Bryant Lake Bowl, polymer photgravure
I arrived at Highpoint as a photographer rather than a printmaker. Fortunately, everyone has been OK with that.
In 2012, I retired after 30 years in investor relations, eager to focus my newly found time on my lifelong interest in photography. In 2013, a polymer photogravure workshop taught by Keith Taylor brought me to Highpoint. I was hooked.
I often think of polymer photogravure as the ideal printmaking mode for people who can’t draw. The process combines my interest in photography as a doer and in prints as an observer. I picked up my interest in prints when I studied art history and was active with The Print and Drawing Council at the Minneapolis Institute of Art for many years.
Additionally, I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands. The rhythm of inking and wiping plates has a meditative quality to it. The quiet of the darkroom is a lovely occasional escape. I constantly appreciate the camaraderie of fellow co-op members and the helpfulness of the staff. I’m also amazed by the breadth, variety, and quality of everyone’s work.
Many plates later, I’ve developed a better eye for which photographs will work well in polymer photogravure. I’ve developed a series of images, such as Zone 10 botanicals. Occasionally an image emerges, like leftover ice in a plastic cup, that begs to become a print.
In the summer of 2022, I had a solo show in the Threshold Gallery at Highpoint. I’ve been to countless photography and art exhibitions but never curated my own work – another learning curve. I took this as an opportunity to show my work as well as I could. The title, Printing with Light, was the outcome of internal brainstorming. Then there was the nitty gritty. My husband and I took a roll of brown paper the length of the gallery and a box of prints to our local library. On all fours, we arranged prints – grouping them by theme and eliminating others. The opening was a wonderful chance to reconnect with many friends and family.
I always have more images in the pipeline than the capacity to create prints. As my workflow evolves, I look forward to the next set of prints.
-Nancy A. Johnson
