During his week at MATRIX Press in November 2013 Sean produced a beautiful four block color woodcut entitled "BASH" (edition of 44)
Sean’s work offers the viewer a broad view of contemporary satire. His numerous woodcuts, cut in a rough, expressive style, reflect on everything from traditional images of Americana, to kitsch, southern culture and our
own humanness.
This event is sponsored by the Jim and Jane Dew Visiting Artist Program, with additional funding provided by MATRIX Press and The Montana Museum of Art & Culture.
"BASH" 26"x36", 4 block color woodcut (edition of 44)
Beth Huhtala, Jason Clark and Tressa Jones punching paper for registration.
The Man at work.
Talking with printmaking class.
Sean cutting key block.
Sean with finished key block.
Key block inked up.
James Bailey rolling up the magenta block.
Printing magenta block.
Jason and Beth proofing cyan block.
Magenta and cyan blocks printed together.
Tressa and Beth printing yellow block.
Magenta, cyan and yellow blocks printed.
Eva, Jason and Beth printing yellow block.
Individual block proofs.
The Rack.
Printing the key image. (First finished print off the press)
Sean with first print.
Eva, Jim, Sean, Jason, Beth & Tressa.
Eva and Beth printing final key.
A thing of beauty to behold.
I would also like to thank the great print assistants we had on this project for without their dedication and long hours this project would not have been possible. - James Bailey, Professor & Director of MATRIX Press.
Jason Clark, Tressa Jones, Beth Huhtula & Eva Stone
Artist Statement
You know what? I love making woodcuts! The explosive energy I put into carving a woodcut suits my energy charged, caffeine induced, aggressive approach to image making. Charles Bukowski, Ms Pacman, Phillip Guston, and Neil Blender are my main influences. Last night I finished a new woodcut. In the morning I’ll get started on a new one. On Christmas Eve, after the kids are in bed I’ll be cutting a block, I really do love it. I don’t spend a lot of time deliberating over what to draw next. I drink a lot of Mountain Dew, so I include Mountain Dew bottles in my artwork. I like ice cream cones, hot dogs, snakes, guns, alligators, goats, and girls, so that’s what I draw. My primary concern is to create a strong visual infused with a sense of satirical humor. In other words, I like to tell funny stories using funny pictures.
-Sean Star Wars
Education
2008 Certificate in Graphic Design. Savannah College of Art and Design. Savannah, GA.
1999 M.F.A. Printmaking. Louisiana State University (LSU). Baton Rouge, LA.
1996 B.F.A. Printmaking. Old Dominion University (ODU). Norfolk, VA.
Permanent Collections
New York Public Library System
HF Johnson Art Museum
Amity Art Foundation
Philadelphia Print Center
Northern Illinois University Art Museum
University of Mississippi
New Orleans Museum of Art
Iowa State University
Parsons’ School of Design
Pratt Institute
Spencer Museum
Kennedy Museum
University of Kansas
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Ohio University
Louisiana State University
Old Dominion University
West Virginia University
Georgetown University
