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Collaboration as a Medium: 25 years of Pyramid Atlantic

Exhibition Dates:
January 10 – March 4, 2006

Gallery Talk and Forum:
Friday, January 20, 6 pm

Reception
Friday, January 20, 7 pm

Guest speakers include: Pepe Coronado, Leslie King-Hammond, Shireen Holman, Phyllis Plattner and Helen Frederick

Baltimore, MD— Maryland Art Place (MAP) features a traveling exhibition of the Silver-Spring based Pyramid Atlantic Art Center and its major retrospective exhibition, Collaboration as a Medium: 25 Years of Pyramid Atlantic, from January 10 through March 4, 2006.

It may seem unusual that MAP would choose to inaugurate its silver anniversary celebration by sharing its premiere exhibition with another renowned art center of the region. However, closer analysis explains this exhibition choice: both organizations are considered among the top art centers in the nation, established a quarter of a century ago at a time when numerous significant non-profit arts centers simultaneously opened their doors as a response to the limited venues available to non-commercial artworks and productions by groundbreaking artists.  Both organizations have continued to thrive and build on the strength of their dynamic programming. In addition, both rely significantly on collaboration as a means to support and feature dynamic contemporary art within the region, while providing significant services to area arts communities.

This exhibition traces the indelible impact that this important printmaking center has offered during the past quarter century. Pyramid’s major retrospective premiered during spring 2005 in Washington, DC, and makes its first traveling stop at MAP. More than 70 internationally recognized artists from the US and overseas are exhibiting prints, artist books and installation pieces as part of this exhibition, which is accompanied by a 100-page catalog. Curated by Jane Farmer and Helen Frederick, this world-class exhibition features lithographs, silk screens, relief prints, monotypes and artist-made paperworks by artists such as Michael Platt, Akira Kurosaki, Bill Christenberry, Y. David Chung, Yuriko Yamaguchi, Renee Stout, Anil Revri and Johanna Drucker; book works featuring text and image built from letterpress, offset and digital printing, and hand binding by Lesley Dill, Lonnie Graham, John Wood, and The Guerrilla Girls; and installations by Maria Barbosa, Despina Meimaroglou, and Roberley Bell among others.

Maryland Art Place and Pyramid Atlantic share much in common, beyond that they were founded in the same era. Both are 501(c) (3) non-profit contemporary arts centers. Pyramid Atlantic has been dedicated to the creation and appreciation of hand papermaking, printmaking, digital arts, and the art of the book. For nearly 25 years, Pyramid has provided opportunities for the discovery and creation of these fine arts through imaginative programming for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. An artist-centered community with an international and local following, Pyramid Atlantic has brought print and paper arts to people all over the world. Founding Artistic Director Helen Frederick is the recipient of the distinguished Governor's Art Award, 2000, for her leadership and vision for the arts in Maryland. Maryland Art Place is proud to celebrate her success in continuing the fine tradition upon which Pyramid and MAP were dedicated upon their simultaneous founding.

Important figures in the art world have commented about Pyramid Atlantic Art Center:

“I recall very clearly my early conversations with Helen Frederick and my visit to Pyramid's first studios in Baltimore. At the time, there was no papermaking facility here or in the region and few artists interested. Thanks to her vision, energy, professionalism, and perseverance, all of this has changed. Pyramid is a regional resource and changed all of our thinking. We owe her and all who worked with her over these years a great debt of gratitude.”

Fred Lazarus IV, President, Maryland Institute College of Art

“Pyramid Atlantic is internationally renowned for its innovative collaborative programs and the unique works produced in its shops. Pyramid’s contributions to its local schools and arts community are legion. This local involvement is one of the reasons for its international reputation. In its new, highly visible location in the downtown Arts Corridor in Silver Spring, Pyramid is becoming better known throughout the Washington, DC area as well. The collaborative programs at Pyramid are models for organizations everywhere.”

Jane M. Farmer, Arts Consultant, Santa Fe, NM; Former Director, Crossing Over Consortium

“The consummate technical know-how, seemingly boundless energy, and great enthusiasm for experimental artistic activity that are at the center of the Pyramid Atlantic enterprise are distinctive in the Washington area. Through studio access, classes, exhibitions, and outreach from the local to the international level, the Pyramid workshop has generated a diverse body of art works and added greatly to the broad community's ability to understand them, and to acquire and live with them. By these means the workshop has helped artists to do their work and others to become aware of art's ability to enhance our lives, no small achievement.”

Ruth E. Fine, Pyramid Advisor and Curator, National Gallery of Art

“I met Helen Frederick in Baltimore for the first time. I had been aware of handmade paper in the work of Harold Paris in Berkeley, I was interested in handmade paper at that time, and I was teaching a papermaking class at the Art Students’ League in Virginia. I attended the Kyoto International Paper-making conference in 1983 where Helen was a participant. My friendship with Helen increased after that. I introduced Mr. Fukunaga, a Japanese papermaker, to give a demonstration for Pyramid in Baltimore. In 1985 I worked at Pyramid’s printing press for my first wood-block prints to contribute to the Washington Lawyers for the Arts Association. In 1988 through Helen’s efforts, I received a grant from Mid-Atlantic Art Association to make etchings. In 1999 Helen introduced me to the use of flax paper pulp for my sculptures. It unexpectedly opened up a new direction for my art. In 2000 Helen again asked me to collaborate with the master printer at Pyramid. In the end I worked with three different master printers and editioned seven lithographs. In 2002 I participated in the Smithsonian International Folk Festival together with Pyramid Atlantic. This relationship with Helen Frederick and Pyramid over more than 20 years has been a major point in my career as an artist. I hope we can continue to work together in the future in many different ways.”

Yuriko Yamaguchi, Washington Artist

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Maryland Art Place (MAP) is a non-profit center for contemporary art established in 1981 to: develop and maintain a dynamic environment for regional artists to exhibit their work, nurture and promote new ideas and new forms, and facilitate rewarding exchanges between artists and the public through educational leadership. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm. There is no admission charge to enter the gallery or to participate in MAP’s regular programming and events.