s3e19 Maryanne Ellison Simmons

In s3e19, host Ann Shafer talks with Maryanne Ellison Simmons, printer and owner of Wildwood Press in St. Louis, MO. She and her husband, baseball hall-of-famer Ted Simmons, also collect contemporary art. A large portion of the collection is now at the Saint Louis Art Museum where it was celebrated in an exhibition in 2022. Listeners may remember that Ann and Tru Ludwig traveled to St. Louis to see this exhibition and interview curator Elizabeth Wyckoff (s3e7), artist Tom Huck (s3e4 and s3e13), and Ted and Maryanne. Sadly, the audio file from the conversation with the Simmonses was corrupt, so Ann circled back and interviewed Maryanne without Ted (sorry, Ted). But it gave them an opportunity to talk about not only the collection and the exhibition, but also Wildwood Press.

Episode image: Brian Cummings.

Artist Juan Sanchez working on plates for Rosa at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Juan Sanchez (American, born 1954). Saint Martin, 2022. Collagraph, batik fabric, collage, digital print, wood, and cowrie shells with hand coloring. Sheet: 48 x 48 in. Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Artist Juan Sanchez working on plates for Madre Salva at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Michael Berkhemer (Dutch, born 1948). Printed and published by Wildwood Press, St. Louis. Four prints from the series St. Louis, 2011. Collagraph and relief. Each: 85 x 60 inches.

Artist Michael Berkhemer working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis, 2007.

Artist Michael Berkhemer working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis, 2011.

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Valerie Hammond (American, born 1952). Printed and published by Wildwood Press, St. Louis. Séance, 2011. Photolithograph and relief on handmade paper. 72 x 48 inches.

Yizhak Elyashiv (American, born Israel, born 1964). Printed and published by Wildwood Press, St. Louis. Untitled (Orange Series #7), 2001. Collagraph. 66 x 58 ½ inches.

Artist Yizhak Elyashiv working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

https://lefortrestorations.com/contact.htm

Annette Lemieux (American, born 1957). Printed and published by the Washington University School of Art Collaborative Print Workshop, St. Louis. Left Right Left Right, 1995. 30 photolithographs mounted to board. 108 x 184 x 18 inches. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University, St. Louis.

Kiki Smith (American, born 1954). Published by Artes Magnus. Finger Bowl, 1995. Sterling silver. 16 ½ x 16 x 16 inches. Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis. 

Donald Judd (American, 1928–1994). Untitled, 1992. Set of four woodcuts. Each image: 25 x 37 ¾ inches. Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

Peter Hujar (1934–1987) Candy Darling on Her Deathbead, 1973. Gelatin silver print. Image: 14 5/8 × 14 5/8 in. (37.1 × 37.1 cm.); sheet: 19 7/8 in. × 16 in. (50.5 × 40.6 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

Paul Thek (American, 1933–1988). Potlatch, 1975. Ink and gesso on newspaper. 23 × 29 in. (58.4 × 73.7 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

David Wojnarowicz (American, 1954–1992). Untitled (Face in Dirt), 1991. Gelatin silver print. Image: 19 in. × 19 3/4 in. (48.3 × 50.2 cm.); sheet: 19 7/8 in. × 24 in. (50.5 × 61 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

Enrique Chagoya (American, born Mexico, 1953). Printed And published by Smith Andersen Editions, Palo Alto. Liberty, 2006. Monotype. 34 5/8 × 47 7/8 in. (87.9 × 121.6 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

Enrique Chagoya (American, born Mexico, 1953). Printed and published by Shark’s Ink, Lyons, CO. Escape from Fantasylandia: An Illegal Alien’s Survival Guide, 2011. Lithograph with gold metallic powder on amate paper. Sheet (folded): 9 1/2 × 4 15/16 × 1/2 in. (24.1 × 12.6 × 1.3 cm.); sheet (unfolded): 9 1/2 in. × 80 in. (24.1 × 203.2 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

Bruce Nauman (American, born 1941). Printed and published by Gemini G.E.L. Los Angeles. Pay Attention, 1973. Lithograph. Image: 37 3/8 × 27 11/16 in. (94.9 × 70.3 cm.); sheet: 38 3/8 × 28 5/16 in. (97.5 × 71.9 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

Tom Huck (American, born 1971). Chili Dogs, Chicks, and Monster Trucks, from the portfolio 2 Weeks in August: 14 Rural Absurdities, 1997, printed 2000. Woodcut. 33 7/8 x 29 1/4 in. (86 x 74.3 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.

Artist Jane Hammonds’ snake patterns at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Damon Davis (American, born 1985) signing All Hands on Deck #5, 2015. Photolithograph and graphite (from a set of 7). Sheet: 32 x 51 in. Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Artist Jerald Ieans working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Artist Josely Carvalho working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis, 2006.

Artist Linda Schwarz working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis, 2004.

Artist Linda Schwarz working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis, 2007.

Artist Mary Judge working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Artist Michele Oka Doner working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis, 2007.

Artist Xiaoze Xie working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

Artist Valerie Hammond working at Wildwood Press, St. Louis.

https://www.wildwoodpress.us/

Platemark is produced by Ann Shafer
Theme music: Michael Diamond
Audio mixing: Dan Fury, Extension Audio
PR and Marketing: Elizabeth Berger, EYB Creates