James Siena: Resonance Under Pressure and New Typographics: Typewriter Art as Print

April 19 — July 27, 2019

The Print Center is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new prints by James Siena and a related thematic exhibition of typewriter prints by Lenka Clayton, Dom Sylvester Houédard, Gustave Morin, Elena del Rivero and Allyson Strafella as well as James Siena.

Announcement Card

Gallery Notes

PRESS

'New Typographics: Typewriter Art as Print,' ETCetera, Shanyn Fiske, Summer 2019 pdf

'Can't Miss Art Stars,' Where Traveler Philadelphia, July 2019 pdf

'The quick brown fox becomes an artist,' Broad Street Review, Pamela J. Forsythe, June 4, 2019 pdf

'Pressure and resonance at the Print Center with James Siena and artists who type,' Artblog, Natalie Sandstrom, May 22, 2019 pdf

"Typewriter as muse," The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com, Edith Newhall, May 12, 2019 pdf

<i>Parentheses, Tesselating</i>, 2018, Lithograph, 10” x 8 ¼”; Courtesy of the Artist and The University of the Arts, MFA Book Arts + Printmaking, Philadelphia.

James Siena printmaking exhibition — Installation view, Photo: Jaime Alvarez

<i>Displaced Non-Map Fragment</i>, 2018, Etching and relief, 25” x 44”; Courtesy of the Artist and The University of the Arts, MFA
Book Arts + Printmaking, Philadelphia. — *Displaced Non-Map Fragment*, 2018, Etching and relief, 25” x 44”; Courtesy of the Artist and The University of the Arts, MFA Book Arts + Printmaking, Philadelphia.

<i>is it I? It is I!</i>, 2018, Letterpress on handmade paper with
typewriter letter inclusions, 16 ¾” x 12 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Dolphin Press & Print, Baltimore. — *is it I? It is I!*, 2018, Letterpress on handmade paper with typewriter letter inclusions, 16 ¾” x 12 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Dolphin Press & Print, Baltimore.

<i>Reverbatron I</i>, 2018, Lithograph, 40” x 30”; Courtesy of the Artist and Flying Horse Editions, Orlando. — *Reverbatron I*, 2018, Lithograph, 40” x 30”; Courtesy of the Artist and Flying Horse Editions, Orlando.

<i>Reverbatron II</i>, 2018, Lithograph, 40” x 30”; Courtesy of the Artist and Flying Horse Editions, Orlando. — *Reverbatron II*, 2018, Lithograph, 40” x 30”; Courtesy of the Artist and Flying Horse Editions, Orlando.

<i>Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor</i>, 2018, [In Rome quickly with
its bustle you will find love], Letterpress, 35” x 23”; Courtesy of the Artist and Dolphin Press & Print, Baltimore. — *Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor*, 2018, [In Rome quickly with its bustle you will find love], Letterpress, 35” x 23”; Courtesy of the Artist and Dolphin Press & Print, Baltimore.

<i>Seven Radiating Lobes, Wandering</i>, 2018, Etching and relief, 15” x 11 ¾”; Courtesy of the Artist and The University of the Arts, MFA Book Arts + Printmaking. — *Seven Radiating Lobes, Wandering*, 2018, Etching and relief, 15” x 11 ¾”; Courtesy of the Artist and The University of the Arts, MFA Book Arts + Printmaking.

Click to view exhibition images.

James Siena: Resonance Under Pressure

New prints from Flying Horse Editions; Dolphin Press & Print, Maryland Institute College of Art; and The University of the Arts

James Siena: Resonance Under Pressure features ten prints produced in 2017 and 2018 by the artist, who is well-known for his brightly colored paintings of boldly rendered, labyrinthine forms. In these new works, Siena continues his exploration of the potential of modulation and repetition of biomorphic forms, as well as his engagement with typewritten and letterpress text as image. Siena made the works during artist-residencies at Flying Horse Editions at the University of Central Florida, Orlando; Dolphin Press & Print at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore; and the MFA Book Arts + Printmaking Program at The University of the Arts, Philadelphia.

"[The prints made at Flying Horse Editions] are also somehow about the physical representation of sound, in which circuits resonate from one to the other, and iterative waves cross the image . . . . This project is deeply fruitful for my practice in which printmaking holds an equal place with painting or drawing, and methods generate new approaches to developing a body of work that doesn’t privilege one mode over another."

- James Siena

Lenka Clayton, <i>Early Annie Albers 07/04/2017</i>, 2017, from the series “Typewriter Drawings”, 2012 – present, Typewriter ink on typewriter paper (rendered with a portable 1957 Smith Corona Skyriter),
11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco.

Typewriter art printmaking exhibition — Installation view (Allyson Strafella), Photo: Jaime Alvarez

Lenka Clayton, <i>The Edge of the Forest</i>, 2016, from the series “Typewriter
Drawings”, 2012 – present, Typewriter ink on typewriter paper (rendered with a
portable 1957 Smith Corona Skyriter), 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco. — Lenka Clayton, *The Edge of the Forest*, 2016, from the series “Typewriter Drawings”, 2012 – present, Typewriter ink on typewriter paper (rendered with a portable 1957 Smith Corona Skyriter), 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco.

Elena del Rivero, <i>Censored</i>, 2011, from the series “Mended Flying Letters”, 2010
– 2011, Typewriter print with silk thread and graphite on handmade abaca paper,
29” x 21 ¼”; Courtesy of the Artist. — Elena del Rivero, *Censored*, 2011, from the series “Mended Flying Letters”, 2010 – 2011, Typewriter print with silk thread and graphite on handmade abaca paper, 29” x 21 ¼”; Courtesy of the Artist.

Elena del Rivero, <i>Stitched, 1</i>, 2011, from the series “Mended Flying Letters”, 2010 –
2011, Typewriter print with silk thread and graphite on handmade abaca paper, 30” x
22”; Courtesy of the Artist. — Elena del Rivero, *Stitched, 1*, 2011, from the series “Mended Flying Letters”, 2010 – 2011, Typewriter print with silk thread and graphite on handmade abaca paper, 30” x 22”; Courtesy of the Artist.

Dom Sylvester Houédard, <i>typikon poemportrait of franciszka themerson praying
nonsemantically</i>, 1963, Typed page, carbon copy, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery. — Dom Sylvester Houédard, *typikon poemportrait of franciszka themerson praying nonsemantically*, 1963, Typed page, carbon copy, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery.

Dom Sylvester Houédard, <i>mariage</i>, 1965, Typed page, carbon copy, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery. — Dom Sylvester Houédard, *mariage*, 1965, Typed page, carbon copy, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery.

Dom Sylvester Houédard, <i>Untitled</i>, 1964, Typed page, carbon copy, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery. — Dom Sylvester Houédard, *Untitled*, 1964, Typed page, carbon copy, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery.

Dom Sylvester Houédard, <i>chakra angels going up & down zikkurad</i>, 1967, Typed
page, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery. — Dom Sylvester Houédard, *chakra angels going up & down zikkurad*, 1967, Typed page, 16 ⅜” x 12 ¾”; © Dom Sylvester Houédard, Courtesy Lisson Gallery.

Gustave Morin, <i>crime as ornament</i>, 2015, Typewriter print, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual
Poetry, Miami. — Gustave Morin, *crime as ornament*, 2015, Typewriter print, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry, Miami.

Gustave Morin, <i>Abyss for Dessert</i>, 2015, Typewriter print, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual
Poetry, Miami. — Gustave Morin, *Abyss for Dessert*, 2015, Typewriter print, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry, Miami.

James Siena, <i>Untitled-Capitals-Red (Rome, to you love will come, with sudden
passion)</i>, 2013, Ink on paper, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Pace Gallery, New York. Photo: Tom Barratt. — James Siena, *Untitled-Capitals-Red (Rome, to you love will come, with sudden passion)*, 2013, Ink on paper, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Pace Gallery, New York. Photo: Tom Barratt.

James Siena, <i>Untitled (Flat Helix)</i>, 2013, Ink on paper, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Pace Gallery, New York. Photo: Kerry Ryan McFate. — James Siena, *Untitled (Flat Helix)*, 2013, Ink on paper, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Pace Gallery, New York. Photo: Kerry Ryan McFate.

James Siena, <i>Untitled (God Lived as a Devil Dog)</i>, 2013, Ink on paper, 11” x 8
½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Pace Gallery, New York. Photo: Kerry Ryan McFate. — James Siena, *Untitled (God Lived as a Devil Dog)*, 2013, Ink on paper, 11” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Pace Gallery, New York. Photo: Kerry Ryan McFate.

Allyson Strafella, <i>shard</i>, 2018, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper,
11” x 9 ¼”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia. — Allyson Strafella, *shard*, 2018, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper, 11” x 9 ¼”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia.

Allyson Strafella, <i>course</i>, 2017, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper,
14 ¼” x 10 ¼”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia. — Allyson Strafella, *course*, 2017, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper, 14 ¼” x 10 ¼”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia.

Allyson Strafella, <i>blue wave</i>, 2015, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca
paper, 9” x 6 ⅛”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia. — Allyson Strafella, *blue wave*, 2015, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper, 9” x 6 ⅛”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia.

Allyson Strafella, <i>standpoint</i>, 2018, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca
paper, 11” x 16 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia. — Allyson Strafella, *standpoint*, 2018, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper, 11” x 16 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia.

Allyson Strafella, <i>contact</i>, 2015, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper,
11 ½” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia. — Allyson Strafella, *contact*, 2015, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper, 11 ½” x 8 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia.

Allyson Strafella, <i>dwelling</i>, 2013, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper,
9 ⅜” x 11 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia. — Allyson Strafella, *dwelling*, 2013, Typewriter print on pigmented abaca paper, 9 ⅜” x 11 ½”; Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery Joe, Philadelphia.

Click to view exhibition images.

New Typographics: Typewriter Art as Print

Lenka Clayton, Dom Sylvester Houédard, Gustave Morin, Elena del Rivero, James Siena and Allyson Strafella

New Typographics: Typewriter Art as Print features work by artists who use the typewriter as a matrix for forming text into image. Typically referred to as typewriter “art” or typewriter “drawings,” this exhibition posits that artworks created with a typewriter should be recognized as prints, in light of the mechanism and process of their production.

"I use the typewriter against itself. It was built to draft first chapters of novels and resignation letters; I use it to draw my son’s eyelashes and knitted socks . . . . I really enjoy that this process allows me to focus on those very simple forms and moments that are, perhaps, usually overlooked."

- Lenka Clayton

PAST EXHIBITION RELATED PROGRAMMING + EVENTS

All of The Print Center's Exhibitions and Programs are free and open to the public.

Create Your Own Typewriter Print
Ongoing during the exhibition

The Print Center will host a “Public Typewriter” as part of Philly Typewriter’s “Philadelphia Public Typewriter Program”. Philly Typewriter is a retail typewriter store located in Philadelphia that also repairs typewriters and hosts classes and events. A temporary loan of a manual typewriter prepared for use by typewriter restoration classes at Philly Typewriter will allow visitors to the exhibition New Typographics: Typewriter Art as Print to make their own typewriter prints.

Gallery Talk with James Siena and Ksenia Nouril, Jensen Bryan Curator + Opening Reception
Thursday, April 18; 5:30 Talk; 6:00 - 7:30pm Reception

James Siena lead a walkthrough of Resonance Under Pressure before the opening reception.

The Printer’s Perspective: Gail Deery and Alex Kirillov on James Siena
Wednesday, April 24, 6:00pm

Gail Deery, Professor of Printmaking, Papermaking and Book Arts and Co-Director of Dolphin Press & Print at MICA, and Alex Kirillov, Senior Lecturer, MFA Book Arts + Printmaking and Studio Art at The University of the Arts, both worked with Siena when he printed at their respective institutions. Deery and Kirillov gave a tour of the exhibition James Siena: Resonance Under Pressure from the printer’s perspective, walking through the various processes used by Siena and their students during his artist-residencies in 2018.

Curator’s Talk
Thursday, May 2, 6:00pm

Ksenia Nouril will give a talk on the history of typewriter prints, highlighting key moments and artists that were influential to the thinking around the exhibition New Typographics: Typewriter Art as Print.

Press Release

Press Images