April,
Great photos from SGC! Between your and Annie's coverage, I almost feel like I was there. I definitely will be there next year! It was great to see the Cannonball Press stuff. I am big fan of that group.
Dan Allegrucci
http://www.danielallegrucci.com
April, really nice photos! It sounds as though it was a great
conference. I'm sorry I missed it.
Shireen
************************************************
Shireen Holman, Printmaker and Book Artist
email: shireen#shireenholman.com
http://www.shireenholman.com
Hello Barener,
I have been showing my prints in outdoor art festivals for years now using
an E-Z up tent. It has served me well since I only do about 8 shows during
the summer, but I'm tired of worrying about the weather and if my little
canopy (and my artwork) will survive. I've been looking into the
Light-Dome and Finale Canopy. My concern is if this is a canopy that I
could put up by myself if I had to. I'm hoping that those of you that have
a nicer canopy could give me some input. Thanks!
Lori Biwer-Stewart
lbstewart#artspan.com
The British Museum in London is showing a very well reviewed exhibition of American printmaking. Called 'The American Scene: Prints from Hopper to Pollock it runs until September 7.
www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/future_exhibitions/the_american_scene.aspx - 27k The website shows some examples. Amazingly the show is all from the BM's own collection.
Dear bareners,
as you are discussing solarplates I would like to ask the ones who are working with them if they know how toxic they are. I could not get clear information from the manufacturer toyobo. Many people call them non-toxic in comparison with working with acid but as I am informed all these photo-emulsions contain very harmful things, and I think that the idea of the solarplates is that they are developed in machines when used industrial, but not with your nose over a tray as most artist do, inhaling the fumes which I think smell really bad.
Thank you in advance, and kind regards--
Eva
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Eva Pietzcker
www.pietzcker.de
www.druckstelle.info
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Thanks, Jennifer! I've booked a 'clients can get stuffed' day for next week in
order to pop down to London and take a look :-)
It's not too surprising that the BM has a large American Print holding -- the
major print-happy museums over here collaborate so that each hold collections
mainly from a region or two. Saves 'em competing for the same acquisitions,
and makes it easier for exhibitions, research, etc. The Ashmolean in Oxford
concentrates on German and far Eastern, some of the others specialise in
French, Italian, and so on. Not a bad system so long as the exhibitions go on
tour to other areas.
Cheers,
David
Solarplate is just one brand of photopolymer plate. Photopolymer plates are made by putting a photopolymer emulsion onto a backing plate, usually of thin metal. The photopolymer material is similar to the emulsuons used for photopolymer screen printing. The toxicity depends a great deal on the chemical composition of the photopolymer material. I was unable to track down quickly an MSDS sheet specifically on solarplate. But here are some MSDS sheets on various types of photopolymer emulsions:
http://www.takachpress.com/MSDS/SmartPlateEtch392.pdf
http://www.ulano.com/MSDS/US/USPROCLAIMFAM.pdf
http://www.ulano.com/MSDS/US/QX-1.msds.pdf
It does not appear that the stuff is dangerously toxic. It can harm you if you get it in your eyes or have prolonged exposure to skin. Individual sensitivities vary, and some may experience eye or respiratory irritation from the fumes.
If anyone knows of an MSDS sheet specifically on solarplate, it would be useful to post it.
Cheers ..... Charles
Here is a link to the MSDS sheet for the Solarplates that we sell at Dick Blick.
http://www.dick-blick.com/msds/DBH_46917XXXX.pdf
If that doesn't work you can go to the product page, scroll down the page and look for this icon
([cid:image001.gif@01C89BCA.5E087210])
http://www.dickblick.com/zz469/17/
These plates are listed as non-hazardous.
In my experience there isn't much in the way of fumes, but if you are going
to be working in a small space you should make sure it is ventilated. ÊI wear
gloves when I work with the Solarplates because I have sensitive skin.
Eva,
Solarplates wash out with ordinary tap water..there
are no fumes at all as far as I can tell. I use a tub
with several inches of water in it and submerge the
plate, using a soft brush to scrub out the image. I
toss the water into the rocks outside my studio but
many put it down the sink with no problems at all. ( I
do not have running water so that is a problem for me)
I do not put my hands in the water as like you, I
don't know exactly what is in the emulsion. However,
if one wears gloves I think it is very safe. I caution
my students to do the same...you never know.
I think it is the safest of processes next to
water-based Japanese woodblock.
My best to all
Barbara
dear Barbara,
just right now I bought some pieces of Solars, just cant imagine how can the water do the copper deeper for prinring ??:-))
or it due only in emulsion or under them, not into copperplate? guess...how
Peter Kocák
www.pulib.sk/kocak
www.flickr.com/photos/pietrocelli
www.flickr.com/photos/marukiboshi
www.youtube.com/videos/pietrocelli123