Review - Fresh Prints

In Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood when he makes his final approach to an injured criminal the line goes: ‘You've got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?’.

Well, as Central institute of Technology gasps it’s name for the last time in a “foot in the door” Advanced Diploma course set to disappear forever; you would think I would have to be.

….not so sure?

My renewed artist push that started with a Digital Imaging Photoshop course at E Central in 2009 and in 2011 drawing a 5 page finally to my long neglected Earwigo comic before I commenced my Visual Arts studies (which is itself is a renewed effort).

….going where with this?

I think I must be lucky. At the moment there are some good exhibitions that show me the standard of what is happening today. I was inspired by comic artists Gilbert Shelton and R. Crumb, Heavy Metal magazine, 2000AD Comics and Oink in my post high school years when I was also learning some early art techniques here at Central. Today we have the “Tragic Comics” exhibition at AGWA with more than 150 examples of the most moving and compelling comic work.

...good not to live in the past ;-)

Not much chance of forgetting the past when taken on a voyage through the British Museum’s collections to explore the last two million years of human history.A History Of The World In 100 Objects at Western Australian Museum features Katsushika Hokusai’s: Illustrated 'manga' (14 book set). The word "manga" comes from a Japanese word meaning "whimsical or impromptu pictures". These published sketchbooks were some of the first to be known by this term (1814–1834).

…

One attraction of comics / manga for an emerging artist is that they can be easily be published with a photocopier in the form of a “’Zine”. So, I knew I was lucky when I heard about the “Fresh Prints” market fair for ‘Zines, independent publishing, small press, artist books, comics and printed works while listening the radio. Also I have got to the subject of this essay in the first page of this essay I think.

…(whew)

“Fresh Prints”

Over 40 market stalls was what I found at Northbridge Piazza when I visited this event on the 16^th April; which started at 12 noon. This is the second year this event has run.

Luckily the weather was good because all that paper would not have gone well with rain. The occasional gust of wind kept stallholders on their toes. The space was further redefined for the event with documentaries showing on the large permanent video screen. To sit down and watch; Made You Look (2015) an Australian premiere documentary about the UK DIY graphic arts scene of the 21st century at 1:30pm I think organisers planned visitors would have arrived on time and visited the stalls. Not a bad plan, but I did not myself and never really gave much thought to what was showing. The park space is a little cramped but mostly Northbridge has an inerrant chaos that means you can only focus on the screen if that is the only thing going on or is the centre of attention. Guess I was a bit unlucky there.

My main focus was taking in the stalls and having a chat with artists who are making good in the industry. I took many professionally printed business cards with graphics that helped put faces to the art on display. It was not surprising to find many of the exhibitors were emerging artists, especially in graphics field. There were a few associations I could join such as the Print Council of WA. The Centre for Stories and Barefaced Stories joined forces for a live storytelling event, we asked our storytellers to share what their grandparents told them. But like most youngsters, I had my own things to do and missed that too. Should have done a bit more research on what the program was I guess, but it generally wasn’t clear what was the unifying theme of the event, let alone which stall had the program.

It was good to chat with the various artists and I felt I had much in common with many of them. Some had folio with work of high standard, but most was sub-professional, which is in keeping with Zine theme. One stall; Sticky Institute had some high quality comics in a not for sale form, other Zines for sale and even some work ( a selection of A5 Zines called You) for free. Many hours of reading here if I get the time. On the day I had no spare cash so I could not support these artists to the degree I would have liked.

I did not read much of the work obviously, so it is hard to review this event with great depth. Culturally the work was modern and hip. Where AGWA has presented comics in an easy to read format with original artwork, this event had more in common with the Supanova annual exhibition. Perhaps its existence is owed to the fact not many locals get exposure at the Supanova event (that boasts many celebrities in a variety of pop culture fields). Some of the exhibited works at Fresh Prints seem to be of quality and style that might get further exposure at Supanova in future years if a more commercial publication is achieved. Some stalls had gifts and products that could have outlets at other venues.

Fresh Prints had a Comics Workshop with Campbell Whyte in the Community Room that I missed. Would seem a shame to spend 4 hours there and miss the other activities though. From this site it seems his work has much in common with that on display in AGWA;

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/kids-comics-workshop-with-campbell-whyte-registration-24340083846

Running every hour from 12:30pm was a Pop-art collage activity for kids.

Mostly I found out I was lucky when I got a phone call that I had won a competition I had entered for an print of my choice from Danielles Darkroom taken by Danielle Briggs. I picked it up today. Looks Great!

http://www.daniellesdarkroom.com.au/

Essay –Michael Rule