BUCKET EXHIBITIONS: PRINTERS PLANET TAOS 2025 -- FOAM TESSELLATION PRINTS

PASSING THE "HAT"

After the first day (May 24th) the printmakers gathered at the Alley Cantina -- where Krrrl handed out "hat" tessellation tiles to make collaborative EXQUISITE TESSELLATION prints. These "hat" tiles were made of Expanded PVC Foam, so they could be "gouged" by pressing into them with ball point pens -- NO KNIVES NEEDED -- to make a relief print tile. All the artist had to do was press hard enough to gouge the foam tile to make a design, and those deep lines would be white, as they would not print:

The Expanded PVC Foam tiles

that printmakers gouged with ball point pens

at the Alley Cantina bar/restaurant

KIRA CUNNINGHAM of GAMBEL OAK DESIGNS

"embossed" one of the relief tiles,

so we gave this collaboration print to her

to take back to Colorado

Krrrl passed out the "hats" at the Alley Cantina after dinner, and the printmakers gouged into the foam with ball point pens -- and even forks and butter knives:

DALE TANIS got creative

and used a fork to gouge into the foam

Later Dale printed his individual tessellation tile

and we gave him an 8x8 inch frame to put it in

The "hat" tiles tessellate into many different patterns

Another EXQUISITE TESSELLATION design

Ellie inked the tiles one by one

with different colors

The colored tiles before printing

Adding and arranging the design

JEANNIE ORTIZ and DALE TANIS

arranging the collaborative design

Ellie burnishing with a glass baren

by IRON FROG PRESS of Dallas,

onto Kitakata paper

The REVEAL!

The second collaborative tessellation print

The two prints Ellie made

hanging side by side

First Collaborative Tessellation Print

Second Collaborative Tessellation Print

This was a quick turnaround. As we got all the printmakers to "gouge" the foam tiles at the dinner table, it was easy to piece them together and print the next day. We could have even printed at the bar. And we want to try this approach again at future casual events and the upcoming Southwest Print Fiesta 2025 in Silver City.

Gouging the Expanded PVC Foam with ball point pens is a lot less intimidating than carving a piece of linoleum.

CNCing the TILES

Adam CNCed the "hat" tiles from Expanded PVC Foam at Quelab in Albuquerque:

CNC cutting TESSELLATION TILES