Inky Editions

TERRY JAMES CONRAD: BUILDER’S ALCHEMY

MAY 6 – JULY 29, 2017

Hudson, NY – February 21, 2017. Inky Editions presents ”Builder’s Alchemy”; an exhibition of sculptures and relief monoprints produced with found object presses and handmade inks. 

 During a 9-month fellowship at the University of Iowa, Conrad, built found object printing presses out of which he produced several unique prints. All inks were handmade from found materials, such as rock, copper, steel, oxidized metal, walnut ink, sawdust and water. The printing process takes place over the course of several days. The impressions and forms evolve over time.

 This slow and inefficient process comes in contrast with Conrad’s highly skilled and precise methods of craftsmanship. An educator, printmaker, and sculptor, Conrad is also a carpenter; a job that requires being methodical and efficient. In his artwork however, he decides to bring common materials into a different platform that defies their known function. By introducing time, pressure and embossing on paper he creates unpredictable and innovative forms-giving these materials a new “voice.”  Conrad uses print media and its language to explore process-based themes of systems, geology and architecture.

Terry James Conrad’s work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions in galleries, universities and museums in the U.S. and Europe, including IPCNY and the University of Iowa Museum of Art. He has been awarded several grants and residencies at Frans Masereel Centrum, Belgium, Vermont Studio Center, Penland, NC, Wood Fellowship-University of Iowa, and a 2017 NYFA Fellowship He holds a B.F.A from Alfred University and an M.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He is currently an Assistant professor and Program Head of Printmaking at the University of Iowa.