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The Print Circle was established in 1970 by a small group of women artists based at the Workshop Arts Centre in Willoughby. It began with the aim of breaking new ground in the printmaking media – experimentation and innovation were the order of the day – whilst also acting as a support group for women printmakers. The philosophy of experimental artist and Workshop Arts Centre teacher Sue Buckley provided the framework for the group.
Their first exhibition, planned and organized by Sue Buckley, was in 1971 at the Sebert Gallery, in the Argyle Arts Centre in Sydney. It focused on water colour woodblock prints – the first time this medium had been used as a total exhibition in Sydney - and travelled to Brisbane. Since that time the group has mounted well over 40 exhibitions – many of them at the Mary Place Gallery - and has, currently, approximately 30 exhibiting members who produce limited edition prints and monoprints in etching, solar plate intaglio, lithography, relief, monotype and screenprinting.
Original members of the group were Helen Best, Mirriam Blacker, Margo Boulton, Vi Collings, Pam Crafoord, Barbara Davidson, Cathie Ferrie, Carmen Field, Margot Goodall, Ruth Hasemer, Elizabeth Phillips, Joan Smith, Peg Stinson, Margaret Wells, Dorothy Wooten. Whilst some of those artists remain active, only two – Helen Best and Barbara Davidson – continue to be members to this day. Sue Buckley founded the Print Circle but was not a member in the first few years. She acted as guide, philosopher, friend and a somewhat unconventional teacher who encouraged students to experiment and improvise, adhering to basic concepts. Her death in 1986 left the Workshop Arts Centre and printmaking in general poorer for a mentor and source of creative encouragement.
Current exhibiting members of The Print Circle are Chebi Badham, Helen Best, Jean Birrell, Lorraine Brown, Olwen Cheung, Mieke Cohen, Christina Cordero, Edith Cowlishaw, Prue Crabbe, Tanya Crothers, Barbara Davidson, Maadi Einfeld, Joanne Gwatkin-Williams, Debra Hannigan, Janette Hanrahan, Ingrid Hawke, Ingrid Johnstone, Catherine Mairs, Karin Oom, Barbara Sherwood, Patti Somerset, Laura Stark, Robyn Waghorn, Deborah Wilkinson, Ann Bewah Wu, Slavica Zivikovic.
In 2007, the Print Circle will be holding an exhibition titled “Polarities in Print” at the Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, NSW. The exhibition will open at 6.30pm on Friday, 1 June and close on Sunday, 8 July 2007.
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