Porin Taidegraafikot ry 20 years
Six artists from the Pori Art School, who trained as graphic artists, succeeded in registering the association Porin Taidegraafikot ry (Pori Printmakers Association) on December 1, 1993. PTG is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!
Just over a year after its founding, the association obtained a workspace in a city-owned building. Printing began at Paja & Galleri with a hand-operated press borrowed from another artist, until they acquired their own electric press. The initial worries were beginning to transform into dreams, hopes, and a vision of what the only art printmaking-focused association in northern Satakunta could mean for the Pori area with its graphic workshops.
From the beginning, the members—now numbering 30—have found it important to inform those interested in visual arts about the different techniques used in the creation of art prints. It is said that the impression given by a print is significantly enriched if the viewer has knowledge of the various methods of creating art prints. Therefore, short courses in exlibris, etching, drypoint, and aquatint, as well as lectures on various techniques, have been organized for interested outsiders.
The association offers its small gallery space for both its members and external exhibitions. It has also organized group exhibitions, and invited guest artists for the gallery’s exhibitions, including graphic artist Juho Karjalainen, Professor Pentti Kaskipuro, and academician Outi “Heis” Heiskanen.
Currently, the association’s anniversary exhibition at Poriginal Gallery showcases a selection of the members’ current works, curated by Tuula Hölsö. The opening is on Friday, November 8, from 18:00-20:00, and the exhibition will be open from November 9 to 26, 2013, during the gallery’s regular opening hours.
Art printmaking in Europe has had a long journey from technical craftsmanship to one of the most flourishing forms of artistic expression. However, art histories still write very little about art printmaking, and the history of Finnish art printmaking has yet to be fully written, with only fragments available.
The graphic artists of Pori still have their dreams. Some steps toward fulfilling them have already been taken, but much work remains to be done.
Translated with ChatGPT