This August sees Out of the Blueprint celebrating its 10th anniversary with Print Expo 2525 taking over Leith’s historic Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street where Scotland’s young talent will be showcased to an international audience.
Out of the Blueprint is a social enterprise print studio providing eco-friendly print services for their local community using sustainable Japanese print processes. Profits are re-invested to support and give opportunities to young people.
The upcoming exhibition will showcase work from recent residents Matilda Bull, Maddie Lennon, Kerry Simms and Kamal Malhotra, each one utilising the risograph printmaking technique in their own unique way. It will also be using archives to highlight work from their 25 past residencies.
To support the exhibition, there will be a series of specially themed riso workshops, allowing the chance to make your own risograph prints. In these relaxed, creative sessions, is the chance to learn simple ways to use collage, mark-making and more to create unique artwork.
Running alongside the exhibition will be a series of artist talks, with the opportunity to hear more about the people behind the artwork, and a pop-up market selling new riso publications and screenprinted t-shirts, that have all specially commissioned for the occasion.
As part of Print Expo 2525, The Winston Smith Library of Victory and Truth will be hosted. Five years in the making, this sculptural installation by Hans K Clausen is made up of 1,984 copies of George Orwell’s iconic novel 1984, donated and sourced from around the world. Each book carries the evidence of their previous ownership, with underlined phrases and footnotes, lost bookmarks, pressed flowers, birthday wishes, and years of wear and tear.
Out of the Blueprint Manager, Johnny Gailey, says “The Print Expo is a great opportunity for us to dig print work out of the archive from our favourite exhibitions over the past 10 years and show it alongside brand new work specially commissioned for this year. With work by nearly 40 artists, it’s a wonderful opportunity for local residents and visitors to the city to see what the latest young Scottish talent is up to.”
Print Expo 2525 is on at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall from Friday 8th to Saturday 23rd August. Further details and full programme can be found on the Out of the Blueprint website.
To find out more visit outoftheblueprint.org
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 