Six Artists for an Innovative Project

Six international artists have been brought together in the Spike Print Studio, the largest open-access print studio in the southwest of England, to produce a unique set of limited-edition prints.

Based at the Spike Island Contemporary Visual Arts Centre in Bristol, the print studio has commissioned the artists to create new work using a number of different fine-art printing processes.

The result is The Spike Editioning Project, set to launch on December 7, 2007. The project was made possible through a grant from the Arnolfini Collections Trust, initiated by Arnolfini founder, Jeremy Rees.

Artist: Ged Quinn, Title: I like America and America likes me
Medium: Polymer photogravure etching, Size: 70cm x 65 cm
Edition: 30, Price: £ 1,400

The featured artists are John Wood and Paul Harrison, James Ireland, Mariele Neudecker, Andrew Mania, Daphne Wright and Ged Quinn.

The underlying theme is that the artists all have a strong association with Bristol but are also of international stature. Bristol is rapidly becoming a centre for contemporary art with many artists based in the city and in the region.

Comments from the Director

Spike Print Studio director Gill Nicol said: "We decided to eliminate the need for a brief and instead gave the artists the freedom to explore print as they liked, as well as providing them with the opportunity to work with our master printmaker, Martyn Grimmer.

"This collaborative relationship between artist and printer is a traditional one. Contemporary artists through the last century - Picasso, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella - have all worked with master printers who enable their visions to be achieved."

"Technical accomplishments in printmaking during the last half of the 20th century have made it possible for many contemporary artists to produce prints of exceptional quality."

"Our principal idea is to promote excellence and creative learning side by side, and we are really looking forward to seeing the reaction to the launch in December."

Long-Term Project
The Spike Editioning Project is the first stage in a long-term process for Spike Print Studio that foresees them becoming publishers of innovative, high quality contemporary prints.

This was recently supported through a two-year grant funded by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, provided last year, when the studio turned 30, to fund Nicol's new post of studio director, which is the first ever in its history.

Lucy Byatt, artistic director of Spike Island, said: "I am delighted to see the new ambition and aspiration of Spike Print Studio. The partnership with Arnolfini and Bristol Museum is a unique arrangement. It is fantastic that works produced here at Spike Island, in the print studio, with such high profile artists, who live and work in Bristol, will be seen in the museum's collection. This is the start of a new future for the print studio. It is impressive that they can manage this new development whilst also remaining committed to their existing and fast growing membership. We are proud not only to support the studio with the editions project but also in its ongoing efforts to bring printmaking excellence to the community in general."

Order Prints Here

The prints can be sold individually or as a set of six. They are all different sizes and with different size editions and are all made at Spike Print Studio. Prices for the prints will range from £350 to £2000.

Spike Print Editions
at Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol, BS1 6UX
Open to the public: Sat 8 and Sun 9, Sat 15 and Sun 16th Dec, 12 noon til 5pm
Then throughout December by appointment until 21st December - please ring
+44 117 9290135

A Backward Glance - a Peter Reddick retrospective at Spike Print Studio (first floor of Spike Island)
Open to the public: Sat 8 to 21 December (including weekends), 12 -5pm, then from
7 January to 29 February 2008, 12-5pm (not including weekends)

For more information:

Gill Nicol, Director
Spike Print Studio
gill@spikeprintstudio.org
+44 117 929 0135