbor Art Program, Xicanindio, Belfast Print Workshop, and the Glasgow Print Studio. ARIZONA IMPRESSIONS was an exhibition curated from work produced during the UK/AZ PRINT EXCHANGE '97 workshop. Artists from Ireland, Scotland, and Arizona were brought together to share their ideas and cultures through the creation of mono-screen prints. Two artists representing the Belfast Print Workshop and two artists representing the Glasgow Print Studio were in Arizona for two weeks in the Spring of 1997. They joined eight artists from Xicanindio Artes, Inc., which sponsored the workshop. During the first week of the exchange, the United Kingdom artists from Scotland and Ireland visited Arizona's points of interest, so that they might incorporate their impressions of the state into their artwork. The following week, the 12 artists created approximately 300 prints in a five-day workshop. Master Printer Oscar Duardo of Los Angeles Self-Help Graphics guided the workshop. ARIZONA IMPRESSIONS included 48 prints that debuted at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, traveled within Arizona and then on to the United Kingdom.
In 2001 the Mesa Arts Center hosted another exchange called the 2001 Glasgow/Arizona Mono-screenprint International Workshop. The project was organized and hosted by David Manje and sponsored by the City of Mesa's Public Art Program. The goal of this project was to bring professional artists together to enjoy an educational and creative experience while promoting an international exchange with the Glasgow Print Studio and the Mesa Arts Center. The hands-on instruction and demonstrations, workshop mechanics, creative support, and the exuberant "Scottish energy" were provided by the Glaswegian printmakers Norman Mathieson and Will Maw. One California, and seven Arizona artists were divided into two groups; each working for two days. At the end of each two-day session each artist donated one select print each to the City of Mesa's Public Art Program portable works collection, The City of Mesa permanent art collection, and one each to the City of Glasgow's public municipal art collection.
In the future, the East Valley Tribune Printmaking Studio will be inviting internationally know master printers known for their expertise in non-traditional, experimental, non-toxic intaglio-type printmaking techniques.
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