Home Podcasts Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem
Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem

Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem

Ann Shafer, fine art prints evangelist, curator, and art historian 174 Episodes Aug 11, 2026

Platemark explores the world of fine art prints and printmaking, from etchings and woodcuts to lithographs and screenprints. Host Ann Shafer, a curator and art historian, explains how prints have disseminated images since the 15th century and why printmaking attracts devoted practitioners and collectors. The podcast covers the roles of artists, printers, dealers, publishers, gallerists, and scholars in the print ecosystem. Series one examines prints in museums and the market, series two offers a Western history of prints, and series three features interviews with people in the field. It aims to turn listeners into fans of this niche art world.

Episodes

s3e113 Parasol Press deep dive with curator Rachel Vogel
s3e113 Parasol Press deep dive with curator Rachel Vogel Aug 11, 2026 54:22 What happens when a visionary publisher collaborates with minimalist and conceptual giants like Chuck Close, Agnes Martin, and Dorothea Rockburne? In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Rachel Vogel, Assistant Curator at the Addison Gallery of American Art, to explore the monumental legacy of Parasol Press. Rachel shares the behind-the-scenes stories of curating the exhibition Parasol Pr
s3e112 the business and heart of Lower East Side Printshop with Executive Director Marie Tennyson
s3e112 the business and heart of Lower East Side Printshop with Executive Director Marie Tennyson Jul 28, 2026 56:04 In this episode of Platemark, host Ann Shafer sits down with Marie Tennyson, Executive Director of the Lower East Side Printshop who shares her inspiring journey from starting at Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) at age 22 to championing one of New York City's most vital artistic hubs. Discover the rich history of the Lower East Side Printshop—born during a 1968 teachers' strike—and learn how
s3e111 history, art, and social change with Jenny Schmid
s3e111 history, art, and social change with Jenny Schmid Jul 14, 2026 01:07:16 In this episode of Platemark, we sit down with exceptional artist, printmaker, animator, and educator Jenny Schmid for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of history, art, and activism. We explore how historical figures like Käthe Kollwitz and José Posada influence Jenny's contemporary practice, delve into her fascinating project "Disembodied Reembodied," and celebrate the vital r
s3e110 engraving currency and stamps with Tom Hipschen
s3e110 engraving currency and stamps with Tom Hipschen Jun 30, 2026 01:02:07 Ever wonder about the incredible artistry hiding in your wallet? In this episode, Ann sits down with Tom Hipschen, a former master engraver at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who spent nearly four decades crafting the very banknotes and postage stamps we handle every day. Tom takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary career—from his grueling decade-long apprenticeship and serving as th
s3e109 building a global print community with Reinaldo Gil Zambrano
s3e109 building a global print community with Reinaldo Gil Zambrano Jun 16, 2026 01:16:36 In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Venezuelan-born artist and educator Reinaldo Gil Zambrano. Based in Spokane, Washington, Reinaldo is a relief printmaking specialist whose work explores themes of home, heritage, and the universal human experience. As an Assistant Professor at Gonzaga University and co-founder of the Spokane Print and Publishing Center, Reinaldo discusses his commit
s3e108 casting metal type with Val Lucas
s3e108 casting metal type with Val Lucas Jun 2, 2026 01:12:31 In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Val Lucas, the artist and master printer behind Bowerbox Press. From her early shift from painting to printmaking at MICA to her current work casting custom metal type and ornaments, Val shares her journey through the tactile, meticulous world of letterpress. We dive into the technical evolution of the craft—balancing traditional handset type with m
s2e38 History of Prints The Venetians (part three) the Tiepolos
s2e38 History of Prints The Venetians (part three) the Tiepolos May 26, 2026 46:54 In s2e38, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part three of three in which we talk about father and son, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. Shift your gaze from the canals to the clouds as we explore the whimsical, light-filled world of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. A master of the Rococo, Tiepolo brought a sense o
s3e107 building an alternative art school with Nato Thompson
s3e107 building an alternative art school with Nato Thompson May 19, 2026 01:03:42 What happens when you trade a job at Kinko's for a career as one of the art world's most provocative curators? In this episode, Ann sits down with the legendary Nato Thompson to explore how he navigates the complex intersections of community, culture, and the "art ecosystem." They dive into his latest mission—The Alternative Art School—where he is dismantling the myth of the solitary genius and b
s2e37 History of Prints The Venetians (part two) Canaletto
s2e37 History of Prints The Venetians (part two) Canaletto May 12, 2026 39:53 In s2e37, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part two of three in which we talk about Canaletto. While often remembered as a topographical painter of postcards, Canaletto was, in fact, a master of curated reality. In this segment, they examine how Canaletto transformed the ordinary streets and canals of Venice into grand, cinematic
s3e106 wheatpasting and engraving with David Barthold
s3e106 wheatpasting and engraving with David Barthold May 5, 2026 01:06:48 David Barthold's journey as a printmaker began at age 13, took him through the legendary studio of Atelier 17 in Paris, and eventually led to a hiatus that ended in a burst of lino-cut street art during the pandemic. In this episode, we explore the life and work of a native New Yorker who refuses to stay in one lane. We dig into his early start learning under Ruth Leaf as a teenager and honing h
s2e36 History of Prints The Venetians (part one) Preamble
s2e36 History of Prints The Venetians (part one) Preamble Apr 28, 2026 49:22 Step into the sun-drenched world of 18th-century Venice as we explore the "theatrical splendor" that defined an era. In this episode, Ann and resident expert Tru Ludwig dive into the vibrant Venetian art scene, where the city itself served as both a stage and a muse. We set the scene by discussing the transition from the heavy Baroque style to the airy, spontaneous Rococo and the rise of the "Gra
S3e105 rare books meet heavy machinery with Amelia Hugill-Fontanel
S3e105 rare books meet heavy machinery with Amelia Hugill-Fontanel Apr 21, 2026 01:05:20 What happens when a rare book library is also a working machine shop? This week, Ann sits down with the formidable Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, Associate Curator at the Cary Graphic Arts Collection at RIT. Amelia isn't just a keeper of history; she's a "press fixer" who maintains a fleet of functional 19th-century printing presses. We dive into the incredible legacy of Melbert B. Cary Jr., the interse

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