Platemark Episodes

Here is part two of our conversation about Giovanni Battista Piranesi, which primarily focuses on the Imaginary Prisons series, AKA the Carceri.

In this episode of Platemark, artist Curtis Bartone pulls back the curtain on the alchemical medium of lithography and his secret sauce of counter etching.

Step into the grand, shadowy, and endlessly inventive world of Giovanni Battista Piranesi. In this episode, Ann and Tru explore the extraordinary life and legacy of the 18th-century master printmaker, architect, and polemicist whose sweeping etchings of Rome and terrifyingly surreal Carceri (Prisons) series continue to captivate the imagination. Join us as they examine Piranesi's Venetian roots, his fierce contributions to the Greco-Roman design debates, his enduring influence on figures like Go...

Join host Ann Shafer on this episode of Platemark for a captivating journey through more than 55 years in the print world with Daniel Lienau, owner of The Annex Galleries in Santa Rosa, California.

Join us on this episode of Platemark for a captivating and deeply personal conversation with the legendary artist, illustrator, and master printmaker Barry Moser.

In this episode of Platemark, Ann Shafer sits down with master framer Thoren Vadala of Make-A-Frame Atlantic to explore the meticulous, often overlooked world of picture framing.

Host Ann Shafer talks with Laura Raicovich about creativity, resistance, and alternative cultural spaces.

Platemark records our first-ever live episode at the 30th anniversary of the McNay Print Fair as host Ann Shafer speaks with master printer James Stroud (Center Street Studio) exploring the fascinating, high-stakes world of print publishing.

What happens when a visionary publisher collaborates with minimalist and conceptual giants like Chuck Close, Agnes Martin, and Dorothea Rockburne? In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Rachel Vogel, Assistant Curator at the Addison Gallery of American Art, to explore the monumental legacy of Parasol Press. Rachel shares the behind-the-scenes stories of curating the exhibition Parasol Press: Breaking New Ground, diving into the innovative vision of founder Bob Feldman, the intricate tec...

In this episode of Platemark, host Ann Shafer sits down with Marie Tennyson, Executive Director of the Lower East Side Printshop.

In this episode of Platemark, we sit down with exceptional artist, printmaker, animator, and educator Jenny Schmid for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of history, art, and activism. We explore how historical figures like Käthe Kollwitz and José Posada influence Jenny's contemporary practice, delve into her fascinating project "Disembodied Reembodied," and celebrate the vital role of the Minnesota printmaking community in resisting oppressive systems. Jenny also shares a glimp...

Ever wonder about the incredible artistry hiding in your wallet? In this episode, Ann sits down with Tom Hipschen, a former master engraver at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who spent nearly four decades crafting the very banknotes and postage stamps we handle every day. Tom takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary career—from his grueling decade-long apprenticeship and serving as the lead picture engraver for the $20 bill, to engraving over 130 US postage stamps. We delve into the ...

In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Venezuelan-born artist and educator Reinaldo Gil Zambrano. Based in Spokane, Washington, Reinaldo is a relief printmaking specialist whose work explores themes of home, heritage, and the universal human experience. As an Assistant Professor at Gonzaga University and co-founder of the Spokane Print and Publishing Center, Reinaldo discusses his commitment to "democratic" art-making and his role as a bilingual bridge-builder in the global print commun...

In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Val Lucas, the artist and master printer behind Bowerbox Press. From her early shift from painting to printmaking at MICA to her current work casting custom metal type and ornaments, Val shares her journey through the tactile, meticulous world of letterpress. We dive into the technical evolution of the craft—balancing traditional handset type with modern polymer plates—and discuss the vibrant, tight-knit community of women preserving this historic ...

In s2e38, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part three of three in which we talk about father and son, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. Shift your gaze from the canals to the clouds as we explore the whimsical, light-filled world of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. A master of the Rococo, Tiepolo brought a sense of effortless spontaneity to his etchings, moving his needle with the fluidity of a pen. We break down...

What happens when you trade a job at Kinko’s for a career as one of the art world’s most provocative curators? In this episode, Ann sits down with the legendary Nato Thompson to explore how he navigates the complex intersections of community, culture, and the "art ecosystem." They dive into his latest mission—The Alternative Art School—where he is dismantling the myth of the solitary genius and building a global, accessible sanctuary for creatives. From the rise and fall of NFT hype to the deepl...

In s2e37, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part two of three in which we talk about Canaletto. While often remembered as a topographical painter of postcards, Canaletto was, in fact, a master of curated reality. In this segment, they examine how Canaletto transformed the ordinary streets and canals of Venice into grand, cinematic scenes. Whether using the camera obscura to manipulate perspective or painting en plein air, he captu...

David Barthold’s journey as a printmaker began at age 13, took him through the legendary studio of Atelier 17 in Paris, and eventually led to a hiatus that ended in a burst of lino-cut street art during the pandemic. In this episode, we explore the life and work of a native New Yorker who refuses to stay in one lane. We dig into his early start learning under Ruth Leaf as a teenager and honing his craft at Oberlin and in France; printmaking as protest and how the pandemic pushed David out of the...

Step into the sun-drenched world of 18th-century Venice as we explore the "theatrical splendor" that defined an era. In this episode, Ann and resident expert Tru Ludwig dive into the vibrant Venetian art scene, where the city itself served as both a stage and a muse. We set the scene by discussing the transition from the heavy Baroque style to the airy, spontaneous Rococo and the rise of the "Grand Tour." Discover why 18th-century Venice wasn't just a destination, but a living, breathing entity ...

What happens when a rare book library is also a working machine shop? This week, Ann sits down with the formidable Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, Associate Curator at the Cary Graphic Arts Collection at RIT. Amelia isn't just a keeper of history; she’s a "press fixer" who maintains a fleet of functional 19th-century printing presses. We dive into the incredible legacy of Melbert B. Cary Jr., the intersection of historical type and 3D-printing innovation, and the inspiring rise of women in the tradition...

In this episode of Platemark, Ann sits down with Betty Winkler to explore her dual career as a master of carborundum collagraphy and a dedicated art therapist. They dive into her technical innovations—such as her preference for plexiglass plates—and discuss her book, which aims to demystify this tactile, non-toxic printmaking method. Betty shares how her background in the collaborative world of the print studio seamlessly informs her work in therapy, viewing both as powerful tools for communicat...

Get ready to leave the white-cube gallery behind. In our latest episode, we’re stepping into the wild, mythic world of Dennis McNett (AKA Wolfbat). For over 30 years, Dennis has been carving out a career that defies every "standard" artistic path. Dennis doesn't just make art—he builds universes. He is a modern-day storyteller who reminds us that when you combine woodcuts with community and a bit of "Wolfbat" energy, art has the power to transform entire towns. Wolfbat Studios IG: @wolfbat Show ...

In this episode, Ann sits down with Sangmi Yoo—artist, educator, and Professor of Printmaking at Texas Tech—to discuss how she navigates the "in-between." Her work isn't just about ink on paper; it’s about how we build our identities out of architecture, memory, and the ghosts of colonial history. www.sangmiyoo.com IG: @sangmiyooliving Show me the images!!

What is the "secret sauce" that gives a print its soul? In this episode, Ann sits down with Professor Stephen Hoskins to decode the complex chemistry and 500-year history of printmaking inks. From Old Master soot to the cutting edge of 3D-printed textures, we’re diving deep into the science, sustainability, and tactile future of our craft’s most foundational element. Stephen Hoskins’s website: https://stephenhoskins.com/ University of the West of England: https://cfpr.uwe.ac.uk/ CFPR Editions: h...