Printmaking Demonstrations
Visit with John Volk and other artists in Hannaher’s, Inc. Print Studio; Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 12 – 4 pm as well as additional Museum hours.
About the Artist
Born in Minneapolis, Minn. in 1961 and raised in North Dakota, John came to art by chance. While studying physics at Minnesota State University Moorhead, John took a drawing course that changed his perspective and life forever. Committed to a career in art, John earned an undergraduate degree in printmaking from MSUM, and a graduate degree in painting and drawing from the esteemed New York Academy of Art. After living as a working artist in New York City for ten years, John recently returned to Fargo, where he is working, teaching, drawing, painting and printmaking. jvolk.com
About the Print Studio
In the fall of 2007 the Hannaher’s, Inc. Print Studio was re-opened to the public on a limited basis through a collaboration of the Plains Art Museum and The Art Department at Minnesota State University Moorhead. In the fall of 2008 the studio will once again be open to the public on a full time basis when advanced printmaking students from MSUM begin their studies full time in the Hannaher’s Studio surrounded by the rich collection of fine prints available at the Plains Art Museum. The students will be developing and printing their own work as well as discussing their work and printing processes with museum visitors. It is advantageous for students to learn how to discuss their work with the public as many of them go on to continue their studies in graduate school or to enter the art field where they need the skills to talk about their work. They will also be learning how to develop and maintain a studio. This interaction between the students and museum visitors will demystify some of the printmaking processes and generate interest in the production of fine, original prints in the public.
In 1997 the Hannaher’s, Inc. Printmaking Studio at the Plains Art Museum was conceived as a unique blending of old and new. A place to preserve, exhibit, collect and create art and art making techniques. The studio is intended to inspire people by acknowledging the rich history of printmaking while exploring it’s future.
In 1998 funding for the print studio was secured through a variety of donors including the Hannaher’s family of Fargo, ND, Burlington Northern, The Stern Foundation and the Jerome Foundation. The studio was constructed during the phased development of the Plains Art Museum as a professional studio to be staffed by a trained technician who would produce fine, original prints and oversee the maintenance of equipment.
In 1999 the first studio technician was hired to oversee operations at the Print Studio. Over time, a professional residency program was developed where a master printer would come to work at the Print Studio as a visiting artist in residence. These visiting artists would create a series of fine prints to add to the Plains Art Museums already growing print collection as well as demonstrate printing techniques through a series of lectures, classes and seminars. In 2005 the Print Studio was closed due to the high cost of the program.
