Woodcut Professor's Papers

The professor explains the living print, the history of printmaking, and keeps the academic community informed.

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I was hungry, so despite my skepticism about that home-made, canned spaghetti sauce I was looking forward to it. She took her time, talking slowly all the while it took her to pick out a “good one” from the pantry.

Then she abruptly changed the subject. “Want to see what he gave me that day—some flowers?” I thought she meant dried flowers—it having been so many years.

“No, she said. “They’re frozen. In water. I’ll show you.”

I was trying to remember the dates that freezers were invented when she came out from the pantry again, this time with a small metal box. She opened the lid and held it out and I looked in. In a big ice cube—about six inches by four inches—was a small bunch of white blossoms.

“Cherry blossoms,” she said, “from the day of that broadcast!” and she giggled.

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She was carving on the edge of a thick pine board, an inch and an eighth thick. She used a wide gouge; it may not have been the correct tool, but she was finding several different positions that seemed to work and seemed to feel right, as she put it. She said:

"Don't tell the DISCO-OP team I'm in here. I'm supposed to be writing for ArtsPort Zine, and converting a GIF to a BMP file for that woman, Paula and get her input on color."

Then she suddenly put down the woodcut tool and hurried away, nonchalantly wig-wagging her B.O.S.S. as if it were a clutch purse for the benefit of her sister, Tetra, who eyed her from at the doorway. As Media made her exit, Tetra sang, "Hello, Media."

They passed together through the rotunda where the gallery and shop passages crossed. I heard Tetra say, inhaling the aroma of the woodcut studio. "Let me guess. Pine. That smell is pine."

"That's right. Pine," I heard Media reply and then they were gone.

Artist's Diary
The artist provides the vision
and imagery of the living print,
laboring after the compelling image.

Curator's Log
The curator is seldom seen but is
always seeing to it that the living prints'
records are correct and rules followed.

Publisher's Journal
The publisher produces the bases for
living prints by supporting all the players
and keeping communications clear and on course.

Printer's Notes
The printer performs many tasks to keep prints alive,
crafting and designing solutions to problems
the artist, curator and publisher propose.

	Artist's Diary	The artist provides the vision and imagery of the living print, laboring after the compelling image.
	Curator's Log	The curator is seldom seen but is always seeing to it that the living prints' records are correct and rules followed.
	Publisher's Journal	The publisher produces the bases for living prints by supporting all the players and keeping communications clear and on course.
	Printer's Notes	The printer performs many tasks to keep prints alive, crafting and designing solutions to problems the artist, curator and publisher propose.