Hybrid Works on Paper

Hybrid Works on Paper will feature a small number of Solarplate hybrids by Dan Welden.

Artist Statement:

The exhibition of works is a result of two trips to Lima, Peru, a city filled with more sights, sounds and smells than I am accustomed to. I was inspired with the feeling of this ‘urban landscape’ and the reflections of the chaotic, city environment. Unlike most of my landscape imagery, I incorporated echoes of the color, movement and pathways into black and white compositions on my first trip; color variations on the second visit. 

The images were initially created by combining 2 separate plates; Solarplates and masonite panels. Executed much like a collograph, I used a Peruvian concrete additive to create texture on the masonite. The Solarplates were painted on directly and exposed and processed with the ‘Incan’ sun. Although multiple impressions were pulled from the plates, they were treated more as monoprints, drawings, or paintings.
 
In my approach, I had clear intentions of breaking boundaries and printmaking taboos in my use of the plate, ink, color and gestural brush strokes. Reflective of the Lima environment, there is a purposeful allowance of my plate edges to remain natural and free, rather than maintaining the discipline of the ‘clean wipe’ finish.

Many of the same images are revisited in this series, although approached uniquely. Similar, telltale plate marks and textures are visible, however the emphasis came later in my Sag Harbor studio, when I used additional color with brush, pencils, and various pigments. They have been termed by Helen A. Harrison as “Hybrid Works” since they combine printmaking and painting.

–Dan Welden