SJICA Monotype Marathon
The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art held the Monotype Marathon over the weekend. This intensive printmaking event is a successful annual fundraiser for the ICA.
Artists are encouraged to invite a sponsor to underwrite their participation in the event and are able to print at selected studios within the Bay Area. Sponsors donate $300 to the ICA and in return are given the opportunity to use their donation as an opening bid for prints during the silent auction held after the exhibition. This years exhibition runs July 1-19 and the silent auction takes place on the last Saturday of the exhibit.
The Marathon is a collaborative effort between the ICA and several facets that make up the arts community in the Bay Area.
At the heart is the artist and patron who’s talent and support are necessary for the prints to come to life. Artists come from a variety of backgrounds, and it’s not uncommon for them to have a limited printmaking background.
Several professional printmaking studios host the event, including Studio 1801 at Foothill College, where I do my traditional printmaking. These studios staff the event with volunteer Master Printmakers that assist the artist in all aspects of the printmaking process. I volunteered my time again this year as Master Printer, and the experience has been nothing short of rewarding.
The art business community comes together to donates supplies and services (including my professional framer Jay Bontrager of Bontrager Framing Services), and the community comes out to support SJICA in their bids for prints during the silent auction.
The whole event is a wonderful example of the Bay Area art community coming together in collaboration. For me, it’s an awesome opportunity to serve my fellow artists and my printmaking community in general. I’m honored to have the opportunity to volunteer.
How do you serve your arts community? Leave your comments here.
Tags: Community, ICA, Printmaking, Volunteering